,,ii  #aah? ,,congress  #a/ ,session    
,s4 #bfcb  ,,9 ,,! ,,s5ate ,,( ,,!      
,,unit$ ,,/ates  ,july #bg1 #bjbc,ms4   
,klobu*> 7= h]self & ,mr4 ,moran7       
introduc$ ! foll[+ bill2 :i* 0 read     
twice & ref]r$ to ! ,committee on !     
,judici>y  ,a ,,bill  ,to improve visa  
process+ times1 & = o!r purposes4  #a4  
,%ort title ,?is ,act may be cit$ z !   
,visa ,process+ ,improvem5t ,act4  #b4  
,increas+ consul> (fice flexibility &   
capacity  7a7 ,engli% language int]views
 ,section #bbb ( ! ,immigration &       
,nationality ,act 7#h ,u4,s4,c4 #abjb7  
is am5d$ by add+ at ! end ! foll[+3  7i7
 7#a7 ,any ali5 apply+ = a visa :o      
qualifies = a waiv] f ! 9 p]son int]view
 requirem5t "u clause 7vi77,i7 (        
subsection 7h77#a77;,a7 or any o!r      
provision ( law :o c]tifies t ! ali5 is 
capable (1 & will+ to1 complete an      
entire int]view 9 ,engli% may be        
int]view$ remotely 9 ,engli% by a       
consul> fell[ ) limit$ exp]i5ce or by   
ano!r consul> employee /ation$ at a     

consulate t does n h a significant      
backlog ( visa applicants4  7#b7 ,if !  
consul> fell[ or consul> employee       
det]m9es t an applicant is n able to    
communicate fully or accurately 9       
,engli% dur+ ! int]view1 ! applicant may
 be ref]r$ to a consulate 9 ! home      
c\ntry ( ! applicant = a foll[-up       
int]view conduct$ 9 ! native language ( 
! applicant4  4  7b7 ,consul> ,fell[s   
,program  7#a7 ,int]e/ 9 ! ,consul>     
,fell[s ,program ,individuals :o regi/] 
to take ! ,=eign ,s]vice ,(fic]s ,te/   
%all be ask$ if !y w\ld l to receive    
in=mation ab\t ! ,consul> ,fell[s       
,program4  7#b7 ,expansion2 recruitm5t  
,subject to ! availability (            
appropriations = su* purpose1 !         
,assi/ant ,secret>y ( ,/ate = ,consul>  
,affairs %all exp& ! ,consul> ,fell[s   
,program by #e p]c5t annually ?r\gh     
fiscal ye> #bjcj by recruit+ individuals
 ) a demon/rat$ int]e/ 9 s]v+ ! ,unit$  
,/ates ,gov]nm5t & liv+ abroad & :o     
possess valuable language skills1       

p>ticul>ly individuals ^: scores on !   
,=eign ,s]vice ,(fic] ,te/ are )9 #aj   
p]c5t ( ! score requir$ to be invit$ to 
! ,=eign ,s]vice ,oral ,assessm5t1 to   
p>ticipate 9 ! ,consul> ,fell[s         
,program4  7#c7 ,tra9+ ,ea* p>ticipant 9
 ! ,consul> ,fell[s ,program %all       
complete #f mon?s ( tra9+ 9 ! ,unit$    
,/ates1 :i* %all include conduct+       
,engli%-language int]views ( visa       
applicants on behalf (-- 7,a7 consulates
 t h an insuffici5t numb] ( consul>     
(fic]s2 or  7,b7 ! consulate at :i* !   
p>ticipant is expect$ to be /ation$4    
7#d7 ,po/-fell[%ip b5efit ,) respect to 
an individual :o successfully completes 
an assignm5t z a ,consul> ,fell[ ) !    
,bureau ( ,consul> ,affairs la/+ n less 
?an #c ye>s1 dur+ ! #a-ye> p]iod beg9n+ 
on ! date on :i* ! individual completes 
t assignm5t1 ! ,secret>y ( ,/ate may    
noncompetitively appo9t ! individual to 
a position 9 ! ,dep>tm5t ( ,/ate4  #c4  
,improv+ acc\ntability & transp>5cy  7a7
 ,nonimmigrant visa process+ /&>ds ,x is

 ! s5se ( ,congress t n few] ?an #hj    
p]c5t ( applicants = nonimmigrant visas 
:o submit applications at a ,unit$      
,/ates consulate %\ld be int]view$ by   
appropriate consul> /aff n lat] ?an #ba 
days aft] _! application is receiv$ by  
su* consulate4  7b7 ,wait times ,!      
consul g5]al at ea* ,unit$ ,/ates       
consulate %all-- 7#a7 categorize wait   
times nonimmigrant visa applicant       
int]views bas$ on goals e/abli%$ by     
,congress1 ! ,secret>y ( ,/ate1 or !    
,assi/ant ,secret>y ( ,/ate = ,consul>  
,affairs2  7#b7 make su* categorizations
 publicly available2 &  7#c7 regul>ly   
update su* categorizations4  7c7        
,recurr+ noncompliance ) wait "t /&>d   
,if a consulate is n 9 compliance ) !   
int]view wait "t /&>d e/abli%$ pursuant 
to subsection 7d77#a7 = #ij consecutive 
days1 ! ,secret>y ( ,/ate %all develop  
protocols to r$uce su* wait times1 :i*  
may include-- 7#a7 all[+ o!r consulates 
to %>e _! /aff ) ! noncompliant         
consulate2  7#b7 increas+ 9-p]son /aff+ 

at ! noncompliant consulate2  7#c7      
submitt+ a plan to ! ,secret>y ( ,/ate =
 improv+ ! effici5cy ) :i* consul> /aff 
process nonimmigrant visa applications2 
&  7#d7 implem5t+ o!r rem$ial ef=ts1 z  
necess>y1 includ+-- 7,a7 te*nological   
upgrades2  7,b7 ov]time allocations2 &  
7,c7 a new appo9tm5t s*$ul+ process4    
7d7 ,rulemak+  7#a7 ,9 g5]al ,!         
,secret>y ( ,/ate1 9 consultation ) !   
,assi/ant ,secret>y ( ,/ate = ,consul>  
,affairs1 %all issue regulations t--    
7,a7 e/abli% /&>ds = nonimmigrant visa  
process+ timel9es t designate phases =  
compliance & ongo+ improvem5t1 9        
accordance ) subsection 7a72  7,b7      
e/abli% a trigg] me*anism t             
automatically gu>antees imm$iate support
 = a nonimmigrant visa applicants aft] a
 specifi$ p]iod1 9 accordance )         
subsection 7c74  7#b7 ,m9imum /&>ds =   
nonimmigrant visa process+ ,! trigg]    
me*anism e/abli%$ "u p>agraph 7#a77;,b7 
%all1 at a m9imum1 gu>antee support1 9  
accordance ) subsection 7c71 = a        

consulate at :i*1 dur+ ! prec$+ #cj-;day
 p]iod1 n few] ?an #bj p]c5t (          
nonimmigrant visa applicants receiv$ an 
int]view )9 #de days ( ! date on :i* _! 
application 0 receiv$ by su* consulate4 
7#c7 ,notice & comm5t exemption ,9 issu+
 regulations pursuant to p>agraph 7#a71 
! ,secret>y ( ,/ate is exempt$ f !      
requirem5ts set =? 9 subsections 7b7 &  
7c7 ( section #eec ( title #e1 ,unit$   
,/ates ,code4  7e7 ,au?ority ,to transf]
 ,dep>tm5t ( ,/ate appropriations to    
improve passport & visa s]vices  7#a7 ,9
 g5]al ,= any fiscal ye>1 ! ,secret>y ( 
,/ate may transf] n m ?an #aj1jjj1jjj to
 ! ,consul> & ,bord] ,security ,programs
 acc\nt f unobligat$ am\nts held 9 o!r  
,dep>tm5t ( ,/ate acc\nts or any        
unobligat$ balance f prior ,acts mak+   
appropriations = ! ,dep>tm5t ( ,/ate if 
! ,secret>y submits a report to !       
appropriate committees ( ,congress      
provid+ details on ! use ( ! funds4     
7#b7 ,use ( transf]r$ funds ,any am\nts 
s transf]r$ %all be us$ solely = !      

purpose ( c>ry+ out ! protocols describ$
 9 subsection 7c7 or improv+ passport or
 visa s]vices4  7#c7 ,appropriate       
committees ( ,congress def9e ,9 ?is     
subsection1 ! t]m appropriate committees
 ( ,congress means-- 7,a7 ! ,committee  
on ! ,judici>y1 ! ,committee on ,=eign  
,relations1 & ! ,committee on           
,appropriations ( ! ,s5ate2 &  7,b7 !   
,committee on ! ,judici>y1 ! ,committee 
on ,=eign ,affairs1 & ! ,committee on   
,appropriations ( ! ,h\se (             
,repres5tatives4  #d4 ,revis+ 9-p]son   
int]view waiv] eligibility  7a7         
,expansion ( classes ( ali5s eligible = 
9-,p]son int]view waiv] ,section        
#bbb7;h77#a77;,a7 ( ! ,immigration &    
,nationality ,act 7#h ,u4,s4,c4         
#aahb7;h77#a77;,a77 is am5d$-- 7#a7 9   
clause 7iii71 by /rik+ or at ! end2     
7#b7 by add+ at ! end ! foll[+3  7iv7   
7,i7 apply+ = ! fir/ "t = a nonimmigrant
 visa describ$ 9 subp>agraph 7,b71 7,f71
 7,h7 7,j71 7,l71 7,m71 7,o71 7,p71 or  
7,q72  7,,ii7 a national ( a c\ntry     

designat$ z a program c\ntry "u section 
#bag7;c72 &  7,,iii7 a previ\s travel]  
to ! ,unit$ ,/ates ?r\gh ! ,electronic  
,sy/em = ,travel ,au?orization2 or4  4  
7b7 ,prior submission ( biometric data  
,section #bbb7;h77#a77;,a7 ( !          
,immigration & ,nationality ,act 7#h    
,u4,s4,c4 #abjb7;h77#a77;,a771 z am5d$  
by subsection 7a71 is fur!r am5d$ by    
add+ at ! end ! foll[+3  7vi7 7,i7 n a  
fir/ "t applicant = a nonimmigrant visa2
  7,,ii7 is an individual :o-- 7aa7 has 
previ\sly submitt$ biometric data to !  
,dep>tm5t ( ,/ate or ,dep>tm5t ( ,homel&
 ,security2 &  7bb7 has held a valid    
visa describ$ 9 subp>agraph 7,b71 7,f71 
7,h71 7,j71 7,l71 7,m71 7,o71 7,p7 or   
7,q7 n m ?an #bd mon?s be=e submitt+ !  
curr5t application2 &  7,,iii7 an       
individual ) respect to :om ! consul>   
(fic] has no indication has n compli$ ) 
! immigration laws & regulations ( !    
,unit$ ,/ates4  4  7c7 ,prior visa issu$
 ,section #bbb7;h77#a77;,b77i7 ( !      
,immigration & ,nationality ,act 7#h    

,u4,s4,c4 #abjb7;h77#a77;,b77i77 is     
am5d$ by /rik+ #ab mon?s & ins]t+ #dh   
mon?s4  7d7 ,remote int]view pilot      
,section #bbb ( ! ,immigration &        
,nationality ,act1 z am5d$ by section   
#b7;a71 is fur!r am5d$-- 7#a7 9         
subsection 7h71 by ins]t+ except z      
provid$ 9 subsection 7j71 aft] ( ?is    
,act12 &  7#b7 by add+ at ! end !       
foll[+3  7j7 ,! 9-p]son int]view        
requirem5t "u subsection 7h7 may be     
satisfi$ by remote videoconf]5ce        
int]view if-- 7#a7 ! ,secret>y ( ,/ate1 
9 conjunction ) ! ,secret>y ( ,homel&   
,security1 c]tifies to ,congress t su* a
 videoconf]5ce int]view w n cause undue 
security conc]n1 z demon/rat$ by a      
#b-ye> pilot program to be c>ri$ out by 
! ,secret>y ( ,/ate & ! ,secret>y (     
,homel& ,security = su* purpose2  7#b7 !
 videoconf]5ce te*nology us$ to conduct 
su* an int]view-- 7,a7 meets applicable 
security & privacy /&>ds1 consi/5t )    
,dep>tm5t ( ,homel& ,security           
regulations2 &  7,b7 is capable (       

captur+ & collect+ biometrics1 9        
accordance ) nonimmigrant visa          
application requirem5ts2  7#c7 su* an   
int]view may be conduct$ by a p>ticipant
 9 ! ,consul> ,fell[s program2 &  7#d7 !
 visa applicant to be s int]view$-- 7,a7
 is a =m] visa hold] :o is apply+ = a   
,b-#a or ,b-#b visa on a date t is n m  
?an #dh mon?s aft] ! date on :i* !      
previ\s visa issu$ to ! applicant       
expir$2  7,b7 has nev] be5 refus$ or    
d5i$ a visa2  7,c7 appe>s to be prima   
facie eligible = ! ,b-#a or ,b-#b visa2 
7,d7 is resid+ 9 8 or h] c\ntry (       
citiz5%ip2  7,e7 is able & will+ to     
complete ! entire int]view 9 ,engli%2 & 
7,f7 is a citiz5 ( a c\ntry ) an active 
,global ,entry agreem5t4  4  #e4        
,improv+ ! s]vice exp]i5ce  7a7 ,exp$it$
 s]vice  7#a7 ,9 g5]al ,any fir/-"t visa
 applicant :o is eligible = a waiv] ( ! 
9-p]son int]view requirem5t "u section  
#bbb7;h77#a7 ( ! ,immigration &         
,nationality ,act 7#h ,u4,s4,c4         
#abjb7;h771 z am5d$ by section #d1 may1 

^u ! paym5t ( ! fees describ$ 9 p>agraph
 7#b71 reque/ exp$it$ s]vice1 :i* %all  
entitle ! applicant to a remote int]view
 n lat] ?an #ad days aft] ! applicant   
files a complet$ application = su* visa4
  7#b7 ,fee ,9 addition to ! application
 fee o!rwise requir$ to be submitt$ ) an
 application = a visa1 an applicant     
describ$ 9 p>agraph 7#a7 seek+ exp$it$  
s]vice "u su* p>agraph %all include ) ! 
application a paym5t ( #ejj1 79 ! case (
 an individual ov] ! age ( #ag ye>s7 or 
#ej 79 ! case ( an individual :o is #ag 
ye>s ( age or y\ng]7 :i* %all be us$ by 
! ,secret>y ( ,/ate-- 7,a7 to pay = !   
expansion ( ! ,consul> ,fell[s ,program 
requir$ "u section #b7;b72 &  7,b7 to   
support ! recruitm5t & tra9+ ( suffici5t
 additional consul> /aff to provide !   
exp$it$ s]vices to :i* applicants are   
entitl$ "u p>agraph 7#a74  7b7 ,dome/ic 
r5ewal ( ,b visitor visas ,section      
#bba7;c77#b7 ( ! ,immigration &         
,nationality ,act 7#h ,u4,s4,c4         
#abja7;c77#b77 is am5d$-- 7#a7 by /rik+ 

,a nonimmigrant & ins]t+ ! foll[+3  7,a7
 ,p]iod ( validity ,a nonimmigrant  2 & 
7#b7 by add+ at ! end ! foll[+3  7,b7   
,dome/ic r5ewal ( ,b-#a & ,b-#b visas   
7i7 ,9 g5]al ,subject to clause 7ii71   
any ali5 :o1 :ile visit+ ! ,unit$ ,/ates
 tempor>ily = bus9ess or pleasure 9     
accordance ) section #aja7;a77#ae77;,b71
 desires to ext5d 8 or h] p]iod ( /ay 9 
! ,unit$ ,/ates beyond ! initial p]iod  
grant$ by a ,b-#a or ,b-#b visa1 z      
applicable1 may apply = su* ext5sion n  
lat] ?an ! date e/abli%$ by ! ,secret>y 
( ,/ate pursuant to section #e7;c7 ( !  
,visa ,process+ ,improvem5t ,act )\t    
leav+ ! ,unit$ ,/ates by submitt+ an    
application to ! appropriate (fice ( !  
,dep>tm5t ( ,/ate1 toge!r ) a fee1 9 an 
am\nt to be det]m9$ by ! ,secret>y (    
,/ate4  7ii7 ,eligibility ,an ali5's    
p]iod ( /ay 9 ! ,unit$ ,/ates may n be  
ext5d$ "u clause 7i7 unless su* ali5 is 
eligible = an 9 p]son int]view waiv] "u 
section #bbb7;h77#a74  7iii7 ,/atus :ile
 application is p5d+ ,if an ali5's      

application = an ext5sion ( /ay "u      
clause 7i7 is n approv$ be=e !          
expiration ( ! ali5's initial p]iod (   
/ay1 ! ali5 %all imm$iately dep>t f !   
,unit$ ,/ates & may n re5t] ! ,unit$    
,/ates )\t a valid visa4  7iv7 ,process+
 r5ewals ,applications = an ext5sion (  
/ay "u clause 7i7 %all be consid]$ on a 
case-by-case basis & process$ ei!r by   
,dep>tm5t ( ,/ate /aff /ation$ 9 !      
,unit$ ,/ates or by consul> /aff 9 !    
applicants c\ntry ( orig91 dep5d+ on    
workload1 /aff availability1 & language 
requirem5ts4  4  7c7 ,rulemak+ ,!       
,secret>y ( ,/ate1 9 consultation ) !   
,secret>y ( ,homel& ,security1 %all     
promulgate regulations t e/abli%-- 7#a7 
! numb] ( days be=e ! expiration ( an   
ali5's initial p]iod ( admission "u a   
,b-#a or ,b-#b visa by :i* su* ali5 may 
apply = an ext5sion ( su* p]iod )\t     
leav+ ! ,unit$ ,/ates2 &  7#b7 ! am\nt (
 ! fee payable by any ali5 reque/+ an   
ext5sion ( 8 or h] p]iod ( /ay "u       
subp>agraph 7,b77i7 ( section           

#bba7;c77#b7 ( ! ,immigration &         
,nationality ,act 7#h ,u4,s4,c4         
#abja7;c77#b771 z am5d$ by subsection   
7b71 )\t leav+ ! ,unit$ ,/ates1 :i* %all
 be 9 addition to ! fee o!rwise requir$ 
to be submitt$ ) ! ,onl9e ,nonimmigrant 
,visa ,application =m 7commonly kn[n z !
 ,,ds-#afj7 & %all n include f+]pr9t+   
s]vice1 :i* %all be complet$ by         
applicants1 at _! own exp5se1 ?r\gh an  
approv$ ?ird-p>ty v5dor :o w %>e !      
f+]pr9ts directly ) ! ,dep>tm5t ( ,/ate 
& ! ,dep>tm5t ( ,homel& ,security4  7d7 
,ret5tion ( discretion>y au?ority       
,not)/&+ subp>agraph 7,b7 ( section     
#bba7;c77#b7 ( ! ,immigration &         
,nationality ,act 7#h ,u4,s4,c4         
#abja7;c77#b771 z am5d$ by subsection   
7b71 ! ,secret>y ( ,/ate & ! ,secret>y (
 ,homel& ,security %all h discretion>y  
au?ority to require visitors seek+ an   
ext5sion ( _! p]iod ( au?oriz$ /ay 9 !  
,unit$ ,/ates to leave ! ,unit$ ,/ates &
 complete 9-p]son int]views 9 _!        
respective c\ntries ( orig9 if !        

,secret>y ( ,/ate or ! ,secret>y (      
,homel& ,security det]m9e t su*         
requirem5t is necess>y = safety or      
security purposes4