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119-hr-1220119th Congress

FIRM Act of 2025

Sponsored By: Representative Wagner, Ann [R-MO-2]

Introduced

Summary

Ties nonimmigrant visa fee hikes to specific country behavior. This bill would let the Secretary of State increase the fee under section 281 for certain nonimmigrant applicants from countries that meet one or more named triggers.

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  • Affected applicants: Nationals of listed countries applying for nonimmigrant visas described in section 101(a)(15)(B) would face higher fees. Increases are tiered at not less than 50 percent, 100 percent, or 150 percent depending on how many triggers apply.
  • Triggers: Fee increases may be imposed if the Department of Homeland Security reports a country refused or unreasonably delayed accepting a returnee, if the country is designated a state sponsor of terrorism, or if it is listed as Tier 3 in the Trafficking in Persons report.
  • Administration and timing: The Secretary must review these determinations on the first day of each month to add or remove countries or change fee levels. The bill inserts a new section 281A into the Immigration and Nationality Act and updates the table of contents.

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

1 provisions identified: 0 benefits, 1 costs, 0 mixed.

Higher visitor visa fees for some travelers

If enacted, some B visitor visa applicants would pay higher application fees. This would apply only to people applying abroad who are nationals of certain countries. A higher fee would apply if your country refuses to take back its nationals, is named a state sponsor of terrorism, or is Tier 3 for human trafficking. The increase would be at least 50% for one trigger, 100% for two, and 150% for all three. The State Department would review the list on the first day of each month and could add or remove countries or lower increases.

Sponsors & CoSponsors

Sponsor

Wagner, Ann [R-MO-2]

MO • R

Cosponsors

  • Rep. Gill, Brandon [R-TX-26]

    TX • R

    Sponsored 2/11/2025

  • Rep. Brecheen, Josh [R-OK-2]

    OK • R

    Sponsored 11/19/2025

Roll Call Votes

No roll call votes available for this bill.

View on Congress.gov
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