[Congressional Bills 105th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 4821 Introduced in House (IH)]

  2d Session
                                H. R. 4821

    To extend into fiscal year 1999 the visa processing period for 
diversity applicants whose visa processing was suspended during fiscal 
                   year 1998 due to embassy bombings.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                            October 13, 1998

Mr. Smith of Texas introduced the following bill; which was referred to 
                     the Committee on the Judiciary

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
    To extend into fiscal year 1999 the visa processing period for 
diversity applicants whose visa processing was suspended during fiscal 
                   year 1998 due to embassy bombings.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. EXTENSION INTO FISCAL YEAR 1999 OF VISA PROCESSING PERIOD 
              FOR DIVERSITY APPLICANTS WHOSE VISA PROCESSING WAS 
              SUSPENDED DURING FISCAL YEAR 1998 DUE TO EMBASSY 
              BOMBINGS.

    (a) Extension of Period.--
            (1) In general.--Notwithstanding clause (ii)(II) of section 
        204(a)(1)(G) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 
        1154(a)(1)(G)), in the case of an alien described in paragraph 
        (1) or (2) of subsection (b)--
                    (A) the petition filed for classification under 
                section 203(c) of such Act (8 U.S.C. 1153(c)) for 
                fiscal year 1998 is deemed approved for processing for 
                fiscal year 1999, without the payment of an additional 
                $75 filing fee; and
                    (B) the priority rank for such an alien for such 
                classification for fiscal year 1999 is the earliest 
                priority rank established for such classification for 
                such fiscal year.
            (2) Visas charged to fiscal year 1999.--Immigrant visas 
        made available pursuant paragraph (1) shall be charged to 
        fiscal year 1999.
    (b) Aliens Eligible for Benefits.--
            (1) Petitioning alien.--An alien described in this 
        paragraph is an alien who--
                    (A) had a petition approved for processing under 
                section 203(c) of the Immigration and Nationality Act 
                (8 U.S.C. 1153(c)) for fiscal year 1998; and
                    (B)(i) had been scheduled for an immigrant visa 
                interview on or after August 6, 1998, and before 
                October 1, 1998, at the United States embassy in 
                Nairobi, Kenya, at the United States embassy in Dar Es 
                Salaam, Tanzania, or at any other United States visa 
                processing post designated by the Secretary of State as 
                a post at which immigrant visa services were suspended 
                in fiscal year 1998 as a result of events related to 
                the August 7, 1998, bombing of those embassies; or
                    (ii) had been interviewed for such a visa but 
                refused issuance under section 221(g) of such Act (8 
                U.S.C. 1201(g)) during fiscal year 1998 at such an 
                embassy or post,
            (2) Family members.--An alien described in this paragraph 
        is an alien who--
                    (A) is a family member described in section 203(d) 
                of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 
                1153(d)) of an alien described in paragraph (1); or
                    (B)(i) is a family member described in such section 
                of an alien described in paragraph (1)(A); and
                    (ii) meets the requirement of clause (i) or (ii) of 
                paragraph (1)(B).
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