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Immigration and Nationality Technical Corrections Act of 1994

Public Law 103-416 · H.R. 783 · 103rd Congress · began in the House

Signed by Bill Clinton (D) on Oct 25, 1994 · Immigration

Sponsor: Rep. Romano Mazzoli (D-KY-3)

Cosponsors: None

Passage votes

  • HouseUnanimous consent
  • 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.

TABLE OF CONTENTS:

Title I: Nationality and Naturalization

Title II: Technical Corrections of Immigration Laws

Immigration and Nationality Technical Corrections Act of 1994 - Title I: Nationality and Naturalization - Amends the Immigration and Nationality Act (Act) to grant U.S. citizenship at birth to a person born before noon of May 24, 1934, outside the limits and jurisdiction of the United States to an alien father and U.S. citizen mother who, prior to the birth of such person, had resided in the United States. Excludes participants of Nazi persecutions or genocide from such provision.

Waives the physical U.S. presence requirements for a person claiming U.S. citizenship based upon descent from a person described above.

Makes such provisions retroactive.

(Sec. 102) Changes the residence requirement language from "residing permanently" to "physically present" for purposes of naturalization of certain children born outside the United States.

(Sec. 103) Permits an eligible individual who lost U.S. citizenship because of failure to meet specified residence requirements to regain his or her citizenship upon application to the Attorney General.

(Sec. 106) States that approval by the Secretary of State of a certificate of loss of nationality shall constitute a final administrative determination of loss of U.S. nationality.

(Sec. 107) Authorizes the Secretary of State to cancel any U.S. passport or consular report of birth which was fraudulently, illegally, or erroneously procured.

(Sec. 108) Waives the English language and government-U.S. history naturalization requirements for certain impaired or older persons.

(Sec. 109) Directs the Commissioner of the Immigration and Naturalization Service to report to the Congress with respect to the citizenship status of specified legalized aliens.

Title II: Technical Corrections of Immigration Laws - Amends the Act to include qualifying employees of the American Institute in Taiwan under the definition of special immigrant.

(Sec. 202) Extends the deadline for retired officers and employees of certain international organizations to file for special immigrant status.

(Sec. 203) Makes technical amendments with regard to: (1) certain grounds for exclusion and deportation; (2) U.S. citizens entering and departing on U.S. passports; (3) visa applications; (4) family unity; and (5) one-House veto of status adjustments of certain foreign government or international organization representatives.

(Sec. 208) Extends the authorization of appropriations for refugee assistance through FY 1997.

(Sec. 209) Authorizes fine waiver or reduction for a carrier bringing unlawful aliens into the United States under specified circumstances.

(Sec. 210) Extends the visa waiver pilot program (program) through September 30, 1996.

(Sec. 211) Creates a program probationary status for qualifying countries.

(Sec. 212) Amends numerical limitation provisions with regard to: (1) Panama Canal special immigrants; and (2) armed forces special immigrants.

(Sec. 213) Extends the telephone employment verification system.

(Sec. 214) Extends through October 1, 1997, the provision of special immigrant status to religious workers.

(Sec. 215) Amends the Immigration Act of 1990 as amended by the Miscellaneous and Technical Immigration and Naturalization Amendments of 1991 to extend through October 1, 1996, off-campus work authority for alien students.

(Sec. 217) Extends the diversity transition program and permits the rollover of unused visas into FY 1995.

(Sec. 218) Makes the priority date for a permanent resident petition accompanied by a labor certification the processing date of such certification.

(Sec. 219) Makes technical amendments to specified immigration provisions.

(Sec. 220) Waives the two-year foreign country residence requirement for international medical graduates under specified circumstances.

(Sec. 221) Makes visas available for officials of Taiwan under specified circumstances.

(Sec. 222) Amends the Act to expand the definition of "aggravated felony."

(Sec. 223) Revises summary deportation provisions.

(Sec. 224) Grants U.S. district courts deportation authority.

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
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. 24 actions.

  1. Oct 25, 1994Became lawBecame law · Became Public Law No: 103-416.
  2. Became lawBecame law · Signed by President.
  3. Oct 18, 1994PresidentPresident · Presented to President.
  4. Oct 7, 1994Resolving differencesResolving differences · Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
  5. Resolving differencesResolving differences · On motion that the House agree to the Senate amendments to the House amendment to the Senate amendment Agreed to without objection.
  6. Resolving differencesResolving differences · Mr. Brooks asked unanimous consent that the House agree to the Senate amendments to the House amendment to the Senate amendment.
  7. Oct 6, 1994Resolving differencesResolving differences · Senate concurred in the House amendment to the Senate amendment with amendments (SP 2626, SP 2627, SP 2628) by Voice Vote.
  8. FloorFloor · Amendment SP 2628 agreed to in Senate by Voice Vote.
  9. FloorFloor · Amendment SP 2627 agreed to in Senate by Voice Vote.
  10. FloorFloor · Amendment SP 2626 agreed to in Senate by Voice Vote.
  11. Sep 20, 1994FloorFloor · House agreed to Senate amendment with an amendment pursuant to H. Res. 533.
  12. Nov 20, 1993FloorFloor · Passed Senate with an amendment by Voice Vote.
  13. FloorFloor · Amendment SP 1229 agreed to in Senate by Voice Vote.
  14. FloorFloor · Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
  15. FloorFloor · On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote.
  16. FloorFloor · Mr. Mazzoli moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.
  17. CommitteeCommittee · Reported by House Judiciary Committee
  18. Nov 17, 1993CommitteeCommittee · Markup by House Judiciary Committee
  19. May 19, 1993CommitteeCommittee · Reported by Immigration Integrity, Security, and Enforcement Subcommittee of the House Judiciary Committee
  20. CommitteeCommittee · Markup by Immigration Integrity, Security, and Enforcement Subcommittee of the House Judiciary Committee
  21. Mar 10, 1993CommitteeCommittee · Hearings by Immigration Integrity, Security, and Enforcement Subcommittee of the House Judiciary Committee
  22. Feb 10, 1993CommitteeCommittee · Referred to Immigration Integrity, Security, and Enforcement Subcommittee of the House Judiciary Committee
  23. Feb 3, 1993CommitteeCommittee · Referred to House Judiciary Committee
  24. IntroducedIntroduced · Introduced in the House
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.