VISA Act of 2017

Bill: 115-hr-1125
Sponsor: Rep. Banks, Jim [R-IN-3]
Introduced: 2017-02-16 in the House
Policy area: Immigration
Subjects: Administrative remedies
Congressional oversight
Criminal justice information and records
Department of Homeland Security
Diplomacy, foreign officials, Americans abroad
Family relationships
Foreign language and bilingual programs
Fraud offenses and financial crimes
Government employee pay, benefits, personnel management
Government studies and investigations
Immigration status and procedures
Internet and video services
Internet, web applications, social media
Refugees, asylum, displaced persons
Visas and passports

Summary:
action_date: 2017-02-16
text: 

Visa Investigation and Social Media Activity Act of 2017 or the VISA Act of 2017

 
This bill amends the Immigration and Nationality Act to prohibit a petition or application filed with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) or with a consular officer for the issuance of a visa or the admission of an alien from being approved unless a background check to determine whether the alien is a national security threat or is otherwise ineligible for such visa or admission is completed for: (1) the petitioner or applicant, and (2) each beneficiary or derivative of the petition or application. 
 
Such background check shall include a review of the alien's publicly available interactions on, and posting of material to, the Internet (including social media services). 
 
An applicant must provide an English translation of his or her documentation.
 
No petition or application for any immigration benefit, except for work authorization, may be approved for an alien who is at least 11 years old unless DHS conducts an in-person interview with such alien. 
 
DHS shall begin implementation of an analytics software plan to detect fraud in immigration benefits applications and petitions and to ensure that an applicant or petitioner does not pose a national security threat.
 
The bill requires the deployment of DHS employees to all visa-issuing embassies and consulates.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2017-03-07
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Counterterrorism and Intelligence.
action_date: 2017-03-07
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Border and Maritime Security.
action_date: 2017-03-06
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Immigration and Border Security.
action_date: 2017-02-16
text: Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committee on Homeland Security, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
action_date: 2017-02-16
text: Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committee on Homeland Security, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
action_date: 2017-02-16
text: Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committee on Homeland Security, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
action_date: 2017-02-16
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2017-02-16
text: Introduced in House