HR 2946 — Allied Nations Travel Modernization Act of 2019

Summary

Allied Nations Travel Modernization Act of 2019 This bill allows a country to qualify for the Visa Waiver Program by having a low rate of visa overstays by its nationals and making certain commitments to defense spending as part of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO). A country may qualify or maintain qualification for the Visa Waiver Program if (1) the nationals of that country did not overstay their U.S. nonimmigrant visas at a rate higher than 2% during the last two fiscal years, (2) the country is a signatory to the Wales Summit Declaration and has committed for the last two fiscal years sufficient resources to meet its obligations under the declaration, and (3) the Department of State has not in the last fiscal year issued any travel advisory to that country other than exercise normal precautions. The Wales Summit Declaration is a NATO document in which signatories agree to certain commitments, including certain minimum levels on annual defense spending.

Bill Text

• Introduced Introduced in House Current html May 23, 2019

Compared against current U.S. Code AI-generated reading aid — verify against the official bill.

The bill amends the criteria for countries to qualify for the Visa Waiver Program by adding new requirements regarding visa overstay rates and commitments to international obligations.

• 8 U.S.C. 1187(c)(2)(A)

  Low nonimmigrant visa refusal rate → Low nonimmigrant visa refusal rate; low visa overstay rate

  This change adds 'low visa overstay rate' as an additional criterion for program countries.

• 8 U.S.C. 1187(c)(2)(A)(ii)

  . → ; or

  This change modifies the existing text to include another condition using a proper clause structure.

• 8 U.S.C. 1187(c)(2)(A)

  (iii) in the case of any other country-- (I) the visa overstay rate (as such term is defined in paragraph (8)) for that country was not more than 2 percent during the previous 2 fiscal years; (II) the country is a signatory to and has committed, during the previous two fiscal years, sufficient resources to support its obligations under the Wales Summit Declaration, issued at the meeting of the North Atlantic Council in Wales on September 5, 2014; and (III) the Department of State has not, in the previous fiscal year, issued a travel advisory other than 'exercise normal precautions' for travel to the country.

  This addition provides new criteria that countries must meet to qualify for the Visa Waiver Program.

• 8 U.S.C. 1187(c)(3)

  the sum of-- → Continuing and subsequent qualifications.--For each fiscal year after the initial period-- the sum of--

  This change clarifies the structure of the qualifications for continuing and subsequent program countries.

• 8 U.S.C. 1187(c)(3)(A)(ii)

  (ii) in the case of that country-- (I) the visa overstay rate (as such term is defined in paragraph (8)) for that country was not more than 2 percent during the previous 2 fiscal years; (II) the country is a signatory to and has committed, during the previous two fiscal years, sufficient resources to support its obligations under the Wales Summit Declaration, issued at the meeting of the North Atlantic Council in Wales on September 5, 2014; and (III) the Department of State has not, in the previous fiscal year, issued a travel advisory other than 'exercise normal precautions' for travel to the country.

  This adds a new set of criteria that must be met for a country to maintain its designation as a program country.

• 8 U.S.C. 1187(c)(3)(B)

  New countries.--In the case of another country, the country may not be designated as a program country unless one of the following requirements under clause (i) or (ii) is met: (i) Low nonimmigrant visa refusal rate.-- The average number of refusals of nonimmigrant visitor visas for nationals of that country-- (I) during the two previous full fiscal years was less than 2 percent of the total number of nonimmigrant visitor visas for nationals of that country which were granted or refused during those years; and (II) during either of such two previous full fiscal years was less than 2.5 percent of the total number of nonimmigrant visitor visas for nationals of that country which were granted or refused during that year.

  This establishes new eligibility criteria for countries seeking to become part of the Visa Waiver Program.

• 8 U.S.C. 1187(c)(3)(B)(ii)

  Low visa overstay rate.--In the case of that country-- (I) the visa overstay rate (as such term is defined in paragraph (8)) for that country was not more than 2 percent during the previous 2 fiscal years; (II) the country is a signatory to and has committed, during the previous two fiscal years, sufficient resources to support its obligations under the Wales Summit Declaration, issued at the meeting of the North Atlantic Council in Wales on September 5, 2014; and (III) the Department of State has not, in the previous fiscal year, issued a travel advisory other than 'exercise normal precautions' for travel to the country.

  This adds a new criterion based on visa overstay rates for countries looking to join the Visa Waiver Program.

Action History

1. May 23, 2019

   Introduced in House

2. May 23, 2019

   Introduced in House

3. May 23, 2019

   Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.

4. June 26, 2019

   Referred to the Subcommittee on Immigration and Citizenship.

Sponsors

• Daniel Lipinski · Primary

Subjects