Bill > HR2436

This bill, the Visa Overstays Penalties Act, seeks to amend the Immigration and Nationality Act to expand penalties for illegal entry and presence. The key provisions are: 1. Increasing the civil penalty for overstaying a nonimmigrant visa from $50-$250 to $500-$1,000 for the first offense, and up to $2,000 for repeat offenders. 2. Establishing criminal penalties for overstaying a nonimmigrant visa, including fines and up to 6 months in prison for the first offense, and up to 2 years in prison for repeat offenses or if the individual was previously convicted of illegal entry. 3. Allowing the civil penalties to be imposed in addition to any criminal penalties or other penalties that may apply. The goal of this bill is to deter and punish visa overstays, which are a significant contributor to illegal immigration in the United States.