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VISA Act of 2017

Introduced: February 16, 2017 Introduced by: Banks, Jim Republican · Indiana See on congress.gov
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This bill died when the 115th Congress ended
It never became law before the 115th Congress (2017–2018) 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 5 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Mar 7, 2017
Referred to the Subcommittee on Counterterrorism and Intelligence.
Mar 7, 2017
Referred to the Subcommittee on Border and Maritime Security.
Mar 6, 2017
Referred to the Subcommittee on Immigration and Border Security.
Feb 16, 2017
Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committee on Homeland Security, 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.
Feb 16, 2017
Introduced in House
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 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Visa Investigation and Social Media Activity Act of 2017 or the VISA Act of 2017

This bill amends the Immigration and Nationality Act to prohibit a petition or application filed with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) or with a consular officer for the issuance of a visa or the admission of an alien from being approved unless a background check to determine whether the alien is a national security threat or is otherwise ineligible for such visa or admission is completed for: (1) the petitioner or applicant, and (2) each beneficiary or derivative of the petition or application.

Such background check shall include a review of the alien's publicly available interactions on, and posting of material to, the Internet (including social media services).

An applicant must provide an English translation of his or her documentation.

No petition or application for any immigration benefit, except for work authorization, may be approved for an alien who is at least 11 years old unless DHS conducts an in-person interview with such alien.

DHS shall begin implementation of an analytics software plan to detect fraud in immigration benefits applications and petitions and to ensure that an applicant or petitioner does not pose a national security threat.

The bill requires the deployment of DHS employees to all visa-issuing embassies and consulates.

What's happening now March 7, 2017

Referred to the Subcommittee on Counterterrorism and Intelligence.

 Bill text 1 version

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 5
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APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). H.R. 1125: VISA Act of 2017. 115th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/115-HR-1125/
MLA
"H.R. 1125: VISA Act of 2017." 115th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/115-HR-1125/.
Bluebook (legal)
H.R. 1125, 115th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/115-HR-1125/.
Markdown link
[H.R. 1125: VISA Act of 2017](https://openamerica.io/bill/115-HR-1125/)
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