[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 100 (Wednesday, May 24, 1995)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 27441-27442]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-12717]



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DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE

Immigration and Naturalization Service

8 CFR Part 264

[INS No. 1686-95]
RIN 1115-AD87


Removal of Form I-151, Alien Registration Receipt Card, From the 
Listing of Forms Recognized as Evidence of Registration for Lawful 
Permanent Resident Aliens

agency: Immigration and Naturalization Service, Justice.

action: Proposed rule.

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summary: This proposed rule would amend the Immigration and 
Naturalization Service (``the Service'') regulations by removing Form 
I-151, Alien Registration Receipt Card, from the listing of forms 
recognized as evidence of registration as a lawful permanent resident 
alien. This rule is necessary to complete the establishment of the 
current Alien Registration Receipt Card, Form I-551, as the exclusive 
alien registration receipt card for use by permanent resident aliens.

dates: Written comments must be submitted on or before July 24, 1995.

addresses: Please submit written comments, in triplicate, to the 
Director, Policy Directives and Instructions, Immigration and 
Naturalization Service, 425 I Street, NW., Room 5307, Washington, DC 
20536, Attn: Public Comment Clerk. To ensure proper handling, please 
reference INS No. 1686-95 on your correspondence. Comments are 
available for public inspection at this location by calling (202) 514-
3048 to arrange an appointment.

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 resident aliens, by terminating the validity of 
the old Form I-151, Alien Registration Receipt Card. In addition, the 
final rule provided the 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 final rule provided that the 
amendments to 8 CFR part 264 concerning the procedures for applying for 
a replacement card 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, 223a, 235, 251, 252, 
247a, 299, 316, and 334 would be September 20, 1994. On September 14, 
1994, the Service published a final rule at 59 FR 47063, delaying the 
effective date of the amendments to 8 CFR parts 204, 211, 223, 235, 
251, 252, 247a. 299, 316, and 334, from September 20,1994, until March 
20, 1995. On March 17, 1995, a final rule was published in the Federal 
Register at 60 FR 14353, further delaying the effective date of the 
amendments to 8 CFR parts 204, 211, 235, 251, 252, 274a, 299, 316, and 
334, from March 20, 1995, until March 20, 1996.

Removal of Form I-151 From the List of Prescribed Service Forms

    The Service's reasons for terminating the validity of the Form I-
151, Alien Registration Receipt Card have been discussed in detail in 
the previous notice of proposed rulemaking published on May 28, 1993, 
at 58 FR 31000-31003, and in the final rulemaking published on 
September 20, 1993, at 58 FR 48775-48780, which considered and 
addressed the public comments received. These rulemakings advised the 
public of the Service's conclusion that the current Form I-551 Alien 
Registration Receipt Card must be established as the exclusive Alien 
Registration Receipt card because ``it is no longer sound public policy 
to recognize Alien Registration Receipt Cards that predate the use of 
the Form I-551.'' 58 FR 48775 (September 20, 1993).
    In the course of that rulemaking process, however, the intended 
removal of Form I-151 from the list of prescribed Service forms in 8 
CFR 264.1(b) was inadvertently omitted. By removing the Form I-151 from 
that list, the proposed rule would correct that previous omission and 
complete the I-151 card replacement program's declared objective of 
establishing the current Form I-551 as the sole Alien Registration 
Receipt Card recognized by the Service. The Service intends that this 
rule, if adopted, would take effect on March 20, 1996, the date on 
which the validity of the old Form I-151 Alien Registration Receipt 
Card will terminate under the final rule published March 17, 1995, at 
60 FR 14353. By taking effect upon the same date, the proposed rule 
would preclude any discrepancy or confusion over the effective date on 
which the validity of the old cards will terminate.

Regulatory Flexibility Act

    The Commissioner of the Immigration and Naturalization Service, in 
accordance with the Regulatory Flexibility Act (5 U.S.C. 605(b)), has 
reviewed this regulation and by approving it certifies that the rule 
will not have a significant adverse economic impact on a substantial 
number of small entities because of the following factors. The 
provisions of this rule merely clarify the requirements of existing 
regulations concerning documentation of lawful permanent resident 
aliens. As such, the new provisions have no significant adverse 
economic impact on the small entities. [[Page 27442]] 

Executive Order 12866

    This rule is not considered by the Department of Justice, 
Immigration and Naturalization Service, to be a ``significant 
regulatory action'' under Executive Order 12866, section 3(f), 
Regulatory Planning and Review, and the Office of Management and Budget 
has waived its review process under section 6(a)(3)(A).

Executive Order 12612

    The regulations proposed herein will not have substantial direct 
effects on the States, on the relationship between the National 
Government and the States, or on the distribution of power and 
responsibilities among the various levels of government. Therefore, in 
accordance with Executive Order 12612, it is determined that this rule 
does not have sufficient federalism implications to warrant the 
preparation of a Federalism Assessment.

Executive Order 12606

    The Commissioner of the Immigration and Naturalization Service 
certifies that she has assessed this rule in light of the criteria in 
Executive Order 12606 and has determined that this regulation will not 
have an impact on family well-being.

List of Subjects in 8 CFR Part 264

    Aliens, Reporting and recordkeeping requirements.

    Accordingly, part 264 of chapter I of title 8 of the Code of 
Federal Regulations is proposed to be amended as follows:

PART 264--REGISTRATION AND FINGERPRINTING OF ALIENS IN THE UNITED 
STATES

    1. The authority citation for part 264 continues to read as 
follows:

    Authority: 8 U.S.C. 1103, 1201, 1201a, 1301-1305.


Sec. 264.1  [Amended]

    2. In Sec. 264.1, paragraph (b) is amended by removing the Form 
Number and Class reference to Form ``I-151'' from the listing of forms.

    Dated: April 12, 1995.
Doris Meissner,
Commissioner, Immigration and Naturalization Service.
[FR Doc. 95-12717 Filed 5-23-95; 8:45 am]
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