United States Code

8 U.S.C. § 1104

Powers and duties of Secretary of State

Statute Watch

Get an alert when any bill in Congress would change this law — and every time it moves.

Bills that would change it 152

S 5022 A bill to decriminalize and deschedule cannabis, to provide for reinvestment in certain persons adversely impacted by the War on Drugs, t... Amends its part · introduced · 119th Congress
S 4801 Duty Status Reform Act Amends its part · introduced · 119th Congress
HR 8827 ASSIMILATION Act Amends its part 1104(a), 1104(a)(15) · introduced · 119th Congress
S 4546 ASSIMILATION Act Amends its part 1104(a), 1104(a)(15) · introduced · 119th Congress
HR 8628 End U Visa Abuse Act Repeals 1104(a)(15) · introduced · 119th Congress
HR 8586 Americans First Immigration Act Amends its part · introduced · 119th Congress
HR 7836 Real Courts, Rule of Law Act of 2026 Amends its part · introduced · 119th Congress
HR 7664 State Partnerships to Enhance Removal of Criminal Aliens Act Amends its part 1104(a)(43) · introduced · 119th Congress
S 3702 Dignity for Detained Immigrants Act Amends its part · introduced · 119th Congress
HR 7063 Student Visa Integrity Act of 2026 Amends its part · introduced · 119th Congress
HR 5068 MORE Act Amends its part · introduced · 119th Congress
HR 6976 Duty Status Reform Act Amends its part · introduced · 119th Congress
S 3568 Naturalization and Oath Ceremony Protection Act Amends its part · introduced · 119th Congress
S 3419 Reuniting Families Act Amends its part 1104(a)(15)(K)(iii), 1104(b)(1)(B) · introduced · 119th Congress
HR 6565 Reuniting Families Act Amends its part 1104(a)(15)(K)(iii), 1104(b)(1)(B) · introduced · 119th Congress
HR 6397 Dignity for Detained Immigrants Act Amends its part · introduced · 119th Congress
HR 6158 American Samoa Statutory Nationality and Citizenship Act Amends its part · introduced · 119th Congress
HR 5976 To protect collective self-determination and individual rights under Federal statutes conferring nationality on persons born and residing... Amends its part · introduced · 119th Congress
HR 5528 America’s CHILDREN Act of 2025 Amends its part · introduced · 119th Congress
S 2886 America’s CHILDREN Act of 2025 Amends its part · introduced · 119th Congress
HR 5494 Essential Workers for Economic Advancement Act Amends its part 1104(a)(15)(H)(ii), 1104(a)(15)(H) · introduced · 119th Congress
S 2655 Community-based Refugee Reception Act of 2025 Amends its part · introduced · 119th Congress
S 2555 Student Visa Integrity Act of 2025 Amends its part · introduced · 119th Congress
S 2526 Fight for the American Dream Act Amends its part · introduced · 119th Congress
HR 4393 DIGNIDAD (Dignity) Act of 2025 Amends its part 1104(a)(15)(U), 1104(a)(15)(B) · introduced · 119th Congress
HR 4316 Fight for the American Dream Act Amends its part · introduced · 119th Congress
S 2106 SECURE Act Amends its part · introduced · 119th Congress
HR 3466 SMART Act Amends its part 1104(a)(15)(V), 1104(a)(15) · introduced · 119th Congress
S 1827 Expedited Removal of Criminal Aliens Act Amends its part · introduced · 119th Congress
S 1201 Strengthening Immigration Procedures Act of 2025 Amends its part · introduced · 119th Congress
HR 1927 CLEAR Act of 2025 Amends its part · introduced · 119th Congress
HR 1928 Sanctuary City Accountability Act Amends its part · introduced · 119th Congress
HR 1241 SAFE for America Act of 2025 Amends its part · introduced · 119th Congress
HR 1220 FIRM Act of 2025 Amends its part · introduced · 119th Congress
S 225 End Unaccountable Amnesty Act Amends its part 1104(a)(27)(J) · introduced · 119th Congress
HR 696 End Unaccountable Amnesty Act Amends its part 1104(a)(27)(J) · introduced · 119th Congress
S 114 CLEAR Act of 2025 Amends its part · introduced · 119th Congress
S 50 Transnational Criminal Organization Illicit Spotter Prevention and Elimination Act Amends its part · introduced · 119th Congress
HR 263 Transnational Criminal Organization Illicit Spotter Prevention and Elimination Act Amends its part · introduced · 119th Congress
HR 3194 U.S. Citizenship Act Amends its part 1104(a), 1104(a)(15)(V) · introduced · 118th Congress
HR 3599 DIGNIDAD (Dignity) Act of 2023 Amends its part 1104(a), 1104(a)(15)(U) · introduced · 118th Congress
HR 5601 MORE Act Amends its part · introduced · 118th Congress
HR 8992 Stop Fentanyl at the Border Act Amends its part · introduced · 118th Congress
HR 3602 Transnational Criminal Organization Illicit Spotter Prevention and Elimination Act Amends its part · introduced · 118th Congress
S 4032 Improving Public Safety Through Immigration Warrant Issuance Act Amends its part · introduced · 118th Congress
S 3987 Stateless Protection Act of 2024 Amends its part · introduced · 118th Congress
HR 7755 Stateless Protection Act of 2024 Amends its part · introduced · 118th Congress
HR 7724 Real Courts, Rule of Law Act of 2024 Amends its part · introduced · 118th Congress
S 3881 CLEAR Act of 2024 Amends its part · introduced · 118th Congress
S 3591 Stop Fentanyl at the Border Act Amends its part · introduced · 118th Congress

Showing the 50 most recently active.

The law today

From the official United States Code, current through Public Law 119-121.

(a) Powers and duties The Secretary of State shall be charged with the administration and the enforcement of the provisions of this chapter and all other immigration and nationality laws relating to (1) the powers, duties, and functions of diplomatic and consular officers of the United States, except those powers, duties, and functions conferred upon the consular officers relating to the granting or refusal of visas; (2) the powers, duties, and functions of the Administrator; and (3) the determination of nationality of a person not in the United States. He shall establish such regulations; prescribe such forms of reports, entries and other papers; issue such instructions; and perform such other acts as he deems necessary for carrying out such provisions. He is authorized to confer or impose upon any employee of the United States, with the consent of the head of the department or independent establishment under whose jurisdiction the employee is serving, any of the powers, functions, or duties conferred or imposed by this chapter or regulations issued thereunder upon officers or employees of the Department of State or of the American Foreign Service. (b) Designation and duties of Administrator The Secretary of State shall designate an Administrator who shall be a citizen of the United States, qualified by experience. The Administrator shall maintain close liaison with the appropriate committees of Congress in order that they may be advised regarding the administration of this chapter by consular officers. The Administrator shall be charged with any and all responsibility and authority in the administration of this chapter which are conferred on the Secretary of State as may be delegated to the Administrator by the Secretary of State or which may be prescribed by the Secretary of State, and shall perform such other duties as the Secretary of State may prescribe. (c) Passport Office, Visa Office, and other offices; directors Within the Department of State there shall be a Passport Office, a Visa Office, and such other offices as the Secretary of State may deem to be appropriate, each office to be headed by a director. The Directors of the Passport Office and the Visa Office shall be experienced in the administration of the nationality and immigration laws. (d) Transfer of duties The functions heretofore performed by the Passport Division and the Visa Division of the Department of State shall hereafter be performed by the Passport Office and the Visa Office, respectively. (e) General Counsel of Visa Office; appointment and duties There shall be a General Counsel of the Visa Office, who shall be appointed by the Secretary of State and who shall serve under the general direction of the Legal Adviser of the Department of State. The General Counsel shall have authority to maintain liaison with the appropriate officers of the Service with a view to securing uniform interpretations of the provisions of this chapter.

Official text at uscode.house.gov ↗