Student Visa Integrity Act of 2025
Sponsored By: Senator Tommy Tuberville
Introduced
Summary
Tightening oversight of nonimmigrant student programs. This bill would remake SEVP and SEVIS rules to increase penalties, force new accreditation and financial disclosures, limit online study, and cap authorized stays for F, J, and M students.
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- Students and families: It would cap most study stays at the shorter of program length or 4 years, create a 30‑day post‑study leave window, limit online study to 10% of credits or time, and forbid some nationals from certain coursework or flight training.
- Colleges and language schools: Institutions would need recognized accreditation or short, renewable waivers, must disclose contracts and PRC‑linked funding, face annual audits and fines of at least $1,000 for SEVIS reporting failures after a 180‑day fix period, and could lose certification immediately if officials are indicted for fraud.
- Employers, recruiters, and flight trainers: On‑campus employers must use E‑Verify and report hires. Recruiters and promoters face registration, written agreements, training, and possible suspension or permanent barring. Flight schools must hold separate FAA certification to keep SEVP status.
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
7 provisions identified: 0 benefits, 4 costs, 3 mixed.
Background checks for school officials
If enacted, principals, designated school officials, and responsible officers would need to be U.S. citizens or lawful permanent residents and pass DHS eligibility reviews. Reviews would cover the prior four years, include criminal and sex-offender checks, and require DHS online training. People serving on enactment would be reviewed within five years. Convictions for certain crimes punishable by more than one year would permanently bar participation.
Limits on online study and transfers
If enacted, F and M students could take at most 10% of class time or credits per session and 10% of a whole program online. If over 50% of a class is online, the class counts as fully online. The bill would limit J admissions based on online share and generally block students from changing the major on Form I-20 or getting SEVP transfer documents in many cases.
New employer rules for student workers
If enacted, employers who hire student nonimmigrants would need to use E-Verify and report job details to the student's school. They must notify the school within 48 hours of a termination, resignation, or a no-show for five work days. The Secretary of Labor could trigger multi-year blocks on student work authorization for employers with labor violations (at least 1 year, at least 3 years, or at least 10 years for willful failures).
Country and visa limits for students
If enacted, the Secretaries of State and Homeland Security would be able to deny visas or end status for nationals of listed countries seeking certain higher-education coursework or flight training. The bill names several countries of concern and foreign adversary countries, and it would bar some flight training unless providers meet DHS and FAA certification. Consular officers would also have to give and review an anti‑trafficking pamphlet in a language the applicant understands before issuing an F, J, or M visa.
Tighter accreditation, audits, and fines
If enacted, most colleges and language programs seeking F, M, or J approval would need accreditation recognized by the Secretary of Education. DHS could give short one-year waivers to candidates who show progress. Accrediting agencies would have to notify federal and state officials of final adverse actions within 30 days. DHS or State would audit at least 1% of approved schools each year and could fine schools at least $1,000, suspend SEVP document issuance, and terminate approval after 180 days of noncompliance.
SEVIS modernization, fees, and data
If enacted, DHS and State would have to deploy SEVIS II within two years. SEVIS II would be paperless and keep one person-centered record. DHS and State could charge approved schools and applicants fees to recover SEVIS II costs. Schools would also have to report more student data, including the date a student paid full tuition.
Registration rules for recruiters and promoters
If enacted, direct and third-party recruiters and promoters for approved schools would have to register with ICE and meet DHS standards. Schools would need written agreements with each promoter or recruiter. DHS could suspend or bar recruiters who break the rules.
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Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Tommy Tuberville
AL • R
Cosponsors
There are no cosponsors for this bill.
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
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