Full Text
Official text as published. Use Ctrl+F / Cmd+F to search within the document.
[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 10711 Introduced in House (IH)]
<DOC>
119th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 10711
To require the Secretary of State to submit a report to Congress
regarding staffing levels and wait times related to visa applications,
and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
October 1, 2026
Mr. Subramanyam introduced the following bill; which was referred to
the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committee on
Foreign Affairs, for a period to be subsequently determined by the
Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall
within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To require the Secretary of State to submit a report to Congress
regarding staffing levels and wait times related to visa applications,
and for other purposes.
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 ``Reducing Visa Delays Act''.
SEC. 2. REPORT AND AUTHORIZATION REGARDING EMBASSY STAFFING LEVELS AND
VISA WAIT TIMES.
(a) Report to Congress.--Not later than 90 days after the date of
the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of State shall submit to
Congress a report regarding--
(1) the adequacy of staffing levels at United States
embassies and consulates to reduce visa processing wait times
and visa appointment delays;
(2) whether each embassy and consulate is equipped with the
technology and resources necessary to efficiently carry out the
consular duties of such embassy or consulate;
(3) the effects of the social media vetting policies for
visa applicants instituted by the Secretary after January 20,
2025, on visa processing wait times and visa appointment
delays; and
(4) the number of security flags that were identified
through such social media vetting.
(b) Publication of Wait Times.--The Secretary shall publish monthly
on a publically accessible website of the Department of State--
(1) information regarding the previous average and current
estimated time between an interview for a visa and the
adjudication of the application for such visa, in aggregate and
disaggregated by diplomatic or consular post and visa category;
and
(2) a justification for such average and estimated times.
(c) Strategic Plan for Increased Staffing.--The Secretary shall
develop a strategic plan--
(1) to increase staffing levels at consular offices and
embassies to reduce visa appointment wait times and processing
delays; and
(2) that includes any other solutions found to reduce
appointment wait times and processing delays with respect to
visa processing.
<all>