New Bills Aim to Cut Visa Backlogs and Strengthen Emergency Response

A companion bill, the Reducing Visa Delays Act, would direct the State Department to assess whether U.S. embassies and consulates have sufficient staffing to lower appointment backlogs and processing times. The legislation also calls for a review of the visa‑waiting policy introduced during the Trump administration and requires transparent communication to applicants about expected wait periods.

The third piece of the package, the Strengthening Emergency Response Act, focuses on Americans trapped abroad by conflict or natural disasters. It mandates that the State Department update evacuation plans after each emergency and establish regular contact with relatives of affected citizens. Subramanyam cited the lack of information during the early days of the Iran‑Iraq war and the insufficient communication after the August floods in Nepal as examples of why improved outreach is essential.