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[DOCID: f:h3052ih.txt]
107th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 3052
To amend the Immigration and Nationality Act to require that
nonimmigrant visa applicants provide fingerprints.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
October 5, 2001
Mr. Green of Texas introduced the following bill; which was referred to
the Committee on the Judiciary
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To amend the Immigration and Nationality Act to require that
nonimmigrant visa applicants provide fingerprints.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Visa Information Security Act of
2001''.
SEC. 2. REQUIREMENT FOR BIOMETRIC IDENTIFIER FOR NONIMMIGRANT
APPLICANTS FOR ADMISSION.
(a) Requirement for Nonimmigrant Visa Application.--Section 221(b)
of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1201(b)) is amended--
(1) by inserting ``(1)'' after ``(b)''; and
(2) by inserting at the end the following new paragraph:
``(2) Each alien who applies for a nonimmigrant visa shall submit a
biometric identifier (such as the fingerprints or handprint of the
alien) that is machine readable, at such time and in such manner as
shall be determined by regulation by the Attorney General and the
Secretary of State. A biometric identifier shall be required to be
contained on the visa or other documentation required for admission at
the port of entry. The Attorney General may, in the discretion of the
Attorney General and on the basis of reciprocity pursuant to such
regulations as the Attorney General may prescribe, waive the
requirement of a biometric identifier in the case of any nonimmigrant.
(b) Match Requirement for Admission.--Section 221(f) of the
Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1201(f)) is amended--
(1) by inserting ``(1)'' after ``(f)''; and
(2) by inserting at the end the following new paragraph:
``(2) Each alien presenting a nonimmigrant visa and other documents
required at the port of entry is not permitted to enter the United
States unless the biometric identifier contained on the documents
matches the appropriate biometric characteristic of the alien.''.
(c) Database Crosscheck.--The Attorney General and the Secretary of
State, jointly, shall by regulation require that prior to the issuance
of a nonimmigrant visa, the biometric identifier of each applicant
shall be crosschecked with appropriate databases (including the
databases of the criminal justice information services division of the
Department of Justice) for information regarding the police and
criminal record, if any, of such alien and such other information as
may be appropriate.
(d) Implementation.--The Attorney General and the Secretary of
State shall ensure that officials at consular offices abroad with the
responsibility to consider applications for nonimmigrant visas and
immigration officials at points of entry have the technology and
training to carry out this section and the amendments made by this
section.
(e) Fees.--
(1) Establishment.--The Attorney General shall establish a
fee, which the Attorney General may periodically revise, to be
imposed on, and collected from, all nonimmigrant aliens prior
to the issuance of a visa. The amount of the fee shall be based
on the Attorney General's estimate of the cost per alien of
implementing this section and the amendments made by this
section.
(2) Use.--Fees collected under paragraph (1) shall be
deposited as offsetting receipts into a separate account in the
Treasury and shall remain available until expended for the
Attorney General to reimburse any appropriation the amount paid
out for expenses in carrying out this section.
(f) Report to Congress.--At least annually, the Attorney General
shall submit to the Congress a report concerning the implementation of
this section and the amendments made by this section and use of the
waiver authority under section 221(b)(2) of the Immigration and
Nationality Act. Such reports may be submitted in classified and
unclassified form.
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