Sponsors (6)
The bill tightens entry rules and clarifies who is treated as a PRC national to strengthen screening and reduce ambiguity in enforcement, at the expense of restricting visa-free travel for PRC passport holders, reducing tourism to U.S. territories, and increasing consular workload and costs.
All U.S. travelers: Requires visa screening for nationals of the People’s Republic of China (including Hong Kong and Macau), which should reduce visa fraud and strengthen immigration controls.
Federal implementers and the public: Creates clearer statutory definitions (e.g., what counts as 'immigration laws' and that PRC includes Hong Kong and Macau), reducing ambiguity for DHS and improving government accountability and consistent application.
Residents and officials of Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands: Preserves local territorial control by clarifying admission rules and funding restrictions for PRC nationals under local visa-waiver programs.
Nationals of the People’s Republic of China (including Hong Kong and Macau passport holders): Would lose visa-free entry and be required to apply for visas, imposing time and monetary costs and restricting travel convenience.
Businesses, workers, and communities in Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands: Likely fewer visitors from the PRC will reduce tourism revenue, harming local economies reliant on Chinese tourists.
U.S. consulates, DHS, and taxpayers: Increased visa demand will raise consular and DHS workload, potentially slowing processing times and increasing administrative costs.
Based on analysis of 2 sections of legislative text.
Prohibits visa-free entry for nationals of the People’s Republic of China and holders of PRC passports (including Hong Kong and Macau) unless they hold a valid U.S. visa, and bars DHS funding for programs admitting them without visas.
Prohibits visa-free entry to the United States (including Guam and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands programs) for nationals of the People’s Republic of China and for anyone holding a PRC-issued passport unless they present a valid U.S. visa. It also bars use of Department of Homeland Security funds to allow PRC nationals to participate in visa-exemption or travel-authorization programs. The bill defines “People’s Republic of China” to include Hong Kong and Macau Special Administrative Regions and ties the admission restriction to possession of a valid visa under existing immigration law definitions.
Official title: Prohibit the Secretary of Homeland Security from admitting to the United States any national of the People's Republic of China without a valid visa, and for other purposes.
Introduced February 12, 2026 by Richard Lynn Scott · Last progress February 12, 2026