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HR 523 116th Congress House

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

Introduced: January 23, 2019 Introduced by: Smucker, Lloyd Republican · Pennsylvania See on congress.gov
Immigration Administrative remediesBorder security and unlawful immigrationCriminal justice information and recordsDepartment of Homeland Security
More subjectsShow fewer subjects
Diplomacy, foreign officials, Americans abroadImmigration status and proceduresInternational organizations and cooperationLawyers and legal servicesLegal fees and court costsVisas and passports
This bill died when the 116th Congress ended
It never became law before the 116th Congress (2019–2020) 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
Feb 25, 2019
Referred to the Subcommittee on Immigration and Citizenship.
Jan 11, 2019
Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
Jan 11, 2019
Introduced in House
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 Latest action February 25, 2019

Referred to the Subcommittee on Immigration and Citizenship.

 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

This bill makes it a criminal offense to overstay a visa. For the first offense, the overstaying alien shall be fined or imprisoned up to six months, or both. For each subsequent offense, the alien shall be fined or imprisoned up to two years, or both. The Department of Homeland Security may make case-by-case exceptions for medical necessity, public safety, or national security.

Aliens who overstay a visa shall be barred from admission into the United States and may not be granted a visa. For the first offense, the overstaying alien shall be barred from admission for 5 years and barred from receiving a visa for 10 years. For a subsequent offense, the alien shall be permanently barred from admission and from getting a visa.

If an alien's visa is revoked, all valid visas in that alien's possession are automatically cancelled.

The bill expands the types of removal proceedings where an alien shall have the right to counsel. The government shall not bear the expense for such counsel.

The Department of State may share visa and entry permit-related records with foreign governments on a case-by-case basis, if it is in the interests of the United States to do so. The State Department shall have access to National Crime Information Center files for determining whether visas for certain applicants should be granted.

 Related & companion bills 1
 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. 523: To amend the Immigration and Nationality Act to render overstaying a visa a criminal offense, and for other purposes.. 116th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/116-HR-523/
MLA
"H.R. 523: To amend the Immigration and Nationality Act to render overstaying a visa a criminal offense, and for other purposes.." 116th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/116-HR-523/.
Bluebook (legal)
H.R. 523, 116th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/116-HR-523/.
Markdown link
[H.R. 523: To amend the Immigration and Nationality Act to render overstaying a visa a criminal offense, and for other purposes.](https://openamerica.io/bill/116-HR-523/)
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