One Nation, One Visa Policy Act

119th Congress Introduced by Mike Lee and 1 co-sponsor

The bill bars PRC nationals from entering the U.S. without a valid visa and blocks their participation in visa waiver programs.

Introduced in Senate

Bill Summary: S.3857 – One Nation, One Visa Policy Act (119th Congress)

Date introduced: February 12, 2026
Sponsor: Sen. Rick Scott (R-FL)
Co-sponsors: Sen. Mike Lee (R-UT)

Purpose
- To prohibit the admission of nationals of the People’s Republic of China (PRC) to the United States without a valid visa.
- To block the PRC from participating in visa waiver programs (including the Guam and Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands Visa Waiver Program) and related programs that authorize admission without a valid visa.

Key Provisions

1) Prohibition on visa-free admission (Section 2(a))
- The Secretary of Homeland Security may not admit any PRC national, or any individual holding a PRC passport, unless the individual possesses a valid visa.
- This effectively eliminates any pathway for PRC passport holders to enter the U.S. on a visa-free basis.

2) Prohibition on funds for PRC participation in visa waiver programs (Section 2(b))
- No DHS funds may be used to allow PRC nationals to participate in:
- The Guam and CNMI Visa Waiver Program (as authorized by INA section 212(l)), including related programs such as the Economic Vitality & Security Travel Authorization Program.
- Any other program that authorizes admission of PRC nationals without a valid visa.
- This strengthens the enforcement against PRC nationals accessing the U.S. via visa waiver mechanisms.

3) Definitions (Section 2(c))
- Clarifies terms used in the act for consistency with immigration law:
- “Immigration laws” as defined by INA section 101(a) (8 U.S.C. 1101(a)).
- “People’s Republic of China” includes Hong Kong Special Administrative Region and Macau SARs.
- The act’s scope references standard immigration law terminology unless otherwise specified.

Overall Effect
- Creates a broad, explicit requirement that PRC nationals cannot enter the United States without a valid visa.
- Denies funding for PRC participation in visa waiver programs, including those specific to U.S. territories (Guam, CNMI) and related travel authorization initiatives.
- Aligns with a stricter stance on PRC travel authorization by tying entry to visa possession and restricting alternative admission pathways.

Potential Impact and Considerations
- Affects travel, tourism, business, and academic exchange involving PRC nationals by eliminating visa-free entry options.
- Could influence U.S.-PRC diplomatic travel policy discussions and regional security considerations related to the Asia-Pacific region.
- Administrative impact on DHS, U.S. embassies/consulates, and states/territories involved in visa waiver programs.
- Since the bill is at the introduction stage, it would require passage by both chambers and presidential approval to become law; details on enforcement, implementation timelines, or waivers are not specified in the text provided.

Notes
- S.3857 is titled the “One Nation, One Visa Policy Act.”
- The text defines the scope to Hong Kong and Macau as part of the PRC for purposes of the act.