PlainBillCongress, translated.Legislation. Context. Public interest.Referred to the Subcommittee on Immigration and Citizenship.
Congressional Research Service
Version 00 · Introduced in House · Nov 19, 2019
State Sponsored Visa Pilot Program Act of 2019
This bill grants nonimmigrant visas to qualified aliens sponsored by a U.S. state (or the District of Columbia) to perform services, provide investment, or otherwise contribute to the state's economy.
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) shall issue a visa to a qualified alien sponsored through a state program that (1) was approved by the state's legislature, (2) regulates the employment and residence of the alien, (3) has procedures to inform DHS of the alien's noncompliance with requirements, and (4) allows the alien to seek employment with new employers. Such a visa may be valid for up to three years and may be renewed.
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An alien with such a visa shall (1) be authorized to work and reside in the sponsoring state, (2) be subject to all relevant tax and employment laws, and (3) not be entitled to federal public benefits. States may enter into an agreement to jointly administer a sponsoring program, and to provide work authorization to aliens sponsored by other states that are party to the agreement.
The number of visas available to each state shall be increased or decreased annually based on factors including (1) the state's economic growth in the prior year, and (2) the percentage of state-sponsored aliens that violated the program's rules.
States are authorized to take various actions to enforce program rules. DHS and the Department of Justice shall jointly develop a visa application fraud prevention program.
People & committees
Rep. Curtis, John R. [R-UT-3] · R–UT
Legislative record
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Referred to the Subcommittee on Immigration and Citizenship.
Referred to the Subcommittee on Nutrition, Oversight, and Department Operations.
Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.
Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committees on Education and Labor, Ways and Means, Agriculture, Financial Services, and Energy and Commerce, 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.
Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committees on Education and Labor, Ways and Means, Agriculture, Financial Services, and Energy and Commerce, 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.
Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committees on Education and Labor, Ways and Means, Agriculture, Financial Services, and Energy and Commerce, 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.
Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committees on Education and Labor, Ways and Means, Agriculture, Financial Services, and Energy and Commerce, 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.
Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committees on Education and Labor, Ways and Means, Agriculture, Financial Services, and Energy and Commerce, 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.
Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committees on Education and Labor, Ways and Means, Agriculture, Financial Services, and Energy and Commerce, 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.
Introduced in House
Introduced in House
Primary sources
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No related bills are listed in this snapshot. This does not establish whether the proposal has appeared in earlier Congresses.
Source last updated: Jul 21, 2025. Consult Congress.gov for the current record.
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