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119-hr-362119th Congress

Virgin Islands Visa Waiver Act of 2025

Sponsored By: Representative Plaskett, Stacey E. [D-VI-At Large]

Introduced

Summary

Creates a Virgin Islands Visa Waiver Program that would let nationals of eligible countries visit the U.S. Virgin Islands for up to 45 days without a nonimmigrant visa. DHS would pick which countries qualify after consulting with territories and other agencies and could suspend or add countries if entries pose security, overstay, or fraud risks.

Show full summary
  • Travelers: Nationals of listed countries could visit the Virgin Islands for business or pleasure for up to 45 days without a visa, as long as travel is only to the territory.
  • Virgin Islands communities: Residents and tourism businesses could see more short-stay visitors, but admissions are conditioned on territorial arrival and departure controls and can be paused for unacceptable overstays or security problems.
  • DHS and territories: DHS would set rules, require an adequate arrival/departure system, consult governors, and must issue implementing regulations within one year of enactment.
  • Visitors and fees: People granted waivers would formally waive certain port-of-entry review rights with limited exceptions for asylum, withholding of removal, and torture claims. DHS may charge an administrative processing fee to recover processing and related administrative costs.

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

3 provisions identified: 0 benefits, 1 costs, 2 mixed.

Processing fee for Virgin Islands waiver

If enacted, DHS would charge a processing fee to use the Virgin Islands visitor waiver. DHS would set the fee to cover its full processing and program costs. The bill does not set the dollar amount. You would pay this when you use the waiver.

45-day visitor waiver for Virgin Islands

If enacted, some visitors could enter the U.S. Virgin Islands for up to 45 days without the usual visa. It would apply only for business or pleasure, and only if you stay in the Virgin Islands. DHS would first consult with Interior, State, and the Virgin Islands Governor and find border controls adequate and no security risk. Travelers would have to give up the right to appeal an officer’s decision at the port and to contest removal, except for asylum, withholding, or torture claims. The bill would also update immigration text to add the Virgin Islands alongside Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands.

Country list and rules for Virgin Islands waiver

DHS would write rules within one year to run the Virgin Islands visitor waiver. The rules would list which countries’ citizens can use it, including Caribbean Community members, decided country by country. DHS could require a bond for higher-risk travelers. DHS would watch entries and could pause a country if overstays, unlawful entry elsewhere, or security risks rise. The Virgin Islands Governor could ask DHS to add countries, but DHS could refuse if it would raise fraud or threaten safety.

Sponsors & CoSponsors

Sponsor

Plaskett, Stacey E. [D-VI-At Large]

VI • D

Cosponsors

There are no cosponsors for this bill.

Roll Call Votes

No roll call votes available for this bill.

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