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HR 1129 115th Congress House Immigration Academic performance and assessments Administrative law and regulatory procedures Area studies and international education Cultural exchanges and relations Department of Homeland Security Government information and archives International exchange and broadcasting Student records Terrorism Visas and passports

Student Visa Security Improvement Act

Introduced: February 16, 2017 Introduced by: Bilirakis, Gus M. Republican · Florida 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 3 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Mar 6, 2017
Referred to the Subcommittee on Immigration and Border Security.
Feb 16, 2017
Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
Feb 16, 2017
Introduced in House
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 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.
What's happening now March 6, 2017

Referred to the Subcommittee on Immigration and Border Security.

 Bill text 1 version

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 2
Cite this page click to expand
APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). H.R. 1129: Student Visa Security Improvement Act. 115th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/115-HR-1129/
MLA
"H.R. 1129: Student Visa Security Improvement Act." 115th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/115-HR-1129/.
Bluebook (legal)
H.R. 1129, 115th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/115-HR-1129/.
Markdown link
[H.R. 1129: Student Visa Security Improvement Act](https://openamerica.io/bill/115-HR-1129/)
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