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HR 3120 112th Congress House

Student Visa Reform Act

Official title: To amend the Immigration and Nationality Act to require accreditation of certain educational institutions for purposes of a nonimmigrant student visa, and for other purposes.

Introduced: October 6, 2011 Introduced by: Lofgren, Zoe Democratic · California See on congress.gov
Immigration Area studies and international educationHigher educationImmigration status and proceduresLanguage arts
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This bill died when the 112th Congress ended
It never became law before the 112th Congress (2011–2012) adjourned, and bills don't carry over to the next Congress. It would have to be reintroduced. You can still save it for reference, but it won't receive updates.
 Everywhere this bill has been 17 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Aug 2, 2012
Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
Aug 1, 2012
Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
Aug 1, 2012
On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR 7/31/2012 H5504-5505)
Aug 1, 2012
Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote.(text: CR 7/31/2012 H5504-5505)
Aug 1, 2012
Considered as unfinished business. (consideration: CR H5619)
Jul 31, 2012
At the conclusion of debate, the chair put the question on the motion to suspend the rules. Mr. Smith (TX) objected to the vote on the grounds that a quorum was not present. Further proceedings on the motion were postponed. The point of no quorum was withdrawn.
Jul 31, 2012
DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 3120.
Jul 31, 2012
Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H5504-5506)
Jul 31, 2012
Mr. Smith (TX) moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.
Jul 12, 2012
Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 430.
Jul 12, 2012
Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Judiciary. H. Rept. 112-595.
Jun 28, 2012
Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by Voice Vote.
Jun 28, 2012
Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
Jun 26, 2012
Subcommittee on Immigration Policy and Enforcement Discharged.
Oct 24, 2011
Referred to the Subcommittee on Immigration Policy and Enforcement.
Oct 6, 2011
Introduced in House
Oct 6, 2011
Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
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 Latest action August 2, 2012

Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.

 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

(This measure has not been amended since it was reported to the House on July 12, 2012. The summary of that version is repeated here.)

Student Visa Reform Act - Amends the Immigration and Nationality Act to require that a person coming to study at a college, university, or language training program in the United States under a nonimmigrant student F-visa must attend an institution that is accredited by an accrediting agency recognized by the Secretary of Education.

Authorizes the Secretary of Homeland Security (DHS) to require academic institutions (exempts seminaries or other religious institutions) to be similarly accredited for F-visa purposes if: (1) the institution is not already required to be accredited, (2) an accrediting agency recognized by the Secretary of Education is able to provide such accreditation, and (3) 25 or more F-visa foreign students are or will be pursuing a course of study at the institution.

Authorizes the Secretary of Homeland Security to waive the accreditation requirement for an established college, university, or language training program that is otherwise in compliance with F-visa provisions and is making a good faith effort to satisfy the accreditation requirement.

Prohibits a person convicted of certain felony offenses, including human trafficking or visa fraud relating to an academic institution's participation in the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP), from having subsequent ownership or substantial authority at an academic institution participating in SEVP.

Provides a three-year exemption for students coming to study at a college or university that has been certified by the Secretary of Homeland Security but not yet accredited or denied accreditation by an accrediting agency.

 Bill text 4 versions

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 3
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APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). H.R. 3120: Student Visa Reform Act. 112th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/112-HR-3120/
MLA
"H.R. 3120: Student Visa Reform Act." 112th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/112-HR-3120/.
Bluebook (legal)
H.R. 3120, 112th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/112-HR-3120/.
Markdown link
[H.R. 3120: Student Visa Reform Act](https://openamerica.io/bill/112-HR-3120/)
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