A Democratic bill with 1 Republican cosponsor · See the cosponsor
Last activity — Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committees on Foreign Affairs, and Appropriations, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
In committee
Introduced and handed to a committee in the chamber it started in.
The committee holds it, and most bills are never heard from again. A hearing or a committee vote would be news; silence is the usual outcome, and it kills the bill without anyone voting against it.
Its path through Congress
- Introduced
- In Committee
What this bill would do
This bill, known as the "VISITOR Act," aims to authorize the use of certain collected visa fees to reduce visa wait times. It proposes amending the Passport Act to allow these funds to cover the costs of providing general consular services. The legislation specifically targets passport and immigrant visa surcharges, as well as funds from the Fraud Prevention and Detection Account. Additionally, it allows for the transfer of unobligated fee balances and other amounts to the Consular and Border Security Programs account. The ultimate goal is to ensure that 80 percent of nonimmigrant visa applicants are interviewed within three weeks of their application.
Yes
- Scored +7
Would immigrants be better off under this?
The bill directly benefits nonimmigrant visa applicants by aiming to reduce wait times to within three weeks.
- Scored +6
Does this favour talking over confrontation abroad?
By reducing visa wait times, the bill improves the efficiency of diplomatic consular operations.
- Scored +5
Does this tighten control of the border?
The bill facilitates funding transfers to support consular and border security programs.
The opposite
No question was scored the opposite.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
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Faster Visa Processing: The bill sets a specific goal for the Secretary of State to ensure that 80 percent of nonimmigrant visa applicants are interviewed within 3 weeks of their application receipt (Section 2(c)).
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Enhanced Consular Services: By authorizing the use of surcharges and fees for the costs of providing general consular services, the bill aims to improve services, including the protection of United States citizens and their interests overseas (Section 2(b)(1)).
Potential Negative Impacts for People
- Exceptions to Processing Goals: The bill notes that resource, security considerations, and the need to provide services to United States citizens may result in specific exceptions to the 3-week interview goal (Section 2(c)).
Groups and Interests Ranking
Every group the model scored this bill for, from -10 to +10. Tap or hover a score for the reason it gave.
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Would immigrants be better off under this? — The bill directly benefits nonimmigrant visa applicants by aiming to reduce wait times to within three weeks.
- National Security And Foreign Policy
- Does this favour talking over confrontation abroad? — By reducing visa wait times, the bill improves the efficiency of diplomatic consular operations.
- Social Issues And Justice
- Does this tighten control of the border? — The bill facilitates funding transfers to support consular and border security programs.
- 8/13/2026
- Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committees on Foreign Affairs, and Appropriations, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- Introduced in House
One bill Congress.gov lists as related to this one — companions in the other chamber, earlier versions, and bills this one absorbed or was folded into.
Maria SalazarRepublican · Florida