The House Judiciary Committee recently approved legislation authored by U.S. Rep. Mimi Walters (R-CA) to establish specific visa categories to employ non-immigrants in U.S. film and television production.
The Oversee Visa Integrity with Stakeholder Advisories (O-VISA) Act, H.R. 3636, which was introduced by Walters and U.S. Rep. Jerrold Nadler (D-NY), would establish specific O-Visa categories for non-immigrants with expertise in film and television production.
“The O-VISA Act is an important step to secure the O-Visa program by reducing fraud and protecting American jobs,” Walters said. “This bipartisan bill would improve the ability to detect potential fraud and abuse, and in doing so, it will help ensure the integrity of the O-Visa program. All of this will come through leveraging the resources of the private stakeholder organizations meaning no taxpayer resources will be used. I was pleased the Judiciary Committee passed the O-VISA Act (on Wednesday). I look forward to its consideration by the full House of Representatives, and I will continue to work with my colleagues to ensure the O-Visa program operates effectively.”
Under the bill, the secretary of homeland security would be required to provide O-Visa application decisions to the private stakeholders that submitted them to United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) to increase transparency in the visa review process.
“The O-VISA Act will help curb fraud associated with visas set aside for foreign nationals with extraordinary skills in the arts, sciences, education, business and athletics,” U.S. Rep. Bob Goodlatte (R-VA), the chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, said. “I thank Congresswoman Walters for her work and leadership on this important issue and urge the House to take up this legislation soon.”