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