S.744 Immigration bill - Sec. 4502: PREMIUM PROCESSING
Posted Wed, Apr 17, 2013 at 4:58 pm
- Section 221 (8 U.S.C. 1201) is amended by inserting at the end the following:
- `(j) Premium Processing-
- `(1) PILOT PROCESSING SERVICE- Recognizing that the
best solution for expedited processing is low interview wait times for
all applicants, the Secretary of State shall nevertheless establish, on a
limited, pilot basis only, a fee-based premium processing service to
expedite interview appointments. In establishing a pilot processing
service, the Secretary may--
- `(A) determine the consular posts at which the pilot service will be available;
- `(B) establish the duration of the pilot service;
- `(C) define the terms and conditions of the pilot
service, with the goal of expediting visa appointments and the interview
process for those electing to pay said fee for the service; and
- `(D) resources permitting, during the pilot
service, consider the addition of consulates in locations advantageous
to foreign policy objectives or in highly populated locales.
- `(2) FEES-
- `(A) AUTHORITY TO COLLECT- The Secretary of State
is authorized to collect, and set the amount of, a fee imposed for the
premium processing service. The Secretary of State shall set the fee
based on all relevant considerations including, the cost of expedited
service.
- `(B) USE OF FEES- Fees collected under the
authority of subparagraph (A) shall be deposited as an offsetting
collection to any Department of State appropriation, to recover the
costs of providing consular services. Such fees shall remain available
for obligation until expended.
- `(C) RELATIONSHIP TO OTHER FEES- Such fee is in
addition to any existing fee currently being collected by the Department
of State.
- `(D) NONREFUNDABLE- Such fee will be nonrefundable to the applicant.
- `(3) DESCRIPTION OF PREMIUM PROCESSING- Premium
processing pertains solely to the expedited scheduling of a visa
interview. Utilizing the premium processing service for an expedited
interview appointment does not establish the applicant's eligibility for
a visa. The Secretary of State shall, if possible, inform applicants
utilizing the premium processing of potential delays in visa issuance
due to additional screening requirements, including necessary
security-related checks and clearances.
- `(4) REPORT TO CONGRESS-
- `(A) REQUIREMENT FOR REPORT- Not later than 18
months after the date of the enactment of the JOLT Act of 2013, the
Secretary of State shall submit to the appropriate committees of
Congress a report on the results of the pilot service carried out under
this section.
- `(B) APPROPRIATE COMMITTEES OF CONGRESS DEFINED- In this paragraph, the term `appropriate committees of Congress' means--
- `(i) the Committee on the Judiciary, the
Committee on Foreign Relations, and the Committee on Appropriations of
the Senate; and
- `(ii) the Committee on the Judiciary, the
Committee on Foreign Affairs, and the Committee on Appropriations of the
House of Representatives.'.
4502
PREMIUM PROCESSING