I 
112TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. R. 5850 
To provide for the inclusion of Israel in the visa waiver program, and for 
other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
MAY 18, 2012 
Mr. SHERMAN (for himself, Mr. POE of Texas, Ms. ROS-LEHTINEN, Mr. 
TOWNS, Mr. RANGEL, Mr. ENGEL, Mr. ROTHMAN of New Jersey, Mr. 
PASCRELL, Ms. BERKLEY, Mr. SCHOCK, Ms. HIRONO, Mr. HOLT, Mr. 
GRIMM, and Mr. DOLD) introduced the following bill; which was referred 
to the Committee on the Judiciary 
A BILL 
To provide for the inclusion of Israel in the visa waiver 
program, 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 ‘‘Visa Waiver for Israel 
Act of 2012’’. 
SEC. 2. ISRAEL DESIGNATED AS A PROGRAM COUNTRY FOR 
VISA WAIVER PROGRAM. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Beginning on the date described 
in subsection (c), Israel shall be deemed a program coun-
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try for purposes of section 217 of the Immigration and 
Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1187). 
(b) EXEMPTION FROM APPLICATION OF CERTAIN 
REQUIREMENTS.—In 
the 
case 
of 
Israel, 
section 
217(c)(2)(A) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 
U.S.C. 1187(c)(2)(A)) does not apply. 
(c) EFFECTIVE
DATE; COMPLIANCE
REQUIRE-
MENTS.—The date described in this subsection is the date 
that the Secretary of Homeland Security, in consultation 
with the Secretary of State, determines that Israel has 
complied with the following: 
(1) The government of Israel has entered into 
an agreement with the Government of the United 
States to report, or make available through Interpol 
or other means as designated by the Secretary of 
Homeland Security, to the United States Govern-
ment information about the theft or loss of pass-
ports within a strict time limit and in a manner 
specified in the agreement. 
(2) The government of Israel has entered into 
an agreement with the Government of the United 
States to share information regarding whether citi-
zens and nationals of Israel traveling to the United 
States represent a threat to the security or welfare 
of the United States. 
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(3) The government of Israel cooperates with 
the Government of the United States on counterter-
rorism initiatives, information sharing, and pre-
venting terrorist travel, and the Secretary of Home-
land Security and the Secretary of State determine 
that such cooperation will continue. 
(4) The government of Israel issues all new and 
reissued passports with biometric identifiers as de-
scribed in section 303 of the Enhanced Border Secu-
rity and Visa Entry Reform Act of 2002 (8 U.S.C. 
1732). 
(5) The government of Israel has made every 
reasonable effort, without jeopardizing the security 
of the State of Israel, to ensure that reciprocal privi-
leges are extended to all United States citizens. 
Æ 
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