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HR 4089 114th Congress House

Student Visa Security Improvement Act

Official title: To require the Secretary of Homeland Security to strengthen student visa background checks and improve the monitoring of foreign students in the United States, and for other purposes.

Introduced: November 19, 2015 Introduced by: Bilirakis, Gus M. Republican · Florida See on congress.gov
Immigration Academic performance and assessmentsAdministrative law and regulatory proceduresArea studies and international educationCultural exchanges and relations
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Department of Homeland SecurityGovernment information and archivesInternational exchange and broadcastingStudent recordsTerrorismVisas and passports
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This bill died when the 114th Congress ended
It never became law before the 114th Congress (2015–2016) 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 4 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Dec 10, 2015
Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR H9214)
Dec 4, 2015
Referred to the Subcommittee on Immigration and Border Security.
Nov 19, 2015
Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
Nov 19, 2015
Introduced in House
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 Latest action December 10, 2015

Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR H9214)

 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Student Visa Security Improvement Act

This bill amends the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to direct the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to:

  • require DHS employees to review the applications, conduct in-person interviews where appropriate, and conduct on-site reviews of applications and supporting documentation with respect to student and exchange program visa applicants prior to final visa adjudication, with emphasis on determining whether an applicant is inadmissible for terrorist-related activities;
  • require an institution or exchange visitor program participating in the Student and Exchange Visitor Program to ensure that each covered student or exchange visitor is an active program participant, is observed, and is reported to DHS if he or she transfers institutions or academic majors;
  • provide Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS) access to appropriate employees of a SEVIS program sponsor under specified circumstances; and
  • require a SEVIS upgrade to add data fields that include verification that students are meeting minimum academic standards.
 Bill text 1 version

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 2
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APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). H.R. 4089: Student Visa Security Improvement Act. 114th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/114-HR-4089/
MLA
"H.R. 4089: Student Visa Security Improvement Act." 114th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/114-HR-4089/.
Bluebook (legal)
H.R. 4089, 114th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/114-HR-4089/.
Markdown link
[H.R. 4089: Student Visa Security Improvement Act](https://openamerica.io/bill/114-HR-4089/)
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