The Visa Overstay Penalties Act of 2025 strengthens penalties for people who overstay their visas or violate the conditions of their temporary legal status in the United States. The bill increases civil fines for illegal entry from $50–$250 to $500–$1,000 and creates new criminal penalties specifically for visa overstays of 10 or more days, including up to 6 months in prison for first-time offenders and up to 2 years for repeat offenses or those with prior illegal entry convictions. Additionally, offenders would face civil penalties of $500–$1,000 per violation, or twice that amount if they've been penalized before, in addition to any criminal sentence imposed. The legislation affects foreign nationals who enter the country legally but then overstay their authorized period or fail to follow the terms of their visa status. The bill has no specific funding requirements since penalties go to the government, and it was referred to the Senate Judiciary Committee on June 3, 2025.
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