International Patient Act of 2000
PL 106-406 (H.R.2961), enacted 11/01/2000

PUBLIC LAW 106-406—NOV. 1, 2000 
114 STAT. 1755 
Public Law 106-406 
106th Congress 
An Act 
To amend the Immigration and Nationality Act to authorize a 3-year pilot program 
Nov. 1, 2000 
under which the Attorney General may extend the period for voluntary departure 
[fl.R. 2961] 
in the case of certain nonimmigrant aliens who require medical treatment in 
the United States and were admitted under the visa waiver pilot program, and 
for other purposes. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives 
of International 
the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
Patiesnt Act of 
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^ 
' 
2000. 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
8 USC 1101 note. 
This Act may be cited as the "International Patient Act of 
2000". 
SEC. 2. THREE-YEAR PILOT PROGRAM TO EXTEND VOLUNTARY DEPAR-
TURE PERIOD FOR CERTAIN NONIMMIGRANT ALIENS 
REQUIRING MEDICAL TREATMENT WHO WERE ADMITTED 
UNDER VISA WAIVER PILOT PROGRAM. 
Section 240B(a)(2) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 
U.S.C. 1229c(a)(2)) is amended to read as follows: 
"(2) PERIOD.— 
"(A) IN GENERAL.—Subject to subparagraph 
(B), 
permission to depart voluntarily under this subsection shall 
not be valid for a period exceeding 120 days. 
"(B) Three-YEAR PILOT PROGRAM WAIVER.—During the 
period October 1, 2000, through September 30, 2003, and 
subject to subparagraphs (C) and (D)(ii), the Attorney Gen-
eral may, in the discretion of the Attorney General for 
humanitarian purposes, waive application of subparagraph 
(A) in the case of an alien— 
"(i) who was admitted to the United States as 
a 
nonimmigrant 
visitor 
(described 
in 
section 
101(a)(15)(B)) under the provisions of the visa waiver 
pilot program established pursuant to section 217, 
seeks the waiver for the purpose of continuing to 
receive medical treatment in the United States from 
a physician associated with a health care facility, and 
submits to the Attorney General— 
"(I) a detailed diagnosis statement from the 
physician, which includes the treatment being 
sought and the expected time period the alien will 
be required to remain in the United States; 
"(II) a statement from the health care facility 
containing an assurance that the alien's treatment 
is riot being paid through any Federal or State 
public health assistance, that the alien's account 
114 STAT. 1756 
PUBLIC LAW 106-406—NOV. 1, 2000 
Deadline. 
has no outstanding balance, and that such faciHty 
will notify the Service when the alien is released 
or treatment is terminated; and 
"(III) evidence of financial ability to support 
the alien's day-to-day expenses while in the United 
States (including the expenses of any family 
member described in clause (ii)) and evidence that 
any such alien or family member is not receiving 
any form of public assistance; or 
"(ii) who— 
"(I) is a spouse, parent, brother, sister, son, 
daughter, or other family member of a principal 
alien described in clause (i); and 
"(II) entered the United States accompanying, 
and with the same status as, such principal alien. 
"(C) WAIVER LIMITATIONS.— 
"(i) Waivers under subparagraph (B) may be 
granted only upon a request submitted by a Service 
district office to Service headquarters. 
"(ii) Not more than 300 waivers may be granted 
for any fiscal year for a principal alien under subpara-
graph (B)(i). 
"(iii)(I) Except as provided in subclause (II), in 
the case of each principal alien described in subpara-
graph (B)(i) not more than one adult may be granted 
a waiver under subparagraph (B)(ii). 
"(II) Not more than two adults may be granted 
a waiver under subparagraph (B)(ii) in a case in 
which— 
"(aa) the principal alien described in subpara-
graph (B)(i) is a dependent under the age of 18; 
or 
"(bb) one such adult is age 55 or older or 
is physically handicapped. 
"(D) 
REPORT TO CONGRESS; SUSPENSION OF WAIVER 
AUTHORITY.— 
"(i) Not later than March 30 of each year, the 
Commissioner shall submit to the Congress an annual 
report regarding all waivers granted under subpara-
graph (B) during the preceding fiscal year. 
"(ii) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, 
the authority of the Attorney General under subpara-
graph (B) shall be suspended during any period in 
PUBLIC LAW 106-406—NOV. 1, 2000 
114 STAT. 1757 
which an annual report under clause (i) is past due 
and has not been submitted.". 
Approved November 1, 2000. 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY—H.R. 2961: 
HOUSE REPORTS: No. 106-721 (Comm. on the Judiciary). 
CONGRESSIONAL RECORD, Vol. 146 (2000): 
July 18, considered and passed House. 
Oct. 19, considered and passed Senate.