H.R. 10711 – To require the Secretary of State to submit a report to Congress regarding staf…

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Updated October 7, 2026 at 4:22 AM UTC

The Reducing Visa Delays Act requires the Secretary of State to inform Congress about how staffing and resources at U.S. embassies and consulates affect visa processing times. It also mandates public posting of monthly visa wait‑time data and the creation of a plan to increase consular staffing and address other causes of delays. The bill mainly impacts visa applicants, diplomatic posts, and congressional oversight of the State Department.

Key Provisions

Within 90 days of enactment, the Secretary must submit a report covering embassy and consulate staffing adequacy, technology and resource readiness, the impact of post‑January 2025 social‑media vetting on visa wait times, and the number of security flags generated by that vetting.
The Department of State must publish each month on a public website the average and current estimated time between a visa interview and adjudication, broken down by post and visa category, along with a justification for those times.
The Secretary must develop a strategic plan to increase consular staffing and identify additional solutions to reduce visa appointment and processing delays.

Legislative Activity

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HouseIntro Referral Latest Action

Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.

Judiciary Committee

October 1, 2026

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HouseIntro Referral

Introduced in House

October 1, 2026

HouseIntro Referral

Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.

Judiciary Committee

October 1, 2026

Bill Text

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Introduced in HouseIssued October 1, 2026

I

119th CONGRESS

2d Session

H. R. 10711

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

October 1, 2026

Mr. Subramanyam introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned

A BILL

To require the Secretary of State to submit a report to Congress regarding staffing levels and wait times related to visa applications, and for other purposes.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Reducing Visa Delays Act.

2.

Report and authorization regarding embassy staffing levels and visa wait times

(a)

Report to Congress

Not later than 90 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of State shall submit to Congress a report regarding—

(1)

the adequacy of staffing levels at United States embassies and consulates to reduce visa processing wait times and visa appointment delays;

(2)

whether each embassy and consulate is equipped with the technology and resources necessary to efficiently carry out the consular duties of such embassy or consulate;

(3)

the effects of the social media vetting policies for visa applicants instituted by the Secretary after January 20, 2025, on visa processing wait times and visa appointment delays; and

(4)

the number of security flags that were identified through such social media vetting.

(b)

Publication of wait times

The Secretary shall publish monthly on a publically accessible website of the Department of State—

(1)

information regarding the previous average and current estimated time between an interview for a visa and the adjudication of the application for such visa, in aggregate and disaggregated by diplomatic or consular post and visa category; and

(2)

a justification for such average and estimated times.

(c)

Strategic plan for increased staffing

The Secretary shall develop a strategic plan—

(1)

to increase staffing levels at consular offices and embassies to reduce visa appointment wait times and processing delays; and

(2)

that includes any other solutions found to reduce appointment wait times and processing delays with respect to visa processing.