Skip to main content
HR 4974 115th Congress House Immigration Administrative remedies Border security and unlawful immigration Criminal justice information and records Department of Homeland Security Diplomacy, foreign officials, Americans abroad Immigration status and procedures International organizations and cooperation Lawyers and legal services Legal fees and court costs Visas and passports

To amend the Immigration and Nationality Act to render overstaying a visa a criminal offense, and for other purposes.

Introduced: February 7, 2018 Introduced by: Smucker, Lloyd Republican · Pennsylvania See on congress.gov
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 2 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Feb 7, 2018
Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
Feb 7, 2018
Introduced in House
 Ask about this bill AI · grounded in the bill text

Have a question about what this bill does? Ask in plain English; the answer is drawn from the bill's actual text and official record, and it'll tell you when something isn't in the text rather than guess.

AI answers can be imperfect; always confirm against the full bill text.

 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

This bill amends the Immigration and Nationality Act to subject any alien who remains in the United States after any visa or status under which the alien is lawfully present has expired to: (1) a fine or imprisonment for up to six months, or both, for a first offense; and (2) a fine or imprisonment for up to two years, or both, for any subsequent offense.

Such penalties shall be waived if the overstay was due to medical necessity, public safety, or national security.

An alien convicted of a first offense may not be admitted to the United States for 5 years or granted a visa for 10 years.

An alien convicted of a subsequent offense may not be admitted to the United States at all or granted a visa.

The bill expands the scope of an individual's right to counsel in immigration proceedings and appeals. The government, however, shall not bear the cost of counsel in such proceedings or appeals.

The Department of State may share visa records and related information with a foreign government if in the national interests of the United States.

The Department of Justice and the Federal Bureau of Investigation shall provide the State Department with access to National Crime Information Center files for visa adjudications involving a diplomat or government official.

What's happening now February 7, 2018

Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.

 Related & companion bills 1
 Bill text 1 version

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 1
Cite this page click to expand
APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). H.R. 4974: To amend the Immigration and Nationality Act to render overstaying a visa a criminal offense, and for other purposes.. 115th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/115-HR-4974/
MLA
"H.R. 4974: To amend the Immigration and Nationality Act to render overstaying a visa a criminal offense, and for other purposes.." 115th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/115-HR-4974/.
Bluebook (legal)
H.R. 4974, 115th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/115-HR-4974/.
Markdown link
[H.R. 4974: To amend the Immigration and Nationality Act to render overstaying a visa a criminal offense, and for other purposes.](https://openamerica.io/bill/115-HR-4974/)
Report a problem