Huffman Bill Would Create New Temporary Visa for Spouses of U.S. Citizens Living Abroad

WASHINGTON,DC — U.S. Rep. Jared Huffman, D-San Rafael, introduced legislation Wednesday to establish a new non-immigrant visa category that would allow for temporary visits by the spouses of U.S. citizens, his office announced.

Currently, foreign spouses of U.S. citizens living abroad must apply for a tourist visa to visit the United States. Unfortunately, the Congressman said, it can often be very challenging to receive this visa due to a presumption by the Bureau of Consular Affairs that they intend to apply for an adjustment of status upon arriving in the U.S. and immigrate, even if there is no evidence they plan to do so.

"Since taking office, a number of my constituents temporarily living abroad have encountered undue obstacles in our visa system when they tried to visit the United States with their spouses,” said Huffman, whose 2nd Congressional District encompasses Marin County.

"To make matters worse, this barrier often surfaces during family emergencies, when the support and presence of a spouse is needed the most," Huffman said. "For one constituent that contacted my office, this bureaucratic red tape meant that his wife was never able to meet her father-in-law before he passed away from an illness. My legislation would remove this roadblock for my constituents and bi-national families everywhere by establishing a new, limited, and secure visa category that allows for temporary visits by the spouses of U.S. citizens."

The new, non-immigrant visa category would allow U.S. citizens living abroad to enter the U.S. with their non-citizen spouse to visit family or resolve an emergency at home — with the specific stipulation that it does not allow for an adjustment of immigration status for the citizens' foreign spouse while they are in the country.

Image via U.S. Department of State: Bureau of Consular Affairs, Facebook