[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 52 (Friday, March 17, 1995)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 14353]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-6711]



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 Rules and Regulations
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  Federal Register / Vol. 60, No. 52 / Friday, March 17, 1995 / Rules 
and Regulations  
[[Page 14353]]

DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE

Immigration and Naturalization Service

8 CFR Parts 204, 211, 235, 251, 252, 274a, 299, 316 and 334

[INS No. 1703-95]
RIN 1115-AD81


Delay of Effective Date for Establishment of Form I-551, Alien 
Registration Receipt Card, as the Exclusive Form of Registration for 
Lawful Permanent Resident Aliens

AGENCY: Immigration and Naturalization Service, Justice.

ACTION: Final rule; delay of effective dates.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The Immigration and Naturalization Service (``the Service'') 
is delaying the effective date of a final rule previously published in 
the Federal Register on September 20, 1993, at 58 FR 48775-48780, which 
provided, inter alia, for the termination of the validity of the Form 
I-151, Alien Registration Receipt Card.

EFFECTIVE DATE: Effective March 17, 1995, the effective date for the 
regulation published on September 20, 1993, amending 8 CFR Parts 204, 
211, 235, 251, 252, 274a, 299, 316, and 334, is delayed until March 20, 
1996.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Gerard Casale, Senior Adjudications 
Officer, Immigration and Naturalization Service, Room 3214, 425 I 
Street NW., Washington, DC 20536, telephone (202) 514-5014.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Background

    On September 20, 1993, the Service published a final rule in the 
Federal Register at 58 FR 48775-48780, establishing the Form I-551, 
Alien Registration Receipt Card, as the exclusive form of registration 
for lawful permanent residence, and terminating the validity of the old 
Form I-151, Alien Registration Receipt Card. In addition, the final 
rule provided procedures by which a lawful permanent resident alien in 
possession of a Form I-151 or a prior alien registration document, such 
as the Form AR-3 or AR-103, could replace these documents with the 
current Form I-551. The effective date of the amendments to 8 CFR part 
264 concerning application procedures became effective on October 20, 
1993. The final rule also provided that the effective date for the 
removal of references to the Form I-151 from 8 CFR parts 204, 211, 223, 
235, 251, 252, 274a, 299, 316, and 334 would be September 20, 1994, on 
which date the validity of the Form I-151 would officially terminate. 
On September 14, 1994, the Service published a final rule in the 
Federal Register at 59 FR 47063, which extended the validity of the I-
151 by delaying the effective date of the amendments to 8 CFR parts 
204, 211, 223, 235, 251, 252, 274a, 299, 316, and 334, until March 20, 
1995. This rule further extends the validity of the I-151 by delaying 
the effective date of the amendments to 8 CFR parts 204, 211, 235, 251, 
252, 274a, 299, 316, and 334, until March 20, 1996. Delaying the 
effective date of the amendment to 8 CFR 223 is not necessary since, 
pursuant to a final rule published on January 11, 1994, at 59 FR 1455-
1466, that part no longer contains a reference to Form I-151.
    This delay in the effective date is necessary in order to minimize 
the possibility that lawful permanent resident aliens who apply for 
either a replacement Form I-551 card or for naturalization prior to 
March 20, 1995, as a result of the I-151 replacement program, will not 
have had their applications adjudicated before their old registration 
cards expire. The I-151 replacement program will terminate on March 20, 
1995. Any application for a replacement I-551 card or for 
naturalization filed by the bearer of a Form I-151 or prior alien 
registration document after that date will not be considered as having 
been filed pursuant to the I-151 replacement program. Applicants who 
wait until after March 20, 1995, to replace their cards or to apply for 
naturalization assume a much greater risk of being inconvenienced in 
the event that their applications are not adjudicated prior to the 
expiration of the Form I-151 on March 20, 1996. Accordingly, lawful 
permanent resident aliens in possession of a Form I-151 or prior alien 
registration document issued before 1979 who have not already applied 
to replace that card with a Form I-551 or for naturalization are urged 
to apply without delay. For the convenience of the public, these 
application forms may be ordered by telephone, toll-free, by calling: 
1-800-755-0777.
    The implementation of this rule as a final rule is based upon the 
``good cause'' exception found at 5 U.S.C. 553(b)(B) and (d)(3). The 
reason for the immediate implementation of this final rule is as 
follows: A notice and comment period for a proposed rule is 
impracticable and contrary to the public interest. Absent an extension 
of the validity of the Form I-151, several aliens who have applied for 
replacement I-551 cards or for naturalization pursuant to the I-151 
replacement program would no longer have valid evidence of their status 
after March 20, 1995. Accordingly, this regulation affords a benefit 
rather than a burden or penalty of any kind on affected persons.

    Dated: March 10, 1995.
Doris Meissner,
Commissioner, Immigration and Naturalization Service.
[FR Doc. 95-6711 Filed 3-16-95; 8:45 am]
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