Student Visa Security Improvement Act

Student Visa Security Improvement Act

This bill amends the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to direct the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to:

• require DHS employees to review the applications, conduct in-person interviews where appropriate, and conduct on-site reviews of applications and supporting documentation with respect to student and exchange program visa applicants prior to final visa adjudication, with emphasis on determining whether an applicant is inadmissible for terrorist-related activities;
• require an institution or exchange visitor program participating in the Student and Exchange Visitor Program to ensure that each covered student or exchange visitor is an active program participant, is observed, and is reported to DHS if he or she transfers institutions or academic majors;
• provide Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS) access to appropriate employees of a SEVIS program sponsor under specified circumstances; and
• require a SEVIS upgrade to add data fields that include verification that students are meeting minimum academic standards.