,i #aacth ,,congress #ast ,session ,h4 ,r4 #fdj ,,in ,,the ,,house ,,of ,,representatives ,february #ac1 #bjac ,mr4 ,bilirakis introduced the following bill2 which was referred to the ,committee on the ,judiciary ,a ,,bill ,to require the ,secretary of ,homeland ,security to strengthen student visa background checks and improve the monitoring of foreign students in the ,united ,states1 and for other purposes4 #a4 ,short title ,this ,act may be cited as the ,student ,visa ,security ,improvement ,act4 #b4 ,enhanced student visa background checks 7a7 ,in general ,section #dbh7;e7 of the ,homeland ,security ,act of #bjjb 7#f ,u4,s4,c4 #bcf7;e77 is amended by adding at the end the following3 7#i7 ,student visas ,in administering the program under this subsection1 the ,secretary1 not later than #ahj days after the date of the enactment of the ,student ,visa ,security ,improvement ,act-- 7,a7 shall prescribe regulations to require employees assigned under paragraph 7#a7 to review the applications of all applicants recommended by ,department of ,state personnel for visas under subparagraph 7,f71 7,j71 or 7,m7 of section #aja7;a77#ae7 of the ,immigration and ,nationality ,act 7#h ,u4,s4,c4 #aaja7;a77#ae771 and conduct in-person interviews where appropriate1 prior to final adjudication1 with special emphasis on determining whether applicants are inadmissible under section #bab7;a77#c77;,b7 of such ,act 7#h ,u4,s4,c4 #aahb7;a77#c77;,b77 7relating to terrorist activities72 7,b7 shall ensure that employees assigned under paragraph 7#a7 conduct on-site reviews of any applications and supporting documentation for visas under subparagraph 7,f71 7,j71 or 7,m7 of section #aja7;a77#ae7 of the ,immigration and ,nationality ,act 7#h ,u4,s4,c4 #aaja7;a77#ae77 that they deem appropriate prior to final adjudication2 and 7,c7 shall update1 in consultation with the ,secretary of ,state1 the memorandum of understanding between the ,department of ,homeland ,security and the ,department of ,state regarding implementation of this section to clarify the roles and responsibilities of employees assigned under paragraph 7#a7 specifically with regard to the duties prescribed by this paragraph4 4 #c4 ,student and exchange visitor program 7a7 ,in ,general ,section #ddb of the ,homeland ,security ,act of #bjjb 7#f ,u4,s4,c4 #beb7 is amended-- 7#a7 in subsection 7a7-- 7,a7 by redesignating paragraph 7#e7 as paragraph 7#aa72 and 7,b7 by inserting after paragraph 7#d7 the following3 7#e7 ,student and exchange visitor program ,in administering the program under paragraph 7#d71 the ,secretary shall1 not later than one year after the date of the enactment of the ,student ,visa ,security ,improvement ,act-- 7,a7 prescribe regulations to require an institution or exchange visitor program sponsor participating in the ,student and ,exchange ,visitor ,program to ensure that each covered student or exchange visitor enrolled at the institution or attending the exchange visitor program-- 7i7 is an active participant in the program for which the covered student or exchange visitor was issued a visa to enter the ,united ,states2 7ii7 is not unobserved for any period-- 7,i7 exceeding #cj days during any academic term or program in which the covered student or exchange visitor is enrolled2 or 7,,ii7 exceeding #fj days during any period not described in subclause 7,i72 and 7iii7 is reported to the ,department within #aj days of-- 7,i7 transferring to another institution or program2 7,,ii7 changing academic majors2 or 7,,iii7 any other changes to information required to be maintained in the system described in paragraph 7#d72 7,b7 notwithstanding subparagraph 7,a71 require each covered student or exchange visitor to be observed at least once every #fj days2 and 7,c7 prescribe regulations defining what constitutes the commencement of participation of a covered student in a designated exchange visitor program 7as defined in section #fda7;h7 of the ,illegal ,immigration ,reform and ,immigrant ,responsibility ,act of #aiif 7#h ,u4,s4,c4 #acgb7;h7774 7#f7 ,enhanced access ,the ,secretary shall provide access to the ,student and ,exchange ,visitor ,information ,system 7hereinafter in this subsection referred to as the ,,sevis71 or other equivalent or successor program or system1 to appropriate employees of an institution or exchange visitor program sponsor participating in the ,student and ,exchange ,visitor ,program if-- 7,a7 at least two authorized users are identified at each participating institution or exchange visitor sponsor2 7,b7 at least one additional authorized user is identified at each such institution or sponsor for every #bjj covered students or exchange visitors enrolled at the institution or sponsor2 and 7,c7 each authorized user is certified by the ,secretary as having completed an appropriate training course provided by the ,department for the program or system4 7#g7 ,program support ,the ,secretary shall provide appropriate technical support options to facilitate use of the program or system described in paragraph 7#d7 by authorized users4 7#h7 ,upgrades to ,,sevis or equivalent data ,the ,secretary shall update the program or system described in paragraph 7#d7 to incorporate new data fields that include-- 7,a7 verification that a covered student's performance meets the minimum academic standards of the institution in which such student is enrolled2 and 7,b7 timely entry of any information required by paragraph 7#e7 regarding covered students and exchange visitors enrolled at institutions or exchange program sponsors4 7#i7 ,savings clause ,nothing in this section shall prohibit the ,secretary or any institution or exchange program sponsor participating in the ,student ,exchange ,visitor ,program from requiring more frequent observations of covered students or exchange visitors4 7#aj7 ,decertification ,the ,secretary is authorized1 without notice1 to decertify any approved institution or exchange visitor program sponsor if such institution or exchange visitor program sponsor is engaged in egregious criminal activities or is a threat to national security4 2 and 7#b7 by adding at the end the following3 7d7 ,definitions ,for purposes of this section3 7#a7 ,the term covered student means a student who is a nonimmigrant pursuant to subparagraph 7,f71 7,j71 or 7,m7 of section #aja7;a77#ae7 of the ,immigration and ,nationality ,act 7#h ,u4,s4,c4 #aaja7;a77#ae774 7#b7 ,the term observed means positively identified by physical or electronic means4 7#c7 ,the term authorized user means an individual nominated by an institution participating in the ,student and ,exchange ,visitor ,program and confirmed by the ,secretary as not appearing on any terrorist watch list4 4 7b7 ,comptroller ,general ,review ,the ,comptroller ,general of the ,united ,states shall conduct a review of the fees for the ,student and ,exchange ,visitor ,program of the ,department of ,homeland ,security4 ,the ,comptroller ,general shall include in such review data from fiscal years #bjji through #bjac and shall consider fees collected by the ,department and all expenses associated with the review1 issuance1 maintenance1 data collection1 and enforcement functions of the ,student and ,exchange ,visitor ,program4