Public Description:
The bill would grant DHS the authority to waive the Visa Waiver Program’s (VWP) “low nonimmigrant visa refusal rate” requirements with respect to a country’s participation in the VWP (i.e., have a low nonimmigrant visa refusal rate for two years [averaging no more than two percent over both years, not exceeding 2.5 percent in any one year] or no more than a three percent refusal rate for the most recent fiscal year) if: (1) DHS determines that the country has mitigated security risks to the point that participation in the VWP would not compromise U.S. law enforcement, security interests, or immigration enforcement; (2) there has been a sustained reduction in visa refusal rates for aliens from the country and reductions are likely to continue; (3) the country cooperated with the United States on security and counterterrorism matters before participation in the VWP; and (4) the country meets all security requirements, including some new prerequisites (e.g., improved reporting of lost or stolen passports, information sharing regarding prospective visitors, prompt repatriation of aliens ordered removed from the United States, etc.), for participation in the VWP; would require DHS to develop and implement a fully-automated electronic travel authorization system to collect basic biographical information to determine, in advance of travel, the eligibility of an alien to travel to the United States under the VWP; would require DHS to establish an exit system to record flight departures leaving the United States of every alien participating in the VWP.
To expand visa waiver program to countries on a probationary basis, and for other purposes.
