One Hundred Eleventh Congress of the United States of America
2d Session
Begun and held at the City of Washington on Tuesday, the fifth day of January, two thousand and ten
S. 1338
AN ACT
To require the accreditation of English language training programs, and for other purposes.
Accreditation of English language training programs
In general
Section 101(a) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1101(a)) is amended—
in paragraph (15)(F)(i), by striking
a language
and inserting an accredited language
;
and
by adding at the end the following:
The term accredited language training program means a language training program that is accredited by an accrediting agency recognized by the Secretary of Education.
.
Effective date
In general
Except as provided in paragraph (2), the amendments made by subsection (a) shall—
take effect on the date that is 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act; and
apply with respect to applications for a nonimmigrant visa under section 101(a)(15)(F)(i) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1101(a)(15)(F)(i)) that are filed on or after the effective date described in subparagraph (A).
Temporary exception
In general
Notwithstanding section 101(a)(15)(F)(i) of the Immigration and Nationality Act, as amended by subsection (a), during the 3-year period beginning on the date of the enactment of this Act, an alien seeking to enter the United States to pursue a course of study at a language training program that has been certified by the Secretary of Homeland Security and has not been accredited or denied accreditation by an entity described in section 101(a)(52) of such Act may be granted a nonimmigrant visa under such section 101(a)(15)(F)(i).
Additional requirement
An alien may not be granted a nonimmigrant visa under subparagraph (A) if the sponsoring institution of the language training program to which the alien seeks to enroll does not—
submit an application for the accreditation of such program to a regional or national accrediting agency recognized by the Secretary of Education within 1 year after the date of the enactment of this Act; and
comply with the applicable accrediting requirements of such agency.
Speaker of the House of Representatives
Vice President of the United States and President of the Senate