Visa Overstay Penalties Act of 2025

This bill amends the Immigration and Nationality Act to significantly expand penalties for nonimmigrants who overstay their visas or fail to comply with the conditions of their status. It defines a violation as failing to maintain nonimmigrant status for an aggregate of 10 days or more. For such visa overstays, the bill establishes new criminal penalties , including fines and imprisonment up to 6 months for a first offense, and up to 2 years for subsequent violations. Additionally, it imposes new civil penalties ranging from $500 to $1,000 for each violation, doubling for repeat offenders. The legislation also increases existing civil penalties for illegal entry, raising them from a range of $50-$250 to $500-$1,000. Furthermore, it creates cross-enforcement mechanisms, where prior convictions or civil penalties for visa overstays can trigger higher penalties for illegal entry, and vice-versa, strengthening enforcement across related immigration offenses.