§ 4410 : PILOT PROGRAM FOR REMOTE B NONIMMIGRANT VISA INTERVIEWS.

Section 222 (8 U.S.C. 1202) is amended by adding at the end the following:

i.

 1. Except as provided in paragraph (3), the Secretary of State—

A.

shall develop and conduct a pilot program for processing visas under section 101(a)(15)(B) using secure remote videoconferencing technology as a method for conducting any required in person interview of applicants; and

B.

in consultation with the heads of other Federal agencies that use such secure communications, shall help ensure the security of the videoconferencing transmission and encryption conducted under subparagraph (A).

2.

Not later than 90 days after the termination of the pilot program authorized under paragraph (1), the Secretary of State shall submit to the appropriate committees of Congress a report that contains—

A.

a detailed description of the results of such program, including an assessment of the efficacy, efficiency, and security of the remote videoconferencing technology as a method for conducting visa interviews of applicants; and

B.

recommendations for whether such program should be continued, broadened, or modified.

3.

The pilot program authorized under paragraph (1) may not be conducted if the Secretary of State determines that such program—

A.

poses an undue security risk; and

B.

cannot be conducted in a manner consistent with maintaining security controls.

4.

If the Secretary of State makes a determination under paragraph (3), the Secretary shall submit a report to the appropriate committees of Congress that describes the reasons for such determination.

5.

In this subsection:

A.

The term appropriate committees of Congress means—

i.

the Committee on the Judiciary, the Committee on Foreign Relations, and the Committee on Appropriations of the Senate; and

ii.

the Committee on the Judiciary, the Committee on Foreign Affairs, and the Committee on Appropriations of the House of Representatives.

B.

The term in person interview includes interviews conducted using remote video technology.