To suspend the visa waiver program until certain entry-exit control requirements are met, and for other purposes.

H.R. 5406 proposes a temporary suspension of the Visa Waiver Program, which currently allows citizens from specific countries to travel to the United States for tourism or business for up to 90 days without obtaining a visa. Under this bill, the program would remain suspended until the Department of Homeland Security confirms that a comprehensive automated entry-exit system is fully operational and that all U.S. ports of entry are equipped with biometric scanners.

For the general public, this legislation would mean that international visitors from previously exempt countries would be required to apply for and obtain a formal visa at a U.S. embassy or consulate before traveling to the United States. These restrictions would stay in place until the government verifies that every foreign visitor is processed through a standardized digital tracking system. Additionally, the bill would remove existing provisions regarding machine-readable passports to ensure all travelers meet the new, stricter security requirements.