1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Visa Investigation and Social Media Activity Act of 2017 or as the VISA Act of 2017 . 2. Petition and application processing for visas and immigration benefits (a) In general Chapter 2 of title II of the Immigration and Nationality Act ( 8 U.S.C. 1181 et seq.) is amended by inserting after section 211 the following: 211A. Background checks and other screening requirements (a) Comprehensive security and background check No petition or application filed with the Secretary of Homeland Security or with a consular officer relating to the issuance of a visa to or to the admission of an alien to the United States as an immigrant or as a nonimmigrant may be approved unless a background check to determine whether or not the alien is a national security threat or is otherwise ineligible for such visa or admission is completed for— (1) the petitioner or applicant