Let Families Visit: Pass Temporary Family Visitation Act (TFVA)

Slide 1

Imagine missing your sister's wedding. Picture being unable to say goodbye to a loved one or welcome the birth of your first grandchild. This is the reality for millions of families every year who are denied the ability to visit family in the United States because there is no visa category specifically designed to allow their travel to the U.S. The Temporary Family Visitation Act (TFVA) addresses this problem.

Currently, family members of U.S. citizens and permanent residents have to apply for B-2 visitor visas. This results in unnecessarily high denial rates due to the fact that consular officers assume applicants with family in the U.S. intend to immigrate. In turn, many family members end up applying for immigrant visas as the only path to visit their relatives.

TFVA creates a new B-3 nonimmigrant visa category specifically allowing for family members of U.S. citizens and permanent residents to temporarily visit their relatives in the United States. This legislation would not only support family reunion, but it would also stimulate the U.S. economy.

Slide 1

How it Works

The Temporary Family Visitation Act would create limited but practical change within the Immigration and Nationality Act. The legislation would establish a new B-3 nonimmigrant category allowing U.S. citizens and permanent residents to petition for their family members to temporarily visit.

The application provides financial assurance to the U.S. government by requiring:
• that the petitioner sign an affidavit of financial support
• that the applicant purchase travel medical insurance for the duration of the stay

TFVA would dissuade visa overstays by:
• Prohibiting individuals traveling under the TFVA from changing their visa status
• Limiting the duration of the stay to 90 days
• Prohibiting the petitioner from using the TFVA if they had previously sponsored a relative who overstayed their period of authorized admission

If passed, TFVA would impact over 1 million to 2 million applicants per year

Resources

Slide 1

Economic Benefits

If TFVA is passed, it would provide a significant boost in the economy through the indirect spending of billions of dollars and the creation of tens of thousands of jobs.

• Each overseas traveler spends approximately $5,000 when they visit the U.S.

• Each overseas traveler stays on average 18 nights

• In 2018, international travel spending directly supported 1.2 million U.S. jobs and 33.6 billion in wages

• In 2019, international travelers spent $155 billion in the U.S.

• In 2019, international travel generated $24.9 billion in tax revenues

Resources

Slide 1

Economic Benefits

If TFVA is passed, it would provide a significant boost in the economy through the indirect spending of billions of dollars and the creation of tens of thousands of jobs.

• Each overseas traveler spends approximately $5,000 when they visit the U.S.

• Each overseas traveler stays on average 18 nights

• In 2018, international travel spending directly supported 1.2 million U.S. jobs and 33.6 billion in wages

• In 2019, international travelers spent $155 billion in the U.S.

• In 2019, international travel generated $24.9 billion in tax revenues

Resources

In the News

Now is the Moment for Action to Unite Jewish Families [Jewish Journal]

by paaiaadmin on October 20, 2021

Jewish Iranian American Elected Official in California Pens Op-Ed on Temporary Family Visitation Act October 12, 2021 Read original version on Jewish Journal website here.

Opinion: It’s time to let U.S. immigrants’ families abroad visit them more easily [San Diego Union-Tribune]

by paaiaadmin on June 28, 2021

PAAIA Board Member Haida Mojdehi Pens Op-Ed on Importance of TFVA October 20, 2021 Read original version on San Diego Union-Tribune website here. By Haida

PAAIA Celebrates Bipartisan, Bicameral Introduction of the Temporary Family Visitation Act – PAAIA

by paaiaadmin on May 13, 2021

Today, the Public Affairs Alliance of Iranian Americans (PAAIA), a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization serving the interests of the Iranian American community, applauded the introduction of the Temporary Family Visitation Act (TFVA) in the U.S. House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate by a bipartisan team of sponsors.

Paul and Blumenthal Bill would Create Temporary Visas for Families to Reunite – Washington Examiner

by paaiaadmin on May 13, 2021

A bipartisan group of lawmakers, including Sens. Rand Paul and Richard Blumenthal, introduced a bill on Thursday that aims to make a new category of temporary visas to allow family members to visit the United States for major life events such as weddings, funerals, and births more easily.

Reps. Peters, Bice, Himes, Salazar Introduce Bipartisan, Bicameral Bill to Ease Temporary Visits to the U.S. – Press Release

by paaiaadmin on May 13, 2021

Today, U.S. Representatives Scott Peters (CA-52), Stephanie Bice (OK-05), Jim Himes (CT-04) and María Elvira Salazar (FL-27) introduced the Temporary Family Visitation Act (TFVA) to ease obstacles for travelers looking to temporarily enter the United States to visit family.

Dr. Rand Paul and Senator Richard Blumenthal Introduce the Temporary Family Visitation Act – Press Release

by paaiaadmin on May 13, 2021

Today, U.S. Senators Rand Paul (R-KY) and Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) introduced the Temporary Family Visitation Act that would establish a new B-3 nonimmigrant category allowing U.S. citizens and permanent residents to petition for their family members for temporary visits. The bill was also introduced in the House by U.S. Representatives Scott Peters (D-CA-52), María Elvira Salazar (R-FL-27), Stephanie Bice (R-OK-05), and Jim Himes (D-CT-04).

Aug 2017

Recognizing the impact of visa challenges on American families, the Public Affairs Alliance of Iranian Americans (PAAIA) drafts policy to create a new nonimmigrant visa category for families and TFVA is born.
Oct 2017

PAAIA begins socializing the idea to members of Congress.
Apr 2018

Rep. Scott Peters (D-CA) agrees to lead the push for TFVA in the U.S. House of Representatives.
Aug 2018

PAAIA begins to secure support from other communities and business groups, ultimately leading to the creation of the Let Families Visit coalition.
Mar 2019

Former Rep. Francis Rooney (R-FL) joins Rep. Peters as a co-lead on TFVA.
Oct 2020

TFVA is introduced in the House of Representatives. Four additional co-sponsors join TFVA following introduction: Reps. Jennifer Wexton (D-VA), David Trone (D-MD), Jim Himes (D-CT), and Ro Khanna (D-CA).
Jan 2021

New legislative session begins.
Feb 2021

Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) agrees to champion the bill in the Senate.
Mar 2021

TFVA becomes bipartisan in the Senate as Sen. Blumenthal (D-CT) joins Sen. Paul as a co-lead on the bill.
Apr 2021

Rep. Peters agrees to lead the push for TFVA in the 117^th Congress with Rep. Stephanie Bice (R-OK) as a co-lead.
May 2021

Rep. Maria Salazar (R-FL) and Rep. Jim Himes (D-CT) joins as secondary co-leads on the bill.
May 2021

TFVA is introduced in the 117^th Congress in both the U.S. House of Representatives and Senate.