(3) RULE OF CONSTRUCTION.—Notwithstand-
ing paragraph (2), any Secretary referred to in 
paragraph (2) may take longer than 9 months to 
complete the steps incidental to issuing a visa under 
this section if the Secretary, or the designee of the 
Secretary— 
(A) determines that the satisfaction of na-
tional security concerns requires additional 
time; and 
(B) notifies the applicant of such deter-
mination. 
(4) APPEAL.—An alien whose petition for sta-
tus as a special immigrant is rejected or revoked— 
(A) shall receive a written decision that 
provides, to the maximum extent feasible, infor-
mation describing the basis for the denial, in-
cluding the facts and inferences underlying the 
individual determination; and 
(B) shall be provided not more than 1 
written appeal per rejection or denial, which— 
(i) shall be submitted not more than 
120 days after the date on which the appli-
cant receives a decision pursuant to sub-
paragraph (A); 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
22:09 Jun 07, 2021
Jkt 019200
PO 00000
Frm 00007
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H2838.IH
H2838
pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS
(ii) may request the reopening of such 
decision; and 
(iii) shall provide additional informa-
tion, clarify existing information, or ex-
plain any unfavorable information. 
(h) ELIGIBILITY FOR OTHER IMMIGRANT CLASSI-
FICATION.—An alien may not be denied the opportunity 
to apply for admission under this section solely because 
such alien qualifies as an immediate relative of a national 
of the United States or is eligible for admission to the 
United States under any other immigrant classification. 
(i) RESETTLEMENT SUPPORT.—An alien who is 
granted special immigrant status under this section shall 
be eligible for the same resettlement assistance, entitle-
ment programs, and other benefits as is available to refu-
gees admitted under section 207 of the Immigration and 
Naturalization Act (8 U.S.C. 1157). 
(j) AUTHORITY TO CARRY OUT ADMINISTRATIVE 
MEASURES.—The Secretary of Homeland Security and 
the Secretary of State shall implement any additional ad-
ministrative measures as they consider necessary and ap-
propriate— 
(1) to ensure the prompt processing of applica-
tions under this section; 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
22:09 Jun 07, 2021
Jkt 019200
PO 00000
Frm 00008
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H2838.IH
H2838
pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS
(2) to preserve the integrity of the program es-
tablished under this section; and 
(3) to protect the national security interests of 
the United States related to such program. 
(k) RULEMAKING.—Not later than 90 days after the 
date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Home-
land Security shall promulgate regulations to carry out 
this section, including establishing requirements for back-
ground checks. 
SEC. 3. SPECIAL IMMIGRANT STATUS REPORTING RE-
QUIREMENT. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Inspector General of the De-
partment of State shall submit an annual report described 
in subsection (b), no later than January 30 of each year, 
with a classified annex if necessary, to— 
(1) the Committee on Judiciary, the Committee 
on Foreign Relations, and the Committee on Armed 
Services of the Senate; and 
(2) the Committee on Judiciary, the Committee 
on Foreign Affairs, and the Committee on Armed 
Services of the House of Representatives. 
(b) CONTENTS.—The report submitted under sub-
section (a) shall evaluate the implementation of the Syrian 
special immigrant status program under section 2, includ-
ing, for the previous calendar year— 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
22:09 Jun 07, 2021
Jkt 019200
PO 00000
Frm 00009
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H2838.IH
H2838
pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS
(1) the number of petitions filed; 
(2) the number of petitions— 
(A) pending adjudication; 
(B) pending visa interview; and 
(C) pending security checks; 
(3) the number of petitions that were denied; 
(4) the number of cases that have exceeded the 
mandated processing time and relevant case num-
bers; and 
(5) an accounting of any obstacles discovered 
that would hinder effective implementation of the 
program. 
(c) CONSULTATION.—In preparing the report under 
subsection (a), the Inspector General shall consult with— 
(1) the Department of State, Bureau of Con-
sular Affairs, Visa Office; 
(2) the Department of State, Bureau of Near 
Eastern Affairs and South and Central Asian Af-
fairs, Executive Office; 
(3) the United States embassy in Kabul, Af-
ghanistan, Consular Section; 
(4) the United States embassy in Baghdad, 
Iraq, Consular Section; 
(5) the Department of Homeland Security, U.S. 
Citizenship and Immigration Services; 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
22:09 Jun 07, 2021
Jkt 019200
PO 00000
Frm 00010
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6201
E:\BILLS\H2838.IH
H2838
pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS
(6) the Department of Defense; and 
(7) nongovernmental organizations providing 
legal aid in the special immigrant visa application 
process. 
(d) PUBLICATION.—The non-classified portion of the 
report described in this section shall be published on the 
website of the Department of State. 
Æ 
VerDate Sep 11 2014 
22:09 Jun 07, 2021
Jkt 019200
PO 00000
Frm 00011
Fmt 6652
Sfmt 6301
E:\BILLS\H2838.IH
H2838
pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS