New family visit visa would cap foreign relatives' stays at 90 days

What does this do?

HR 6670 establishes a new temporary visa category called a "family purpose" visa for foreign relatives of U.S. citizens and lawful permanent residents visiting for family events or everyday family time. Eligible relatives include spouses, children, parents, grandparents, siblings, aunts, uncles, and cousins. Visits are limited to no more than 90 days per calendar year.

Who does it affect?

The bill affects U.S. citizens and green card holders who have family members living abroad and want a defined legal path to host them. It also affects those foreign relatives seeking to visit, including people already waiting in line for a permanent immigration visa.

Why does it matter?

Under current law, foreign relatives typically must use a standard tourist or visitor visa that requires them to prove they do not intend to immigrate, a burden this bill would remove for qualifying family members. However, a visitor could not use the temporary stay as a stepping stone to apply for a green card from inside the United States, and sponsors with a prior overstay on their record would lose eligibility to petition for future visitors under the program.

Where does it stand?