I 
110TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION 
H. R. 561 
To expand visa waiver program to countries on a probationary basis, and 
for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
JANUARY 18, 2007 
Mr. ENGLISH of Pennsylvania introduced the following bill; which was referred 
to the Committee on the Judiciary 
A BILL 
To expand visa waiver program to countries on a 
probationary basis, and for other purposes. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Secure Travel and 
Counterterrorism Partnership Act’’. 
SEC. 2. SENSE OF CONGRESS. 
It is the sense of Congress that the United States 
should expand the visa waiver program to extend visa-free 
travel privileges to nationals of foreign countries that are 
allies in the war on terrorism as that expansion will— 
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(1) enhance bilateral cooperation on critical 
counterterrorism and information sharing initiatives; 
(2) support and expand tourism and business 
opportunities to enhance long-term economic com-
petitiveness; and 
(3) strengthen bilateral relationships. 
SEC. 3. VISA WAIVER PROGRAM EXPANSION. 
Section 217(c) of the Immigration and Nationality 
Act (8 U.S.C. 1187(c)) is amended by adding at the end 
the following: 
‘‘(8) PROBATIONARY
PARTICIPATION
OF
PRO-
GRAM COUNTRIES.— 
‘‘(A) REQUIREMENT TO ESTABLISH.—Not-
withstanding any other provision of this section 
and not later than 1 year after the date of the 
enactment 
of 
the 
Secure 
Travel 
and 
Counterterrorism Partnership Act, the Sec-
retary of Homeland Security, in consultation 
with the Secretary of State, shall establish a 
pilot program to permit not more than 5 for-
eign countries that are not designated as pro-
gram countries under paragraph (1) to partici-
pate in the program. 
‘‘(B) DESIGNATION
AS
A
PROBATIONARY 
PROGRAM COUNTRY.—A foreign country is eligi-
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ble to participate in the program under this 
paragraph if— 
‘‘(i) the Secretary of Homeland Secu-
rity determines that such participation will 
not compromise the security or law en-
forcement interests of the United States; 
‘‘(ii) that country is close to meeting 
all the requirements of paragraph (2) and 
other requirements for designation as a 
program country under this section and 
has developed a feasible strategic plan to 
meet all such requirements not later than 
3 years after the date the country begins 
participation in the program under this 
paragraph; 
‘‘(iii) that country meets all the re-
quirements that the Secretary determines 
are appropriate to ensure the security and 
integrity of travel documents, including re-
quirements to issue electronic passports 
that include biometric information and to 
promptly report lost, stolen, or fraudulent 
passports to the Government of the United 
States; 
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‘‘(iv) that country cooperated with the 
Government of the United States on 
counterterrorism initiatives and informa-
tion sharing before the date of the enact-
ment of this paragraph; and 
‘‘(v) that country has entered into an 
agreement with the Government of the 
United States by which that country 
agrees to further advance United States 
security interests by implementing such 
additional 
counterterrorism 
cooperation 
and information sharing measures as may 
be requested by the Secretary of Homeland 
Security, in consultation with the Sec-
retary of State. 
‘‘(C) CONSIDERATIONS FOR COUNTRY SE-
LECTION.— 
‘‘(i) VISA REFUSAL RATES.—The Sec-
retary of Homeland Security may consider 
the rate of refusals of nonimmigrant visitor 
visas for nationals of a foreign country in 
determining whether to permit that coun-
try to participate in the program under 
this paragraph but may not refuse to per-
mit that country to participate in the pro-
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gram under this paragraph solely on the 
basis of such rate unless the Secretary de-
termines that such rate is a security con-
cern to the United States. 
‘‘(ii) OVERSTAY
RATES.—The Sec-
retary of Homeland Security may consider 
the rate at which nationals of a foreign 
country violate the terms of their visas by 
remaining in the United States after the 
expiration of such a visa in determining 
whether to permit that country to partici-
pate in the program under this paragraph. 
‘‘(D) TERM OF PARTICIPATION.— 
‘‘(i) INITIAL PROBATIONARY TERM.— 
A foreign country may participate in the 
program under this paragraph for an ini-
tial term of 3 years. 
‘‘(ii) 
EXTENSION
OF
PARTICIPA-
TION.—The Secretary of Homeland Secu-
rity, in consultation with the Secretary of 
State, may permit a country to participate 
in the program under this paragraph after 
the expiration of the initial term described 
in clause (i) for 1 additional period of not 
more than 2 years if that country— 
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‘‘(I) has demonstrated significant 
progress toward meeting the require-
ments of paragraph (2) and all other 
requirements for designation as a pro-
gram country under this section; 
‘‘(II) has submitted a plan for 
meeting the requirements of para-
graph (2) and all other requirements 
for designation as a program country 
under this section; and 
‘‘(III) continues to be determined 
not to compromise the security or law 
enforcement interests of the United 
States. 
‘‘(iii) TERMINATION
OF
PARTICIPA-
TION.—The Secretary of Homeland Secu-
rity may terminate the participation of a 
country in the program under this para-
graph at any time if the Secretary, in con-
sultation with the Secretary of State, de-
termines that the country— 
‘‘(I) is not in compliance with the 
requirements of this paragraph; or 
‘‘(II) is not able to demonstrate 
significant and quantifiable progress, 
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on an annual basis, toward meeting 
the requirements of paragraph (2) 
and all other requirements for des-
ignation as a program country under 
this section. 
‘‘(E) TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE.—The Sec-
retary of Homeland Security, in consultation 
with the Secretary of State, shall provide tech-
nical guidance to a country that participates in 
the program under this paragraph to assist that 
country in meeting the requirements of para-
graph (2) and all other requirements for des-
ignation as a program country under this sec-
tion. 
‘‘(F) REPORTING REQUIREMENTS.— 
‘‘(i) ANNUAL REPORT.—The Secretary 
of Homeland Security, in consultation with 
the Secretary of State, shall submit to 
Congress an annual report on the imple-
mentation of this paragraph. 
‘‘(ii) FINAL ASSESSMENT.—Not later 
than 30 days after the date that the for-
eign country’s participation in the program 
under this paragraph terminates, the Sec-
retary of Homeland Security, in consulta-
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tion with the Secretary of State, shall sub-
mit a final assessment to Congress regard-
ing the implementation of this paragraph. 
Such final assessment shall contain the 
recommendations of the Secretary of 
Homeland Security and the Secretary of 
State regarding permitting additional for-
eign countries to participate in the pro-
gram under this paragraph.’’. 
SEC. 4. CALCULATION OF THE RATES OF VISA OVERSTAYS. 
Not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment 
of this Act, the Secretary of Homeland Security shall de-
velop and implement procedures to improve the manner 
in which the rates of nonimmigrants who violate the terms 
of their visas by remaining in the United States after the 
expiration of such a visa are calculated. 
SEC. 5. REPORTS. 
(a) VISA FEES.—Not later than 1 year after the date 
of the enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General of 
the United States shall review the fee structure for visas 
issued by the United States and submit to Congress a re-
port on that structure, including any recommendations of 
the Comptroller General for improvements to that struc-
ture. 
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(b) SECURE TRAVEL STANDARDS.—Not later than 1 
year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Sec-
retary of Homeland Security, in conjunction with the Sec-
retary of State, shall submit a report to Congress that 
describes plans for enhancing secure travel standards for 
existing visa waiver program countries, including the feasi-
bility of instituting an electronic authorization travel sys-
tem, additional passenger information exchanges, and en-
hanced airport security standards. 
SEC. 6. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS. 
There are authorized to be appropriated such sums 
as may be necessary for each of the fiscal years 2007 
through 2013 to carry out this Act and the amendment 
made by this Act. 
Æ 
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