To establish a temporary moratorium on the issuance of visas for nonimmigrant foreign students and other exchange program participants, to improve procedures for issuance of nonimmigrant student visas, and to enhance procedures for admission at ports of entry to the United States.

Referred to the Subcommittee on Immigration and Claims.

Congressional Research Service

Official summary

Version 00 · Introduced in House · Oct 30, 2001

Establishes a nine-month moratorium on the issuance of nonimmigrant foreign student and other exchange program visas.Amends the Immigration and Nationality Act to require: (1) a nonimmigrant visa application or other admission document to contain a machine readable photograph and biometric identifier (such as a fingerprint or handprint) of the alien applicant; and (2) a port of entry match prior to the alien's U.S. admission.Directs the Attorney General and the Secretary of State to provide for database crosschecks of an alien's photograph and biometric identifier prior to issuance of a nonimmigrant visa.Amends the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996 to include information on an alien's accompanying spouse and child as part of the program to collect information on nonimmigrant foreign students and other exchange program participants.

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People & committees

Who introduced it

Rep. Bilirakis, Michael [R-FL-9] · R–FL

Committees

Judiciary Committee

7 cosponsorship records, including any withdrawals

Legislative record

Actions

A procedural vote is different from passage. Passage in one chamber does not establish enactment. Explore the glossary.

Nov 27, 2001
Referred to the Subcommittee on Immigration and Claims.
Oct 30, 2001
Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
Oct 30, 2001
Introduced in House
Oct 30, 2001
Introduced in House

Primary sources

Bill text & related measures

Text links open the official source. We currently store references to these documents.

Introduced in House · Oct 30, 2001 Formatted Text PDF

Related bills identified by Congress.gov

No related bills are listed in this snapshot. This does not establish whether the proposal has appeared in earlier Congresses.

Source last updated: Jan 2, 2025. Consult Congress.gov for the current record.

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Neutral evidence review

Objective

Analyze H.R.3181 as objectively as possible. Explain its main provisions, who would be affected, possible benefits and harms, implementation, exceptions, and uncertainties. Present the strongest arguments for and against it, and identify evidence needed to assess its public impact.

View full prompt & sources

Discuss H.R.3181, 107th Congress: To establish a temporary moratorium on the issuance of visas for nonimmigrant foreign students and other exchange program participants, to improve procedures for issuance of nonimmigrant student visas, and to enhance procedures for admission at ports of entry to the United States.

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/107th-congress/house-bill/3181

Text version to examine: Introduced in House · 2001-10-30.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/107/bills/hr3181/BILLS-107hr3181ih.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2025-01-02T16:49:03Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Analyze H.R.3181 as objectively as possible. Explain its main provisions, who would be affected, possible benefits and harms, implementation, exceptions, and uncertainties. Present the strongest arguments for and against it, and identify evidence needed to assess its public impact.

Fairness and public impact

Progressive lens

Examine H.R.3181 through a progressive lens, focusing on fairness, access, economic inequality, and effects on vulnerable communities. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and distinguish stated goals from demonstrated outcomes.

View full prompt & sources

Discuss H.R.3181, 107th Congress: To establish a temporary moratorium on the issuance of visas for nonimmigrant foreign students and other exchange program participants, to improve procedures for issuance of nonimmigrant student visas, and to enhance procedures for admission at ports of entry to the United States.

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/107th-congress/house-bill/3181

Text version to examine: Introduced in House · 2001-10-30.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/107/bills/hr3181/BILLS-107hr3181ih.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2025-01-02T16:49:03Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Examine H.R.3181 through a progressive lens, focusing on fairness, access, economic inequality, and effects on vulnerable communities. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and distinguish stated goals from demonstrated outcomes.

Institutions and government scope

Conservative lens

Examine H.R.3181 through a conservative lens, focusing on fiscal responsibility, institutional stability, federalism, and the scope of government. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and any provisions that challenge this perspective.

View full prompt & sources

Discuss H.R.3181, 107th Congress: To establish a temporary moratorium on the issuance of visas for nonimmigrant foreign students and other exchange program participants, to improve procedures for issuance of nonimmigrant student visas, and to enhance procedures for admission at ports of entry to the United States.

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/107th-congress/house-bill/3181

Text version to examine: Introduced in House · 2001-10-30.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/107/bills/hr3181/BILLS-107hr3181ih.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2025-01-02T16:49:03Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Examine H.R.3181 through a conservative lens, focusing on fiscal responsibility, institutional stability, federalism, and the scope of government. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and any provisions that challenge this perspective.

Individual rights and government power

Liberty lens

Examine H.R.3181 through a civil-liberties and limited-government lens. Consider individual rights, privacy, voluntary choice, accountability, and government power. Explain tradeoffs, possible safeguards, and the strongest counterarguments without assuming the proposal is beneficial or harmful.

View full prompt & sources

Discuss H.R.3181, 107th Congress: To establish a temporary moratorium on the issuance of visas for nonimmigrant foreign students and other exchange program participants, to improve procedures for issuance of nonimmigrant student visas, and to enhance procedures for admission at ports of entry to the United States.

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/107th-congress/house-bill/3181

Text version to examine: Introduced in House · 2001-10-30.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/107/bills/hr3181/BILLS-107hr3181ih.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2025-01-02T16:49:03Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Examine H.R.3181 through a civil-liberties and limited-government lens. Consider individual rights, privacy, voluntary choice, accountability, and government power. Explain tradeoffs, possible safeguards, and the strongest counterarguments without assuming the proposal is beneficial or harmful.