Student Visa Reform Act

Bill: 112-hr-3120
Sponsor: Rep. Lofgren, Zoe [D-CA-16]
Introduced: 2011-10-06 in the House
Policy area: Immigration
Subjects: Area studies and international education
Higher education
Immigration status and procedures
Language arts
Licensing and registrations
Visas and passports

Summary:
action_date: 2011-10-06
text: 
Student Visa Reform Act - Amends the Immigration and Nationality Act to require that a person coming to study at a college, university, or language training program in the United States under a nonimmigrant student F-visa must attend an institution that is accredited by an accrediting agency recognized by the Secretary of Education. Provides a three-year exemption for students coming to study at a college or university that has been certified by the Secretary of Homeland Security (DHS) but not yet accredited by an accrediting agency.
 
Authorizes, under specified circumstances, the Secretary to require elementary and secondary schools (exempts religious institutions) to be similarly accredited for F-visa purposes.

action_date: 2012-07-12
text: 
Student Visa Reform Act - Amends the Immigration and Nationality Act to require that a person coming to study at a college, university, or language training program in the United States under a nonimmigrant student F-visa must attend an institution that is accredited by an accrediting agency recognized by the Secretary of Education. 
 
Authorizes the Secretary of Homeland Security (DHS) to require academic institutions (exempts seminaries or other religious institutions) to be similarly accredited for F-visa purposes if: (1) the institution is not already required to be accredited, (2) an accrediting agency recognized by the Secretary of Education is able to provide such accreditation, and (3) 25 or more F-visa foreign students are or will be pursuing a course of study at the institution. 
 
Authorizes the Secretary of Homeland Security to waive the accreditation requirement for an established college, university, or language training program that is otherwise in compliance with F-visa provisions and is making a good faith effort to satisfy the accreditation requirement.
 
 Prohibits a person convicted of certain felony offenses, including human trafficking or visa fraud relating to an academic institution's participation in the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP), from having subsequent ownership or substantial authority at an academic institution participating in SEVP. 
 
Provides a three-year exemption for students coming to study at a college or university that has been certified by the Secretary of Homeland Security but not yet accredited or denied accreditation by an accrediting agency.

action_date: 2012-08-01
text: 

(This measure has not been amended since it was reported to the House on July 12, 2012. The summary of that version is repeated here.)

 
Student Visa Reform Act - Amends the Immigration and Nationality Act to require that a person coming to study at a college, university, or language training program in the United States under a nonimmigrant student F-visa must attend an institution that is accredited by an accrediting agency recognized by the Secretary of Education. 
 
Authorizes the Secretary of Homeland Security (DHS) to require academic institutions (exempts seminaries or other religious institutions) to be similarly accredited for F-visa purposes if: (1) the institution is not already required to be accredited, (2) an accrediting agency recognized by the Secretary of Education is able to provide such accreditation, and (3) 25 or more F-visa foreign students are or will be pursuing a course of study at the institution. 
 
Authorizes the Secretary of Homeland Security to waive the accreditation requirement for an established college, university, or language training program that is otherwise in compliance with F-visa provisions and is making a good faith effort to satisfy the accreditation requirement.
 
 Prohibits a person convicted of certain felony offenses, including human trafficking or visa fraud relating to an academic institution's participation in the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP), from having subsequent ownership or substantial authority at an academic institution participating in SEVP. 
 
Provides a three-year exemption for students coming to study at a college or university that has been certified by the Secretary of Homeland Security but not yet accredited or denied accreditation by an accrediting agency.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2012-08-02
text: Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
action_date: 2012-08-01
text: Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
action_date: 2012-08-01
text: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR 7/31/2012 H5504-5505)
action_date: 2012-08-01
text: Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote.(text: CR 7/31/2012 H5504-5505)
action_date: 2012-08-01
text: Considered as unfinished business. (consideration: CR H5619)
action_date: 2012-07-31
text: At the conclusion of debate, the chair put the question on the motion to suspend the rules. Mr. Smith (TX) objected to the vote on the grounds that a quorum was not present. Further proceedings on the motion were postponed. The point of no quorum was withdrawn.
action_date: 2012-07-31
text: DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 3120.
action_date: 2012-07-31
text: Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H5504-5506)
action_date: 2012-07-31
text: Mr. Smith (TX) moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.
action_date: 2012-07-12
text: Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 430.
action_date: 2012-07-12
text: Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Judiciary. H. Rept. 112-595.
action_date: 2012-07-12
text: Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Judiciary. H. Rept. 112-595.
action_date: 2012-06-28
text: Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by Voice Vote.
action_date: 2012-06-28
text: Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
action_date: 2012-06-26
text: Subcommittee on Immigration Policy and Enforcement Discharged.
action_date: 2011-10-24
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Immigration Policy and Enforcement.
action_date: 2011-10-06
text: Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
action_date: 2011-10-06
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2011-10-06
text: Introduced in House