Extension and Improvement of the Iraqi and Afghan Special Immigrant Visa Programs United States Congress (Ft. Iraqi Refugee Assistance Project)

SEC. 1218. EXTENSION AND IMPROVEMENT OF THE IRAQI SPECIAL IMMIGRANT
VISA PROGRAM.
The Refugee Crisis in Iraq Act of 2007 (8 U.S.C. 1157 note) is
amended--
(1) in section 1242, by striking subsection (c) and inserting
the following:
``(c) Improved Application Process.--
``(1) In general.--Not later than 120 days after the date of
the enactment of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal
Year 2014, the Secretary of State and the Secretary of Homeland
Security, in consultation with the Secretary of Defense, shall
improve the efficiency by which applications for special immigrant
visas under section 1244(a), are processed so that all steps under
the control of the respective departments incidental to the
issuance of such visas, including required screenings and
background checks, should be completed not later than 9 months
after the date on which an eligible alien submits all required
materials to complete an application for such visa.
``(2) Construction.--Nothing in this section shall be construed
to limit the ability of a Secretary referred to in paragraph (1) to
take longer than 9 months to complete those steps incidental to the
issuance of such visas in high-risk cases for which satisfaction of
national security concerns requires additional time.
``(d) Representation.--An alien applying for admission to the
United States pursuant to this subtitle may be represented during the
application process, including at relevant interviews and examinations,
by an attorney or other accredited representative. Such representation
shall not be at the expense of the United States Government.'';
(2) in section 1244--
(A) in subsection (b)--
(i) in paragraph (4)--