H.R. 7063 — Student Visa Integrity Act of 2026

This section defines the terms SEVIS (Student and Exchange Visitor Information System of the Department of Homeland Security) and SEVP (Student and Exchange Visitor Program of the Department of Homeland Security) for purposes of the Act.

This section increases the maximum prison term under 18 U.S.C. §1546(a) to 15 years (from 10 years) for visa and immigration document fraud offenses committed by an owner, official, employee, or agent of an educational institution with respect to the institution's participation in the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP)—which certifies schools to enroll nonimmigrant F-1 and M-1 students—while retaining the 10-year maximum for other offenses.

This section requires accreditation by an accrediting agency recognized by the Secretary of Education for academic institutions (except public elementary or secondary schools), language training programs, or programs of study seeking or granted approval under F (academic student), M (vocational student), or J (exchange visitor) nonimmigrant visas. (Thus, such accreditation applies to institutions hosting the approximately 1.1 million F, M, and J nonimmigrants annually.) This section authorizes the Secretary of Homeland Security to waive the accreditation requirement, in the Secretary's discretion, for otherwise compliant institutions that have been accreditation candidates for at least 1 year with an appropriate agency and continue making progress; such waivers are valid for up to 1 year and extendible in 1-year increments up to the accreditor's maximum candidacy period, with DHS required to publish a list of waived institutions. This section also revises INA §101(a)(15)(F)(i) to reference the new accreditation provision in INA §214(m), explicitly include language training programs after "elementary school," eliminate the prior separate reference to accredited language training programs, replace "Attorney General" with "Secretary of Homeland Security," and strike the prior definition of accredited language training program in INA §101(a)(52).

This section adds to the information required to be collected and reported under the foreign student monitoring program (i.e., data on F, J, and M nonimmigrant aliens from designated countries) the date on which full tuition has been paid by the alien.

This section requires institutions of higher education and other approved educational institutions petitioning for certification or recertification with the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP)—which oversees schools enrolling nonimmigrant F-1 and M-1 students—to include with such petitions (1) final copies of any contracts, agreements, or documentation of financial transactions between the institution (or its affiliated student or faculty groups, foundations, or related entities) and any educational, cultural, or language entity directly or indirectly funded by the Government of the People's Republic of China; and (2) a detailed description of any financial contributions from the Government of the People's Republic of China or its affiliates to any affiliated student or faculty groups.

This section revises penalties under Section 641(d)(3) of the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996 (8 U.S.C. 1372) for approved educational institutions and exchange visitor programs that fail to comply with Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS) reporting requirements on F, M, and J nonimmigrant students and exchange visitors. It requires the Secretary of Homeland Security or Secretary of State, as applicable, to (1) impose a monetary fine of not less than $1,000, (2) either suspend the institution's or program's authority to issue Forms I-20 or DS-2019 until compliance or terminate the institution's approval under INA sec. 101(a)(15)(F) or (M) or the program's designation, (3) if noncompliance persists for 180 days after the required reporting date and termination was not already imposed under (2), impose termination, and (4) if the noncompliance involves information under subsection (d)(2), conduct an out-of-cycle review. (Thus, noncompliant entities face immediate fines and potential suspension of student recruitment, with termination as an escalating option.)

This section amends Section 641(d) of the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996 (8 U.S.C. 1372(d))—which requires data collection and sharing for the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP), overseeing F/M student and J exchange visitor visas—by adding two new paragraphs. New paragraph (4) authorizes the Secretary of Homeland Security or Secretary of State, upon knowledge or reasonable grounds to believe that a principal or designated school official of an SEVP-approved institution or a principal/responsible officer of a designated exchange visitor program has committed or attempted SEVP-related fraud (or is indicted for such fraud), to immediately impose, at their discretion, any of the following sanctions: (1) suspension without prior notice of the institution's F/M visa approval or the program's J visa designation; (2) suspension of the official's access to SEVP databases or systems; or (3) suspension of the institution's or program's authority to issue SEVP documents (i.e., Forms I-20 or DS-2019). New paragraph (5) permanently disqualifies such principals or officials from SEVP participation (including petitioning for F/M approval) upon conviction of a crime punishable by imprisonment exceeding one year under (A) INA §274 (8 U.S.C. 1324, unlawful bringing of aliens into the U.S.); (B) 18 U.S.C. §1546 (visa fraud and misuse of documents) relating to an institution's SEVP participation; (C) 18 U.S.C. ch. 37 (espionage and censorship); (D) 18 U.S.C. ch. 77 (peonage, slavery, and trafficking in persons); or (E) 18 U.S.C. ch. 117 (transportation for illegal sexual activity and related crimes).

This section establishes eligibility review requirements under the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS) for principals, designated school officials at approved higher education or other educational institutions, and principals, responsible officers, or alternate responsible officers at designated exchange visitor programs. Such individuals must be U.S. citizens, nationals, or lawful permanent residents who, during the preceding 4-year period (or within 5 years for those serving on enactment), undergo a DHS review of criminal/sex offender history and immigration status; are determined to have no immigration violations and not to pose a public safety or national security risk; and complete DHS online training on SEVIS. (1) Multiple designated school officials or responsible officers are required per institution or program, with DHS review of a sample of their documents if any fail the background check and discretionary authority for DHS to terminate access at any time; (2) direct and third-party promoters or recruiters must register with ICE, meet minimum qualifications and guidelines, and adhere to permissible fee arrangements under written institutional agreements, with violations resulting in suspension or permanent bar; (3) authorizes DHS to charge institutions a fee equal to the average review cost; (4) permits institutions to require tuition payment before issuing SEVIS documents; and (5) restricts issuance of documents to transfer students.

This section directs the Secretary of Homeland Security, immediately upon enactment, to rescind Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) certifications held by flight training providers not certificated by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) under 14 C.F.R. part 141 or 142 (or successor regulations) and to prohibit such providers from receiving future SEVP certification. (Thus, nonimmigrant students may not obtain Form I-20 visa eligibility documents to attend flight training providers lacking those FAA certifications.)

This section requires an accrediting agency to notify the Secretaries of Homeland Security and State within 30 days of the final denial, withdrawal, suspension, or termination of an institution's accreditation (in addition to the existing requirement to notify the Secretary of Education and relevant state agency under section 496 of the Higher Education Act of 1965). Upon receipt of such notification, the Secretary of Homeland Security terminates the institution's approval under INA sec. 101(a)(15)(F) or (M) (i.e., for F-1 student visas or M-1 vocational student visas). (Thus, the institution may no longer enroll or sponsor international students on such visas.)

This section revises the reporting requirements under the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS)—which tracks F (academic student), J (exchange visitor), and M (vocational student) nonimmigrants—to cover aliens who (1) have the status or are applying for F, J, or M nonimmigrant status or (2) hold other nonimmigrant status and are pursuing or intend to pursue a full course of study at an SEVIS-certified academic institution, vocational institution, or language training program (i.e., F or M programs).

This section requires aliens seeking to participate in a language training program to do so only in F (student), J (exchange visitor), or M (vocational student) nonimmigrant status and aliens seeking to participate in a flight training program to do so only in F or M status. It exempts from the flight training requirement short-duration occupational training, refresher or continuing education courses, or seminars necessary to maintain a previously obtained certification or rating or otherwise professionally required.

This section directs the Secretary of State to deny visas to, and the Secretary of Homeland Security to deny admission, status, or parole to, any alien who is a citizen of Afghanistan, Iran, Iraq, Libya, Syria, or a designated state sponsor of terrorism and who seeks to participate in (1) coursework at an institution of higher education (as defined in section 101(a) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1001(a))) to prepare for a career in Iran's energy sector or in nuclear science, nuclear engineering, or a related field; or (2) coursework or training related to flight training, aviation maintenance, or flight operations—including for visa applicants, those applying for admission or to change or extend status, and those already authorized to study. The section further requires the Secretary of Homeland Security to terminate the nonimmigrant status or authorization to remain in the United States of any such alien physically present in the country. In addition, the section authorizes the Secretary of Homeland Security, in consultation with the Secretary of State and Director of National Intelligence, to designate additional countries subject to these restrictions—considering factors such as national security threats, terrorist presence, or safe havens—and to review such designations annually. Finally, the section repeals section 501 of the Iran Threat Reduction and Syria Human Rights Act of 2012 (22 U.S.C. 8771).

This section directs the Secretary of State to deny visas to, and the Secretary of Homeland Security to exclude from the United States, any alien who is a citizen of a designated foreign adversary country seeking to participate in coursework at an institution of higher education, as defined in section 101(a) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (i.e., public or nonprofit institutions offering degree programs beyond secondary education). Foreign adversary countries include (1) the People’s Republic of China (including Hong Kong and Macau), (2) Cuba, (3) Iran, (4) North Korea, (5) Russia, (6) Venezuela under the Maduro regime, and (7) any other country designated by the Secretary of State as posing a threat to the United States or inclined to steal research threatening U.S. national security. This section applies to visa applications filed on or after the date of enactment.

This section establishes a definite period of authorized stay for aliens admitted under F, J, or M nonimmigrant status (i.e., nonimmigrant students and exchange visitors) not to exceed the shorter of the program length or 4 years, plus a 30-day post-study period to prepare for departure (with exceptions for border commuter students, students failing to maintain status, and certain others). It restricts specific categories as follows: (1) language training programs to an aggregate of 2 years; (2) public high school students to an aggregate of 1 year; (3) border commuter students (F-3) to the current term dates; and (4) dependents to the principal's authorized period. Aliens from designated countries of concern—including those whose governments repeatedly support international terrorism under authorities such as section 620A of the Foreign Assistance Act (22 U.S.C. 2371) or with student overstay rates exceeding 10 percent—or attending schools not participating in good standing in E-Verify may be admitted only for up to 2 years (or program end date, whichever is shorter), with extensions limited to additional 2-year increments (or until program end). Aliens previously admitted for 4 years who become subject to these 2-year limits are similarly restricted, and extensions or changes of status remain subject to these limits.

This section establishes restrictions on online coursework for nonimmigrant students under F (academic), M (vocational), and J (exchange visitor) visas to satisfy full course of study requirements. It limits such online classes—defined as those not requiring physical attendance for classes, exams, or other purposes, with any class more than 50% online counted entirely as online—to no more than 10% of class time or credits per session for F or M students and no more than 10% total for any F, M, or J study program; it also prohibits J admissions or status changes to J for study if more than 10% per session is online. (Thus, these students must complete at least 90% of coursework in person.)

This section amends the foreign student and exchange visitor monitoring program (i.e., requires approved institutions and programs to report data on F, J, and M nonimmigrants from designated countries) by (1) expanding required data elements to include any other information the Secretary of Homeland Security considers necessary; (2) requiring approved institutions to release covered student information to the Department of Homeland Security as part of the program or upon request; and (3) inserting "automatically" before "revoked or denied" in subsection (d)(2). (Thus, specified approvals or visas are now automatically revoked or denied for non-compliance.)

This section revises the reporting requirements for approved institutions and exchange visitor programs under the foreign student monitoring program (i.e., predecessor to SEVIS) by (1) changing the deadline for reporting failures to enroll or commence participation from 30 days after the deadline for registering for classes to 30 days after the program start date (for new students) or next session start date (for continuing students); and (2) directing such reports to the Department of Homeland Security (from the Immigration and Naturalization Service). (Thus, institutions must report non-enrollment or non-participation based on actual academic session start dates rather than registration deadlines.)

This section revises the fee provision for the program to monitor nonimmigrant students and exchange visitors with F, J, or M status (i.e., Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS)) by (1) replacing "Attorney General" with "Secretary of Homeland Security" in the first sentence, (2) replacing "Attorney General’s" with "Secretary of Homeland Security’s" in the third sentence, and (3) striking the second sentence.

This section requires the Secretary of Homeland Security and the Secretary of State, not later than two years after enactment, to complete deployment of SEVIS II—the modernization of the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS), which tracks nonimmigrant students and exchange visitors in F, M, and J status. SEVIS II must implement the following improvements: (1) an entirely paperless process for all activities related to admission and tracking of nonimmigrant students; and (2) a person-centric recordkeeping system unifying information on nonimmigrant students previously maintained in multiple SEVIS records. The section further authorizes the Secretaries to collect fees from academic institutions approved or designated for F, M, or J nonimmigrants, or applying for such approval or designation, to recover SEVIS II implementation and maintenance costs.

This section directs the Comptroller General of the United States to submit to the Senate and House Judiciary Committees, not later than December 31, 2026, a report assessing the effectiveness of the Secretary of Homeland Security's implementation of this Act and its amendments.

This section prohibits issuance of F, J, or M nonimmigrant visas (i.e., for academic students, exchange visitors, and vocational students, respectively) until a consular officer provides the applicant with, and reviews, the information and resources pamphlet on protections for domestic workers and other nonimmigrants required under section 202 of the William Wilberforce Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act of 2008 (8 U.S.C. 1375b), in the applicant's language or a language the applicant understands. (Thus, the requirement applies only to visas issued to pursue a course of study.)