Student Visa Reform Act Passed to senate - H.R. 3120

House Passed H.R. 3120 Student Visa Reform Act by Voice Vote Yesterday to Prevent Student Visa Mills and Student Visa Fraud

Objective - H.R. 3120 will prevent illegitimate institutions from cheating foreign nationals who seek a bona fide education in the United States. In addition, the bill's requirement will prevent colleges and universities from violating immigration law and potentially threatening our national security.

1. The bill requires that a student coming to study at a college, university, or language training program in the United States under a F-visa must attend an institution that is accredited by an accrediting agency recognized by the Secretary of Education. 
2. This bill also provides a 3-year exemption for students coming to study at a college or university that has been certified by the Secretary of Homeland Security (DHS) but not yet accredited by an accrediting agency recognized by the Secretary of Education. 
3.  This bill also authorizes, under specified circumstances, the Secretary to require elementary and secondary schools (exempts religious institutions) to be similarly accredited for F-visa purposes. 
4.  H.R. 3120 also prohibits certain individuals who have been previously convicted of felony offenses, such as human smuggling and visa fraud, from owning or otherwise having a position of leadership in a new college or university that admits F visaholders. 
5.  H.R. 3120 also allows the Secretary of Homeland Security to waive the accreditation requirement for a school that is otherwise in compliance with the requirements for a school that admits F visaholders and that is making a good faith effort to satisfy the accreditation requirement. Such waiver is intended to be granted narrowly and on a case-by-case basis where there is no indication of fraudulent activity on the part of the school.