Bill Overview
Title: Communist Visa Transparency Act of 2022
Description: This bill requires the Department of State to include on visa application forms certain questions, including a question as to whether the applicant, if the applicant is from China, is affiliated with China's military, paramilitary, law enforcement, public security, or national security forces.
Sponsors: Rep. Banks, Jim [R-IN-3]
Target Audience
Population: Chinese visa applicants to the United States
Estimated Size: 5000
- The legislation specifically targets visa applicants from China.
- It requires disclosure of connections to Chinese military or security forces.
- Impacted individuals will mainly be those seeking visas to the U.S.
Reasoning
- The primary impact of the policy will be on Chinese nationals applying for U.S. visas, who must declare affiliations with military or public safety organizations. The policy might indirectly affect some Americans, such as employers, hosts, or those in educational institutions depending on Chinese applicants.
- Visa processing times might increase due to additional information checks, potentially affecting those who rely on timely visa issuance.
- Budget limitations mean extensive effects on the broader American population are unlikely. The cost would be more on administrative overhead and compliance with the policy.
- Long-term impacts on relationships or collaborations could influence the wellbeing scores of Americans indirectly involved.
Simulated Interviews
University Professor (Los Angeles, CA)
Age: 45 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 3.0 years
Commonness: 12/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I worry that visa applications may be delayed, impacting our collaborative projects.
- Transparency in affiliations can be good, but should not be used arbitrarily to restrict talented researchers.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 5 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 8 |
U.S. Embassy Officer (New York, NY)
Age: 37 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 6/20
Statement of Opinion:
- It's additional work but necessary for national security.
- Training and systems will need updates, we'll need to be careful to not discriminate unfairly.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 6 |
Tech Startup Founder (San Francisco, CA)
Age: 50 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 4.0 years
Commonness: 10/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This could slow down the hiring process for essential positions.
- Transparency is important but should be balanced with ease of access for top talent.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 8 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 8 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 9 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 9 |
Graduate Student (Boston, MA)
Age: 28 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 2.0 years
Commonness: 15/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I fear this might complicate inviting speakers and collaborators.
- Research projects with Chinese partners are valuable, any delays could impact outcomes.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 5 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 7 |
HR Manager in a multinational company (Houston, TX)
Age: 42 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Navigating additional visa disclosures could slow recruitment of necessary skills.
- We must ensure this doesn’t hinder critical business operations.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 8 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 8 |
Artist (Seattle, WA)
Age: 33 | Gender: other
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 3.0 years
Commonness: 14/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Visa transparency is all well and good, but cultural exchanges should remain open.
- Extra questions on the visa forms might deter artists from applying.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 5 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 7 |
Restaurant Owner (Chicago, IL)
Age: 29 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 2.0 years
Commonness: 13/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I'm concerned this policy could complicate obtaining work visas for students I hire.
- Truthfully, it’s hard to see why this level of scrutiny is necessary.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 6 |
Policy Analyst (Washington, D.C.)
Age: 55 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 9/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Security concerns are valid, but careful implementation is key to prevent diplomatic tensions.
- Advisory roles in drafting should clarify unintended consequences.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 8 |
Retired Diplomat (Dallas, TX)
Age: 60 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 3.0 years
Commonness: 11/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Understanding affiliations is important for national security.
- The policy may be burdensome but it aims to secure the U.S. borders from potentially harmful connections.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 8 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 9 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 9 |
CEO of an Import-Export Business (Miami, FL)
Age: 40 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 4.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Any delays in visa processing could impact business operations.
- Understanding affiliations is good, but it should not interfere with legitimate business.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 9 |
Cost Estimates
Year 1: $7000000 (Low: $5000000, High: $10000000)
Year 2: $3000000 (Low: $2000000, High: $6000000)
Year 3: $3000000 (Low: $2000000, High: $6000000)
Year 5: $3000000 (Low: $2000000, High: $6000000)
Year 10: $3000000 (Low: $2000000, High: $6000000)
Year 100: $3000000 (Low: $2000000, High: $6000000)
Key Considerations
- The policy's primary focus is on national security and transparency in the visa application process, targeting a specific group from China.
- Administrative changes and procedural updates at the State Department will incur costs related to forms, training, and processing.
- Potential delays and challenges in visa processing could emerge, requiring contingency planning and possibly impacting international relations or travel patterns.