    [United States Statutes at Large, Volume 124, 111th Congress, 2nd Session]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

    Public Law 111-306
    111th Congress

    An Act

    To require the accreditation of English language training programs, and
    for other purposes. <>

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
    United States of America in Congress assembled,
    SECTION 1. ACCREDITATION OF ENGLISH LANGUAGE TRAINING PROGRAMS.

    (a) In General.--Section 101(a) of the Immigration and Nationality
    Act (8 U.S.C. 1101(a)) is amended--
    (1) in paragraph (15)(F)(i), by striking ``a language'' and
    inserting ``an accredited language''; and
    (2) by adding at the end the following:

    ``(52) <> The term `accredited language training
    program' means a language training program that is accredited by an
    accrediting agency recognized by the Secretary of Education.''.

    (b) Effective <> Date.--
    (1) In general.--Except as provided in paragraph (2), the
    amendments made by subsection (a) shall--
    (A) take effect on the date that is 180 days after
    the date of the enactment of this Act; and
    (B) <> apply with respect to
    applications for a nonimmigrant visa under section
    101(a)(15)(F)(i) of the Immigration and Nationality Act
    (8 U.S.C. 1101(a)(15)(F)(i)) that are filed on or after
    the effective date described in subparagraph (A).
    (2) Temporary exception.--
    (A) In <> general.--
    Notwithstanding section 101(a)(15)(F)(i) of the
    Immigration and Nationality Act, as amended by
    subsection (a), during the 3-year period beginning on
    the date of the enactment of this Act, an alien seeking
    to enter the United States to pursue a course of study
    at a language training program that has been certified
    by the Secretary of Homeland Security and has not been
    accredited or denied accreditation by an entity
    described in section 101(a)(52) of such Act may be
    granted a nonimmigrant visa under such section
    101(a)(15)(F)(i).
    (B) Additional requirement.--An alien may not be
    granted a nonimmigrant visa under subparagraph (A) if
    the sponsoring institution of the language training
    program to which the alien seeks to enroll does not--
    (i) <> submit an application
    for the accreditation of such program to a
    regional or national accrediting agency recognized
    by the Secretary of Education within

    [[Page 3281]]

    1 year after the date of the enactment of this
    Act; and
    (ii) comply with the applicable accrediting
    requirements of such agency.

    Approved December 14, 2010.

    LEGISLATIVE HISTORY--S. 1338:
    ---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    CONGRESSIONAL RECORD, Vol. 156 (2010):
    Sept. 27, considered and passed Senate.
    Dec. 1, considered and passed House.