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Chinese Student Protection Act of 1992

Public Law 102-404 · S. 1216 · 102nd Congress · began in the Senate

Signed by George H. W. Bush (R) on Oct 9, 1992 · Immigration

Sponsor: Sen. Slade Gorton (R-WA)

Cosponsors (9): Sen. Ted Kennedy,

Passage votes

  • HouseVoice vote
  • SenateVoice vote
Data notes

The final version of the law, as each chamber passed it. A chamber that passed it by voice vote or unanimous consent has no count. “Method not stated” means the record does not say how the chamber voted. Where the record has a member-by-member vote, the “Who voted for it” section shows who voted yea.

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Summary

The Congressional Research Service’s plain-language summary of what the law does.

Chinese Student Protection Act of 1992 - Sets forth the following rules for certain Chinese nationals who apply for adjustment to lawful permanent resident (immigrant) status under the Immigration and Nationality Act during the one-year period beginning July 1, 1993: (1) such aliens shall be deemed to have had an approved petition for employment-based admission; (2) such aliens shall be exempt from provisions regarding visa number availability, numerical levels, labor certification, entry document requirements, and the two-year home country residence requirement; and (3) the Attorney General may waive other grounds for excludability (except for certain criminal and security grounds) for humanitarian or family reasons, or if otherwise in the public interest.

Applies such provisions to nationals of the People's Republic of China (PRC) described in a specified Executive Order who have resided continuously in the United States since April 11, 1990, and who were not present in the PRC for more than 90 days after such date and before the date of enactment of this Act.

Makes such status adjustment provisions inapplicable if the President determines and certifies to the Congress before the application period that conditions in the PRC permit the aliens' safe return. Directs the Attorney General to disseminate status adjustment information to the aliens if the President does not make this determination.

Reduces annual PRC immigrant visas to offset status adjustments under this Act (1,000 annually to be allocated between skilled workers (300) and investors (700) if annual entry ceilings are in effect with respect to the PRC.).

Committees

The committees the bill was sent to, and what each did with it.

  • Judiciary Committee · House · markup by, referred to, reported bySubcommittee: Immigration Integrity, Security, and Enforcement Subcommittee
  • Judiciary Committee · Senate · markup by, referred to, reported bySubcommittee: Border Security and Immigration Subcommittee
Data notes

A committee links to its page only where it exists in the current Congress; older and renamed committees are named without a link.

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Timeline

From introduction to signing, newest first: the committees, the floor and the president. 20 actions.

  1. Oct 9, 1992Became lawBecame law · Became Public Law No: 102-404.
  2. Became lawBecame law · Signed by President.
  3. Sep 30, 1992PresidentPresident · Presented to President.
  4. Sep 23, 1992Resolving differencesResolving differences · Senate agreed to the House amendment. By Voice Vote.
  5. Aug 10, 1992FloorFloor · Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
  6. FloorFloor · On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote.
  7. FloorFloor · Mr. Brooks moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.
  8. CommitteeCommittee · Reported by House Judiciary Committee
  9. Jul 22, 1992CommitteeCommittee · Markup by House Judiciary Committee
  10. Jun 24, 1992CommitteeCommittee · Reported by Immigration Integrity, Security, and Enforcement Subcommittee of the House Judiciary Committee
  11. CommitteeCommittee · Markup by Immigration Integrity, Security, and Enforcement Subcommittee of the House Judiciary Committee
  12. Jun 1, 1992CommitteeCommittee · Referred to Immigration Integrity, Security, and Enforcement Subcommittee of the House Judiciary Committee
  13. May 27, 1992CommitteeCommittee · Referred to House Judiciary Committee
  14. May 21, 1992FloorFloor · Passed Senate with an amendment and an amendment to the Title by Voice Vote.
  15. May 7, 1992CommitteeCommittee · Markup by Senate Judiciary Committee
  16. CommitteeCommittee · Reported by Senate Judiciary Committee
  17. Apr 3, 1992CommitteeCommittee · Markup by Border Security and Immigration Subcommittee of the Senate Judiciary Committee
  18. CommitteeCommittee · Reported by Border Security and Immigration Subcommittee of the Senate Judiciary Committee
  19. Jun 4, 1991CommitteeCommittee · Referred to Senate Judiciary Committee
  20. IntroducedIntroduced · Introduced in the Senate
Data notes

Shows the introduction, each committee and subcommittee step the source dates (referral, hearings, markup, report, discharge), and the floor, conference, presidential and became-law steps. Calendar placements, messages between the chambers, amendments and committee report numbers are not shown for laws before the 108th Congress. Two entries the source lists twice are shown once.

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Official record

The bill’s full text and every action, including introduction and committee steps, are on Congress.gov. Data through Oct 7, 2026.