Rep. Huffman Introduces Legislation to Support Bi-National Families and Remove Undue Barriers to U.S. Travel

September 28, 2016

Washington, D.C.- Representative Jared Huffman (D-San Rafael) today introduced legislation to establish a new non-immigrant visa category that allows for temporary visits by the spouses of U.S. citizens. The legislation would remove a significant barrier and unfair hardship placed on U.S. citizens living abroad who may wish to enter the U.S. with their non-citizen spouse to visit family or resolve an emergency at home.

“Since taking office, a number of my constituents temporarily living abroad have encountered undue obstacles in our visa system when they tried to visit the United States with their spouses,” said Rep. Huffman. “To make matters worse, this barrier often surfaces during family emergencies, when the support and presence of a spouse is needed the most. For one constituent that contacted my office, this bureaucratic red tape meant that his wife was never able to meet her father-in-law before he passed away from an illness. My legislation would remove this roadblock for my constituents and bi-national families everywhere by establishing a new, limited, and secure visa category that allows for temporary visits by the spouses of U.S. citizens.”

Currently, foreign spouses of U.S. citizens living abroad must apply for a tourist visa to visit the United States. Unfortunately, it can often be very challenging to receive this visa due to a presumption by the Bureau of Consular Affairs that they intend to apply for an adjustment of status upon arriving in the U.S. and immigrate, even if there is no evidence they plan to do so.

This legislation would create a new, non-immigrant visa category for foreign spouses of U.S. citizens with the specific stipulation that it does not allow for an adjustment of immigration status when in the United States. 

###