119-s2555

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 2555 Introduced in Senate

    (IS) ]

<DOC>

119th CONGRESS
 1st Session
 S. 2555

 To improve student and exchange visitor visa programs.

_______________________________________________________________________

 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

 July 30, 2025

Mr. Tuberville introduced the following bill; which was read twice and 
 referred to the Committee on the Judiciary

_______________________________________________________________________

 A BILL

 To improve student and exchange visitor visa programs.

 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

 This Act may be cited as the ``Student Visa Integrity Act of 
2025''.

SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.

 In this Act:

    (1) SEVIS.--The term ``SEVIS'' means the Student and 
 Exchange Visitor Information System of the Department of 
 Homeland Security.

    (2) SEVP.--The term ``SEVP'' means the Student and Exchange 
 Visitor Program of the Department of Homeland Security.

SEC. 3. INCREASED CRIMINAL PENALTIES.

 

Section 1546

    (a) of title 18, United States Code, is amended by 
striking ``10 years'' and inserting ``15 years (if the offense was 
committed by an owner, official, employee, or agent of an educational 
institution with respect to such institution's participation in the 
Student and Exchange Visitor Program), 10 years''.

SEC. 4. ACCREDITATION OF ACADEMIC INSTITUTIONS.

 The Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1101 et seq.) is 
amended--

    (1) in 

section 101

    (a) (8 U.S.C. 1101

    (a) )--
        (A) in paragraph

    (15)
        (F)
            (i) --
            (i) by striking ``

section 214
            (l) '' and 
 inserting ``

section 214
            (m) '';
            (ii) by inserting ``language training 
 program,'' after ``elementary school,'';
            (iii) by striking ``or in an accredited 
 language training program''; and
            (iv) by striking ``Attorney General'' each 
 place such term appears and inserting 
 ``Secretary of Homeland Security''; and
        (B) by striking paragraph

    (52) ; and

    (2) in 

section 214
            (m) (8 U.S.C. 1184
            (m) ), by adding at the 
 end the following:
 ``

    (3)
        (A) The Secretary of Homeland Security or Secretary of State, 
as appropriate, shall require accreditation of an academic institution 
(except for a public elementary or secondary school), language training 
program, or any program of study for which approval under subparagraph
        (F) or
            (M) of 

section 101

    (a)

    (15) , or designation under 

section 101

    (a)

    (15)
        (J) , is sought or has been granted.
 ``
        (B) In this paragraph, the term `accreditation' means 
accreditation by an accrediting agency recognized by the Secretary of 
Education.
 ``

    (4)
        (A) The Secretary of Homeland Security, in the Secretary's 
discretion, may waive the accreditation requirement under paragraph

    (3) if--
 ``
            (i) the academic institution concerned is otherwise in 
 compliance with subparagraph
        (F) ,
        (J) , or
            (M) of 

section 101

    (a)

    (15) , as applicable, and 

section 641 of the Illegal 
 Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996 (8 
 U.S.C. 1372);
 ``
            (ii) an appropriate accrediting agency recognized by the 
 Secretary of Education is able to provide such accreditation; 
 and
 ``
            (iii) on the date of enactment of this paragraph, the 
 academic institution concerned has been a candidate for 
 accreditation for not less than 1 year and continues to make 
 appropriate progress toward accreditation by an accrediting 
 agency recognized by the Secretary of Education.
 ``
        (B) A waiver granted under this paragraph may not be valid for a 
period longer than 1 year. Such waiver may be extended in 1-year 
increments, provided the academic institution concerned continues to 
satisfy the requirements of subparagraph
        (A) , up to the maximum length 
of time an academic institution may remain a candidate for 
accreditation with the recognized accrediting agency.
 ``
            (C) The Secretary of Homeland Security shall maintain and publish 
a current list of all academic institutions that have been granted a 
waiver under this paragraph.''.

SEC. 5. REPORTING PAYMENT OF TUITION.

 

Section 641
            (c) (1) of the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant 
Responsibility Act of 1996 (8 U.S.C. 1372
            (c) (1) ) is amended--

    (1) in subparagraph
        (G) , by striking ``and'' at the end;

    (2) in subparagraph
        (H) , by striking the period at the end 
 and inserting a semicolon; and

    (3) by adding at the end the following:
 ``
            (I) the date on which full tuition has been paid 
 by the alien.''.

SEC. 6. DISCLOSURE OF SCHOOL AFFILIATION WITH THE GOVERNMENT OF THE 
 PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF CHINA.

 

Section 641
            (d) of the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant 
Responsibility Act of 1996 (8 U.S.C. 1372
            (d) ) is amended--

    (1) by redesignating paragraph

    (2) as paragraph

    (3) ; and

    (2) by inserting after paragraph

    (1) the following:
 ``

    (2) Supporting documents required for certification.--
 Institutions of higher education and other approved educational 
 institutions petitioning for certification or recertification 
 with the Student and Exchange Visitor Program to authorize the 
 attendance of nonimmigrant students described in subparagraph
        (F)
            (i) or
            (M) 
            (i) of 

section 101

    (a)

    (15) of the Immigration and 
 Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1101

    (a)

    (15) ) shall include with such 
 petition--
 ``
        (A) final copies of any contracts, agreements, or 
 documentation of financial transactions between the 
 institution or its affiliated student or faculty 
 groups, foundations, or related entities and any 
 educational, cultural, or language entity that is 
 directly or indirectly funded by the Government of the 
 People's Republic of China; and
 ``
        (B) a detailed description of any financial 
 contributions from the Government of the People's 
 Republic of China or its affiliates to any student or 
 faculty groups affiliated with such institution.''.

SEC. 7. PENALTIES FOR FAILURE TO COMPLY WITH SEVIS REPORTING 
 REQUIREMENTS.

 

Section 641 of the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant 
Responsibility Act of 1996 (8 U.S.C. 1372), as amended by this Act, is 
further amended--

    (1) in subsection
            (c) (1) --
        (A) by striking ``institution,,'' each place such 
 term appears and inserting ``institution,''; and
        (B) in subparagraph
            (D) , by striking ``and'' at the 
 end; and

    (2) in subsection
            (d) --
        (A) in paragraph

    (1)
        (A) , by striking 
 ``institution,,'' and inserting ``institution,''; and
        (B) in paragraph

    (3) , as redesignated by 

section 6, 
 by striking ``fails to provide the specified 
 information'' and all that follows through the period 
 at the end and inserting ``does not comply with all 
 reporting requirements set forth in this section, the 
 Secretary of Homeland Security or Secretary of State, 
 as applicable, shall--
 ``
        (A) impose a monetary fine on such institution or 
 program in an amount to be determined by the applicable 
 Secretary that is not less than $1,000;
 ``
        (B)
            (i) suspend the authority of such institution 
 or program to issue the documents described in 
 paragraph

    (1)
        (B) , such as the Form I-20 or DS-2019, 
 until the date on which all such reporting requirements 
 are met; or
 ``
            (ii) 
            (I) in the case of an approved institution of 
 higher education, or other approved educational 
 institution, terminate the approval of such institution 
 under subparagraph
        (F) or
            (M) of 

section 101

    (a)

    (15) of 
 the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 
 1101

    (a)

    (15) ); and
 ``
            (II) in the case of a designated exchange visitor 
 program, terminate such designation;
 ``
            (C) if all such reporting requirements have not 
 been satisfied within the 180-day period after the date 
 on which the applicable reporting was required to have 
 been made and the penalty described in subparagraph
        (B)
            (ii) has not already been imposed, impose such 
 penalty; and
 ``
            (D) if such noncompliance involves the 
 information or documentation described in paragraph

    (2) , conduct an out-of-cycle review of the institution 
 or program.''.

SEC. 8. VISA FRAUD.

    (a) Immediate Withdrawal of SEVP Certification.--

Section 641
            (d) of 
the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996 
(8 U.S.C. 1372
            (d) ), as amended by this Act, is further amended by 
adding at the end the following:
 ``

    (4) Effect of fraud indictment or reasonable suspicion of 
 fraud.--If the Secretary of Homeland Security or the Secretary 
 of State, as appropriate, knows or has reasonable grounds to 
 believe that a principal or a designated school official of an 
 approved institution of higher education or other approved 
 educational institution, or a principal, responsible officer, 
 alternate responsible officer of a designated exchange visitor 
 program, has committed fraud or attempted to commit fraud 
 relating to any aspect of the program described in subsection

    (a)

    (1) , or if such principal, designated school official, or 
 responsible officer or alternate responsible officer, is 
 indicted for such fraud, the relevant Secretary may 
 immediately, in the Secretary's discretion, impose any of the 
 following sanctions:
 ``
        (A)
            (i) In the case of an approved institution of 
 higher education, or other approved educational 
 institution, suspension, without prior notice, of the 
 approval of such institution under subparagraph
        (F) or
            (M) of 

section 101

    (a)

    (15) of the Immigration and 
 Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1101

    (a)

    (15) ).
 ``
            (ii) In the case of a designated exchange visitor 
 program, suspension, without prior notice, of such 
 designation.
 ``
        (B) Suspension of such official's, responsible 
 officer's, or alternate responsible officer's access to 
 databases or systems implementing the program described 
 in subsection

    (a)

    (1) .
 ``
            (C) Suspension of the authority of such 
 institution or program to issue the documents described 
 in paragraph

    (1)
        (B) .''.

    (b) Effect of Conviction for Student Visa Fraud.--

Section 641
            (d) of 
the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996 
(8 U.S.C. 1372
            (d) ), as amended by this Act, is further amended by 
adding at the end the following:
 ``

    (5) Permanent disqualification for convictions.--A 
 principal or a designated school official at an approved 
 institution of higher education or other approved educational 
 institution, or a principal or a responsible officer or 
 alternate responsible officer at a designated exchange visitor 
 program, shall be permanently disqualified from participation 
 in the program described in paragraph

    (1) and permanently 
 ineligible to submit a petition for approval of such 
 institution under subparagraph
        (F) or
            (M) of 

section 101

    (a)

    (15) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1101

    (a)

    (15) ) 
 if he or she is convicted of a violation, punishable by a term 
 of imprisonment of more than 1 year, of any of the following:
 ``
        (A) Section 274 of the Immigration and 
 Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1324) (relating to unlawful 
 bringing of aliens into the United States).
 ``
        (B) Section 1546 of title 18, United States Code 
 (relating to fraud and misuse of visas, permits, and 
 other documents) relating to an academic institution's 
 participation in the Student and Exchange Visitor 
 Program.
 ``
            (C) Chapter 37 of title 18, United States Code 
 (relating to espionage and censorship).
 ``
            (D) Chapter 77 of title 18, United States Code 
 (relating to peonage, slavery and trafficking in 
 persons).
 ``
        (E) Chapter 117 of title 18, United States Code 
 (relating to transportation for illegal sexual activity 
 and related crimes).''.

SEC. 9. ELIGIBILITY REVIEWS AND PROGRAM INTEGRITY.

    (a) In General.--

Section 641
            (d) of the Illegal Immigration Reform 
and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996 (8 U.S.C. 1372
            (d) ), as amended 
by this Act, is further amended by adding at the end the following:
 ``

    (6) Eligibility review requirement.--
 ``
        (A) In general.--An individual may not serve as a 
 principal or designated school official at an approved 
 institution of higher education or other approved 
 educational institution, or as a principal, responsible 
 officer, or alternate responsible officer at a 
 designated exchange visitor program, or be granted 
 access to any database or system implementing the 
 program described in subsection

    (a)

    (1) unless the 
 individual is a citizen or national of the United 
 States or an alien lawfully admitted for permanent 
 residence and, except as provided in subparagraph
            (D) , 
 during the immediately preceding 4-year period--
 ``
            (i) the Secretary of Homeland Security 
 has--
 ``
            (I) conducted a thorough 
 eligibility review of the individual, 
 including--
 ``

    (aa) a review of the 
 individual's criminal and sex 
 offender history; and
 ``

    (bb) a verification of 
 the individual's immigration 
 status; and
 ``
            (II) determined that--
 ``

    (aa) the individual has, 
 to the satisfaction of the 
 Secretary of Homeland Security, 
 been determined eligible after 
 the review required under 
 subclause
            (I) ;
 ``

    (bb) the individual has 
 not been found to have violated 
 the immigration laws; and
 ``
            (cc) in the discretion of 
 the Secretary of Homeland 
 Security, the individual is not 
 a risk to public safety or the 
 national security of the United 
 States; and
 ``
            (ii) the individual has successfully 
 completed an on-line training course on the 
 program described in subsection

    (a)

    (1) and any 
 database or system implementing such program, 
 which has been developed by the Secretary.
 ``
        (B) Designated school officials and responsible 
 officers.--
 ``
            (i) In general.--More than one individual 
 shall serve as a designated school official or 
 responsible officer, as applicable.
 ``
            (ii) Reviews by the secretary.--If an 
 individual serving as designated school 
 official or responsible officer under clause
            (i) does not successfully complete the 
 background check required by subparagraph
        (A)
            (i) 
            (I) , the Secretary of Homeland Security 
 shall review a representative, statistically 
 significant sample of the documents described 
 in paragraph

    (1)
        (B) issued by such designated 
 school official or responsible officer.
 ``
            (iii) Termination.--Notwithstanding the 
 satisfaction of an eligibility review under 
 subparagraph
        (A) by a principal, designated 
 school official, responsible officer, or 
 alternate responsible officer, the Secretary of 
 Homeland Security may, in the discretion of the 
 Secretary, terminate or suspend such 
 principal's, official's, or officer's access to 
 databases or systems implementing the program 
 described in subsection

    (a)

    (1) , based on 
 information relating to such principal's, 
 official's, or officer's eligibility reviewed 
 by the Secretary at any time other than the 
 period for eligibility review described in 
 subparagraph
        (A) .
 ``
            (C) Direct and third-party promoters and 
 recruiters.--
 ``
            (i) Rules and standards.--Direct and 
 third-party promoters of an approved 
 institution of higher education or other 
 approved educational institution shall comply 
 with the rules and standards prescribed by the 
 Secretary of Homeland Security to oversee such 
 promotion and recruitment, including--
 ``
            (I) registration with U.S. 
 Immigration and Customs Enforcement, 
 which the Secretary shall make publicly 
 available;
 ``
            (II) minimum qualifications;
 ``
            (III) guidelines for representing 
 study opportunities in the United 
 States, generally, and with such 
 approved institutions specifically, to 
 foreign nationals; and
 ``
            (IV) permissible fee 
 arrangements.
 ``
            (ii) Effect of violation.--If the 
 Secretary of Homeland Security determines, in 
 the Secretary's unreviewable discretion, that a 
 direct or third-party promoter or recruiter has 
 violated any rule or standard described in 
 clause
            (i) , the Secretary shall suspend or 
 permanently bar such individual from 
 association with an approved institution.
 ``
            (iii) Compliance.--Each approved 
 institution shall maintain a written agreement 
 between the approved institution and each 
 direct or third-party promoter or recruiter 
 operating on behalf of such approved 
 institution that outlines the rules and 
 standards prescribed under clause
            (i) .
 ``
            (D) === Definitions. ===
-In this paragraph:
 ``
            (i) Principal.--The term `principal' 
 means an individual who is considered to be an 
 owner or in a position of substantive authority 
 to make policy, operational, or managerial 
 decisions affecting academic programs or the 
 entire institution or program at an approved 
 institution of higher education, other approved 
 educational institution, or designated exchange 
 visitor program.
 ``
            (ii) Substantive authority.--With respect 
 to the position of an individual, the term 
 `substantive authority' mean the individual 
 serves as an administrator, officer, board 
 member, manager, executive, general partner, 
 fiduciary, or in a similar position.
 ``
        (E) Review period.--A person already serving in a 
 position described in subparagraph
        (A) on the date of 
 the enactment of this paragraph shall undergo an 
 eligibility review during the 5-year period immediately 
 following such date of enactment of this Act and 
 thereafter according to the timetable described in such 
 subparagraph.
 ``

    (7) Fee.--The Secretary of Homeland Security is 
 authorized to collect a fee from an approved institution of 
 higher education or other approved educational institution, or 
 designated exchange visitor program, for each eligibility 
 review conducted under paragraph

    (6)
        (A)
            (i) . The amount of such 
 fee shall be equal to the average amount expended by the 
 Secretary to conduct such eligibility review.
 ``

    (8) Financial responsibility.--An approved institution of 
 higher education or other approved educational institution may 
 require tuition payment before issuing a document described in 
 paragraph

    (1)
        (B) .
 ``

    (9) Transfer students.--An approved institution of higher 
 education or other approved educational institution may not 
 issue a document described in paragraph

    (1)
        (B) to an alien 
 student seeking to transfer from one approved institution to 
 another.
 ``

    (10) Commitment to major or program.--An alien student 
 shall not have the ability to change their program of study or 
 intended major as reported on their Form I-20.
 ``

    (11) Audits and site visits.--Each fiscal year the 
 Secretary of Homeland Security or the Secretary of State, as 
 appropriate, shall perform a site visit and audit of not less 
 than 1 percent of the approved institutions of higher education 
 or other approved educational institutions that maintain, in 
 the databases or systems implementing the program described in 
 subsection

    (a)

    (1) , 1 or more students who have graduated from a 
 course of study at such institution.
 ``

    (12) Employer requirements.--
 ``
        (A) In general.--The lawful employer of an alien 
 student described in subsection

    (a)

    (1)
        (A) shall--
 ``
            (i) be registered and a participant in 
 good standing in the electronic employment 
 verification program initiated in 

section 403 
 of the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant 
 Responsibility Act of 1996 (division C of 
 Public Law 104-208; 8 U.S.C. 1324a note);
 ``
            (ii) report to the alien's institution of 
 higher education or other approved educational 
 institution--
 ``
            (I) the position that the alien 
 is filling;
 ``
            (II) the location of the alien's 
 worksite;
 ``
            (III) the wage that the alien 
 will be paid; and
 ``
            (IV) within 48 hours--
 ``

    (aa) the termination of 
 the alien from the employment;
 ``

    (bb) the resignation of 
 the alien from employment; or
 ``
            (cc) the failure of the 
 alien to report for work for a 
 period of 5 consecutive work 
 days without the consent of the 
 employer; and
 ``
            (iii) as a condition precedent of such 
 employment, attest under penalty of perjury to 
 the Secretary of Labor that--
 ``
            (I) the student will not replace 
 a full-time or part-time United States 
 worker (as defined in 

section 212

    (t)

    (4) of the Immigration and Nationality Act 
 (8 U.S.C. 1182

    (t)

    (4) )); and
 ``
            (II) the terms and conditions of 
 the employment, including duties, 
 hours, and compensation, are 
 commensurate with terms and conditions 
 applicable to the employer's similarly 
 situated United States workers in the 
 area of employment.
 ``
        (B) Limitation on employment authorization.--The 
 Secretary of Homeland Security shall not grant 
 employment authorization to an alien student described 
 in subsection

    (a)

    (1)
        (A) --
 ``
            (i) during a period of at least 1 year to 
 work for, either directly or indirectly, an 
 employer that the Secretary of Labor has found 
 to have failed to meet the requirements under 
 clause
            (i) or
            (ii) of subparagraph
        (A) ;
 ``
            (ii) during a period of at least 3 years 
 to work for, either directly or indirectly, an 
 employer that the Secretary of Labor has found 
 to have failed to meet the requirements under 
 clause
            (iii) of subparagraph
        (A) ; and
 ``
            (iii) during a period of at least 10 
 years to work for, either directly or 
 indirectly, an employer that the Secretary of 
 Labor has found, after notice and opportunity 
 for a hearing, to have willfully failed to meet 
 the requirements under clause
            (iii) of 
 subparagraph
        (A) .''.

    (b) Effective Date.--The amendments made by this section shall take 
effect on the date that is 1 year after the date of the enactment of 
this Act.

SEC. 10. REVOCATION OF AUTHORITY TO ISSUE A VISA ELIGIBILITY DOCUMENT 
 TO NONIMMIGRANT STUDENTS OF UNCERTIFIED FLIGHT TRAINING 
 PROVIDERS.

 Immediately upon the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of 
Homeland Security shall prohibit any flight training provider from 
receiving SEVP certification and rescind the SEVP certification of any 
flight training provider if the flight training provider has not been 
certificated to the satisfaction of the Secretary and by the Federal 
Aviation Administration pursuant to part 141 or part 142 of title 14, 
Code of Federal Regulations (or successor regulations).

SEC. 11. REVOCATION OF ACCREDITATION.

    (a) Notification.--An accrediting agency or association that is 
required to notify the Secretary of Education and the appropriate State 
licensing or authorizing agency of the final denial, withdrawal, 
suspension, or termination of accreditation of an institution pursuant 
to 

section 496 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1099b) 
shall also notify the Secretary of Homeland Security and Secretary of 
State of such determination within 30 days of such withdrawal, 
suspension, or termination.

    (b) Termination of Approval.--Upon receipt of the notification 
described in paragraph

    (1) , the Secretary of Homeland Security shall 
terminate the approval of such institution under subparagraph
        (F) or
            (M) of 

section 101

    (a)

    (15) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 
U.S.C. 1101

    (a)

    (15) ).

SEC. 12. TRACKING NONIMMIGRANT ALIENS ENGAGED IN STUDY IN THE UNITED 
 STATES.

 Subparagraph
        (A) of 

section 641

    (a)

    (1) of the Illegal Immigration 
Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996 (8 U.S.C. 1372

    (a)

    (1) ) 
is amended to read as follows:
 ``
        (A)
            (i) have the status, or are applying for the 
 status--
 ``
            (I) of a nonimmigrant under subparagraph
        (F) ,
        (J) , or
            (M) of 

section 1101

    (a)

    (15) of the 
 Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 
 1101

    (a)

    (15) ); or
 ``
            (II) of a nonimmigrant under the 
 immigration laws (as defined in 

section 101

    (a) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 
 U.S.C. 1101

    (a) )) and are pursuing or intend to 
 pursue a full course of study at an institution 
 or language training program described in 
 subparagraph
        (F) or
            (M) of 

section 101

    (a)

    (15) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 
 U.S.C. 1101

    (a)

    (15) ); and''.

SEC. 13. LANGUAGE STUDY AND FLIGHT TRAINING IN STUDENT STATUS.

 

Section 214
            (m) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 
1184
            (m) ), as amended by this Act, is further amended by adding at the 
end the following:
 ``

    (5) Language study and flight training.--
 ``
        (A) In general.--
 ``
            (i) An alien seeking to participate in a 
 language training program may do so only in the 
 status of a nonimmigrant under subparagraph
        (F) ,
        (J) , or
            (M) of 

section 101

    (a)

    (15) .
 ``
            (ii) An alien seeking to participate in a 
 flight training program may do so only in the 
 status of a nonimmigrant under subparagraph
        (F) or
            (M) of 

section 101

    (a)

    (15) .
 ``
        (B) Exception.--The requirement in subparagraph
        (A)
            (ii) shall not apply to occupational training or a 
 refresher or continuing education course or seminar, 
 where such training, course, or seminar is short-
 duration and necessary to maintain a previously 
 obtained certification or rating, or otherwise 
 professionally required.''.

SEC. 14. PROHIBITION ON FLIGHT TRAINING AND NUCLEAR STUDIES FOR 
 NATIONALS OF COUNTRIES OF CONCERN.

    (a) In General.--The Secretary of State shall deny a visa to, and 
the Secretary of Homeland Security shall not admit, grant status to, or 
parole into the United States, any alien--

    (1) who is a citizen of--
        (A) Afghanistan, Iran, Iraq, Libya, or Syria; or
        (B) any country designated by the Secretary of 
 State under 

section 6

    (j) of the Export Administration 
 Act of 1979 (50 U.S.C. 2405) (as continued in effect 
 under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act 
 (50 U.S.C. 1701 et seq.)), 

section 40 of the Arms 
 Export Control Act (22 U.S.C. 2780), 

section 620A of 
 the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 (22 U.S.C. 2371), or 
 any other provision of law, as a country the government 
 of which has repeatedly provided support of acts of 
 international terrorism; and

    (2)
        (A) who is an applicant for a visa and who the Secretary 
 of State determines seeks to enter the United States--
            (i) to participate in coursework at an institution 
 of higher education (as defined in 

section 101

    (a) of 
 the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1001

    (a) )) 
 to prepare the alien for a career in--
            (I) the energy sector of Iran; or
            (II) nuclear science, nuclear engineering, 
 or a related field; or
            (ii) to participate in coursework or training 
 relating to or otherwise engage in flight training, 
 aviation maintenance, or flight operations;
        (B) who is applying for admission to the United States and 
 who the Secretary of Homeland Security determines seeks to 
 participate in coursework, training, or activities described in 
 subparagraph
        (A) ;
            (C) who is in the United States and who the Secretary of 
 Homeland Security determines is applying to change or extend 
 status to participate in such coursework, training, or 
 activities; or
            (D) who is in the United States and authorized to study, 
 and who the Secretary of Homeland Security determines is 
 participating in such coursework, training, or activities or 
 seeks to change his or her field of study to participate in 
 such coursework, training, or activities.

    (b) Termination of Status.--The Secretary of Homeland Security 
shall terminate the nonimmigrant status, or otherwise revoke the 
authorization to remain in the United States, of any alien described in 
subsection

    (a) who is physically present in the United States.
            (c) Countries of Concern.--

    (1) In general.--The Secretary of Homeland Security may, in 
 the discretion of the Secretary of Homeland Security, and in 
 consultation with the Secretary of State and the Director of 
 National Intelligence, designate additional countries the 
 nationals of which are subject to the restrictions described in 
 subsection

    (a) .

    (2) Considerations.--In making a designation under 
 paragraph

    (1) , the Secretary of Homeland Security shall 
 consider whether--
        (A) the presence of an alien in the country or area 
 concerned increases the likelihood that the alien is a 
 credible threat to the national security of the United 
 States;
        (B) a foreign terrorist organization has a 
 significant presence in the country or area; and
            (C) the country or area is a safe haven for 
 terrorists.

    (3) Review.--Not less frequently than annually, the 
 Secretary of Homeland Security shall conduct a review of each 
 designation made under paragraph

    (1) .
            (d) Repeal.--

Section 501 of the Iran Threat Reduction and Syria 
Human Rights Act of 2012 (22 U.S.C. 8771) is repealed.

SEC. 15. EXCLUSION OF CITIZENS OF ADVERSARIAL COUNTRIES FROM SEEKING 
 EDUCATION IN THE UNITED STATES.

    (a) In General.--The Secretary of State shall deny a visa to, and 
the Secretary of Homeland Security shall exclude from the United 
States, any alien who is a citizen of a country that has been 
determined to be a foreign adversary that the Secretary of State 
determines seeks to enter the United States to participate in 
coursework at an institution of higher education (as defined in 

section 101

    (a) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1001

    (a) )).

    (b) Foreign Adversary Country List.--The following countries are 
considered to be foreign adversaries, as determined by the Secretary of 
State:

    (1) The People's Republic of China, including the Hong Kong 
 Special Administrative Region and the Macau Special 
 Administrative Region (commonly known as ``China'').

    (2) The Republic of Cuba (commonly known as ``Cuba'').

    (3) The Islamic Republic of Iran (commonly known as 
 ``Iran'').

    (4) The Democratic People's Republic of Korea (commonly 
 known as ``North Korea'').

    (5) The Russian Federation (commonly known as ``Russia'').

    (6) Venezuela under Venezuelan politician Nicolas Maduro 
 (commonly known as the ``Maduro Regime'').

    (7) Any other country identified by the Secretary of State 
 that--
        (A) may pose a threat to the United States; or
        (B) may be inclined to steal research in a manner 
 that could threaten United States national security.
            (c) Applicability.--Subsection

    (a) applies with respect to visa 
applications filed on or after the date of the enactment of this Act.

SEC. 16. REQUIREMENT THAT STUDENTS HAVE A DEFINITE END-DATE FOR 
 AUTHORIZED PERIOD OF STAY.

 

Section 235

    (a) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 
1225

    (a) ) is amended by adding at the end the following:
 ``

    (6) Period of authorized stay.--
 ``
        (A) In general.--Aliens admitted to the United 
 States under subparagraph
        (F) ,
        (J) , or
            (M) of 

section 101

    (a)

    (15) to pursue a course of study shall be 
 admitted by the Secretary of Homeland Security for a 
 definite period of authorized stay not to exceed the 
 shorter of the length of their program or 4 years, plus 
 the post-study period under subparagraph
        (B) , and shall 
 be issued documentation stating the end date of the 
 alien's period of stay in the United States, subject to 
 the following exceptions:
 ``
            (i) Aliens subject to the limitations 
 described in subparagraph
            (D) may be admitted 
 only for the applicable period under that 
 subparagraph.
 ``
            (ii) Aliens whose course of study is in a 
 language training program are restricted to an 
 aggregate total of 2 years of language study, 
 including any school breaks and annual 
 vacations.
 ``
            (iii) Aliens who are granted status under 
 

section 101

    (a)

    (15)
        (F)
            (iii) as border commuter 
 students may be admitted only for the semester 
 or term dates for the student's current term of 
 study.
 ``
            (iv) Aliens who are granted status under 
 subparagraph
        (F) or
        (J) of 

section 101

    (a)

    (15) to attend a public high school are restricted 
 to an aggregate of not more than 1 year to 
 complete their course of study, including any 
 school breaks and annual vacations.
 ``
            (v) The authorized period of stay for 
 dependents admitted under subparagraph
        (F) ,
        (J) , or
            (M) of 

section 101

    (a)

    (15) may not 
 exceed the authorized period of stay of the 
 principal alien.
 ``
        (B) Post-study period.--The period of stay 
 granted an alien admitted under subparagraph
        (F) ,
        (J) , 
 or
            (M) of 

section 101

    (a)

    (15) shall include a 30-day 
 period immediately after the conclusion of the alien's 
 course of study to prepare for departure from the 
 United States, or to otherwise maintain status, except 
 that border commuter students and, notwithstanding the 
 end date provided on the documentation described in 
 subparagraph
        (A) , students who fail to maintain a full 
 course of study or otherwise fail to maintain status 
 are not eligible for the additional 30-day period of 
 stay. Such 30-day period shall also be authorized for 
 alien students enrolled at academic institutions whose 
 approval under subparagraph
        (F) or
            (M) of 

section 101

    (a)

    (15) has been terminated pursuant to 

section 641
            (d) of the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant 
 Responsibility Act of 1996 (8 U.S.C. 1372
            (d) ), except 
 if the Secretary of Homeland Security knows or has 
 reasonable ground to believe the alien was a knowing 
 participant in the conduct that led to the termination 
 of such institution's approval.
 ``
            (C) Extension of stay.--An alien admitted to the 
 United States under subparagraph
        (F) ,
        (J) , or
            (M) of 
 

section 101

    (a)

    (15) may apply to extend his or her stay, 
 subject to the limitations described in subparagraphs
        (A) and
            (D) .
 ``
            (D) Limitations on period of admission.--
 ``
            (i) In general.--Subject to the 
 discretion of the Secretary of Homeland 
 Security, aliens seeking admission under 
 subparagraph
        (F) ,
        (J) , or
            (M) of 

section 101

    (a)

    (15) in the categories described in 
 clause
            (ii) may be admitted only for not more 
 than 2 years, or the program end date, 
 whichever is shorter, and may be eligible for 
 extensions of stay only for additional periods 
 of up to 2 years each, or until the program end 
 date, whichever is shorter.
 ``
            (ii) Categories described.--The 
 categories described in this clause are the 
 following:
 ``
            (I) Aliens from certain countries 
 of concern.--Aliens who were born in or 
 are citizens of countries designated by 
 the Secretary of State under 

section 6

    (j) of the Export Administration Act 
 of 1979 (50 U.S.C. 2405) (as continued 
 in effect under the International 
 Emergency Economic Powers Act (50 
 U.S.C. 1701 et seq.)), 

section 40 of 
 the Arms Export Control Act (22 U.S.C. 
 2780), 

section 620A of the Foreign 
 Assistance Act of 1961 (22 U.S.C. 
 2371), or any other provision of law, 
 as a country the government of which 
 has repeatedly provided support of acts 
 of international terrorism, or who are 
 citizens of countries with a student 
 and exchange visitor total overstay 
 rate greater than 10 percent.
 ``
            (II) Schools not participating in 
 e-verify.--
 ``

    (aa) In general.--Aliens 
 who have been accepted to and 
 seek admission to attend, or 
 continue attendance, at an 
 educational institution that is 
 not enrolled in the electronic 
 employment verification program 
 initiated in 

section 403 of the 
 Illegal Immigration Reform and 
 Immigrant Responsibility Act of 
 1996 (division C of Public Law 
 104-208; 8 U.S.C. 1324a note), 
 or if enrolled, is not a 
 participant in good standing in 
 such verification program, as 
 determined by the Secretary of 
 Homeland Security.
 ``

    (bb) Participants in good 
 standing.--Educational 
 institutions that are 
 participants in good standing 
 in a verification program 
 described in item

    (aa) are 
 education institutions that 
 are--

 ``

    (AA) enrolled in 
 such verification 
 program with respect to 
 all of the 
 institution's hiring 
 sites in the United 
 States at the time of 
 the alien's admission 
 under subparagraph
        (F) ,
        (J) , or
            (M) of 

section 101

    (a)

    (15) or, if the 
 alien has already been 
 admitted at the time 
 this paragraph has gone 
 into effect, at the 
 time the alien files 
 with the Secretary an 
 application for an 
 extension of or change 
 to status under such 
 subparagraph; and

 ``

    (BB) in 
 compliance with all 
 requirements of such 
 verification program, 
 including by verifying 
 the employment 
 eligibility of newly 
 hired employees in the 
 United States, and 
 continuing to be 
 participants in good 
 standing in the program 
 at any time during 
 which an alien is 
 pursuing a full-course 
 of study at the 
 educational 
 institution.

 ``
            (III) Aliens with a 4-year period 
 of admission who become subject to a 2-
 year maximum period of admission.--If 
 an alien was admitted in F status for a 
 4-year period of admission, but the 
 Secretary of State makes a designation 
 under an authority referenced in 
 subclause
            (I) that would subject the 
 alien to the 2-year maximum period of 
 admission, then the alien may remain in 
 the United States for the remainder of 
 the 4-year period; however, if the 
 alien departs the United States or 
 otherwise be required apply for 
 admission or an extension of stay, the 
 alien shall become subject to the 2-
 year limitation.
 ``
        (E) Interviews.--
 ``
            (i) In general.--The Secretary of 
 Homeland Security shall, in coordination with 
 the Attorney General and the Director of 
 National Intelligence, conduct an interview, 
 in-person and not by means of remote or virtual 
 technology, of any alien--
 ``
            (I) (aa) admitted to the United 
 States under subparagraph
        (F) ,
        (J) , or
            (M) of 

section 101

    (a)

    (15) and seeking 
 extension of such status;
 ``

    (bb) applying for a change of 
 status to status under subparagraph
        (F) ,
        (J) , or
            (M) of 

section 101

    (a)

    (15) ; 
 or
 ``
            (cc) in nonimmigrant status and 
 pursuing a course of study, and who is 
 applying for an extension of such 
 status; and
 ``
            (II) (aa) who is a national of a 
 country, described in subparagraph
            (D) 
            (ii) 
            (I) , that has been designated by 
 the Secretary of State as a country the 
 government of which has repeatedly 
 provided support of acts of 
 international terrorism;
 ``

    (bb) who has been the subject of 
 a security advisory opinion, including 
 a visas mantis, or other security 
 screening process relating to the 
 transfer of sensitive technology or 
 information;
 ``
            (cc) who, since the date of the 
 admission of the alien, has changed his 
 or her field of study to a field that 
 would require the initiation of a 
 security screening process relating to 
 the transfer of sensitive technology or 
 information were the alien applying for 
 admission;
 ``
            (dd) who is described in 

section 212

    (a)

    (3) ; or
 ``

    (ee) who is in a class of aliens 
 described in subclause
            (I) (aa) designated by the Secretary of Homeland 
 Security, in coordination with the 
 Attorney General and the Director of 
 National Intelligence, and who are 
 nationals of a country about which the 
 Secretary, the Attorney General, or the 
 Director of National Intelligence has 
 concern poses a significant economic or 
 technological espionage threat to the 
 United States.
 ``
            (ii) Interagency cooperation on 
 interviews.--The Secretary of Homeland Security 
 shall--
 ``
            (I) inform the Attorney General 
 and the Director of National 
 Intelligence of interviews the 
 Secretary of Homeland Security plans to 
 conduct under this subparagraph; and
 ``
            (II) shall authorize officials of 
 the Department of Justice or the 
 Directorate of National Intelligence, 
 or both, to participate in such 
 interviews.''.

SEC. 17. ONLINE STUDY.

 

Section 214
            (m) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 
1184
            (m) ), as amended by this Act, is further amended by adding at the 
end the following new paragraph:
 ``

    (6) Online education.--
 ``
        (A) Online education allowance per session.--
 ``
            (i) In general.--Not more than 10 percent 
 of the time spent by the alien student in class 
 or of the credits earned by the student per 
 session may be counted toward the full course 
 of study requirement under subparagraph
        (F) or
            (M) of 

section 101

    (a)

    (15) if the class is taken 
 online or through distance education and does 
 not require the student's physical attendance 
 for classes, examination, or other purposes 
 integral to completion of the course of study.
 ``
            (ii) Prohibition.--An alien may not be 
 admitted under 

section 101

    (a)

    (15)
        (J) for the 
 purpose of study, or granted a change of status 
 to status under such section for such purpose, 
 if more than 10 percent of the time to be spent 
 by the alien in class or of the credits earned 
 by the student per session is to be taken 
 online or through distance education and does 
 not require the student's physical attendance 
 for classes, examination, or other purposes 
 integral to completion of the course of study.
 ``
        (B) Total online education allowance.--For any 
 program of study, not more than 10 percent of the total 
 time spent in class by an alien student, or of the 
 credits earned by the student, in status under 
 subparagraph
        (F) or
            (M) of 

section 101

    (a)

    (15) , or in 
 status under 

section 101

    (a)

    (15)
        (J) for the purpose of 
 study, may be for classes taken online or through 
 distance education that do not require the student's 
 physical attendance for classes, examination, or other 
 purposes integral to completion of the course of study.
 ``
            (C) Online classes.--For purposes of this 
 paragraph, if more than 50 percent of a class is 
 conducted online, the entire class shall be considered 
 an online class.''.

SEC. 18. CLARIFICATION OF DATA RELEASE EXEMPTION.

 

Section 641 of the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant 
Responsibility Act of 1996 (8 U.S.C. 1372) is amended--

    (1) in subsection
            (c) --
        (A) in paragraph

    (1) --
            (i) in subparagraph
        (G) , by striking 
 ``and'' at the end;
            (ii) in subparagraph
        (H) , by striking the 
 period and inserting ``; and''; and
            (iii) by adding at the end the following 
 new subparagraph:
 ``
            (I) any other information the Secretary of 
 Homeland Security considers necessary.''; and
        (B) in paragraph

    (2) , by adding at the end the 
 following: ``Approved institutions of higher education 
 or other approved educational institutions shall 
 release information about students covered by such Act 
 to the Department of Homeland Security as part of such 
 program or upon request.''; and

    (2) in subsection
            (d) (2) , by inserting ``automatically'' 
 before ``revoked or denied.''.

SEC. 19. CLARIFICATION OF REPORTING REQUIREMENT DEADLINE.

 

Section 641

    (a)

    (4) of the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant 
Responsibility Act of 1996 (8 U.S.C. 1372

    (a)

    (4) ) is amended--

    (1) by striking ``Not later than 30 days after the deadline 
 for registering for classes for an academic term'' and 
 inserting ``Not later than 30 days after the program start date 
 (in the case of new students) or the next session start date 
 (in the case of continuing students) of an academic term''; and

    (2) by striking ``shall report to the Immigration and 
 Naturalization Service any failure of the alien to enroll or to 
 commence participation.'' and inserting ``shall report to the 
 Department of Homeland Security any failure to enroll or to 
 commence participation by the program start date or next 
 session start date, as applicable.''.

SEC. 20. FEE FLEXIBILITY.

 

Section 641

    (e)

    (4)
        (A) of the Illegal Immigration Reform and 
Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996 (8 U.S.C. 1372

    (e)

    (4)
        (A) ) is 
amended--

    (1) in the first sentence, by striking ``Attorney General'' 
 and inserting ``Secretary of Homeland Security'';

    (2) in the third sentence, by striking ``Attorney 
 General's'' and inserting ``Secretary of Homeland Security's''; 
 and

    (3) by striking the second sentence.

SEC. 21. IMPLEMENTATION OF SEVIS II.

    (a) In General.--Not later than 2 years after the date of the 
enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Homeland Security and the 
Secretary of State shall complete the deployment of the modernization 
of the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (commonly known 
as ``SEVIS II''), which shall address limitations in the original SEVIS 
application by implementing improvements including the following:

    (1) Development of an entirely paperless process for all 
 activities related to the admission and tracking of 
 nonimmigrant students.

    (2) Development of a new, person-centric recordkeeping 
 system that will unify information about nonimmigrant students 
 that the original SEVIS maintained in multiple records.

    (b) Recovery of Costs.--To recover the cost of the implementation 
and maintenance of SEVIS II, the Secretary of Homeland Security and the 
Secretary of State may collect fees from any academic institution 
that--

    (1) has been approved under subparagraph
        (F) or
            (M) of 
 

section 101

    (a)

    (15) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 
 U.S.C. 1101

    (a)

    (15) );

    (2) is designated under subparagraph
        (J) of such section; 
 or

    (3) is applying for such approval or designation.

SEC. 22. GAO REPORT ON IMPLEMENTATION.

 Not later than December 31, 2025, the Comptroller General of the 
United States shall submit to the Committee on the Judiciary of the 
Senate and the Committee on the Judiciary of the House of 
Representatives a report that assesses the effectiveness of 
implementation by the Secretary of Homeland Security of this Act and 
the amendments made by this Act.

SEC. 23. PROHIBITION ON ISSUANCE OF VISA BEFORE REVIEW OF PAMPHLET ON 
 PROTECTIONS FOR DOMESTIC WORKERS AND OTHER NONIMMIGRANTS.

 A visa shall not be issued under subparagraph
        (F) ,
        (J) , or
            (M) of 

section 101

    (a)

    (15) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 
1101

    (a)

    (15) ), to pursue a course of study, until the date on which a 
consular officer has provided to and reviewed with the applicant, in 
the applicant's language or in a language the applicant understands, a 
copy of the information and resources pamphlet required by 

section 202 
of the William Wilberforce Trafficking Victims Protection 
Reauthorization Act of 2008 (8 U.S.C. 1375b).
 <all>