[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 146 (Monday, July 29, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Pages 39471-39472]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-19209]


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DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE
Immigration and Naturalization Service
[INS No. 1779-96; AG Order No. 2044-96]
RIN 1115-AE26


Extension of Designation of Bosnia-Hercegovina Under Temporary 
Protected Status Program

AGENCY: Immigration and Naturalization Service, Justice.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: This notice extends, until August 10, 1997, the Attorney 
General's designation of Bosnia-Hercegovina under the Temporary 
Protected Status (``TPS'') program provided for in section 244A of the 
Immigration and Nationality Act, as amended (``the Act''). Accordingly, 
eligible aliens who are nationals of Bosnia-Hercegovina (or who have no 
nationality and who last habitually resided in Bosnia-Hercegovina) may 
re-register for Temporary Protected Status and extension of employment 
authorization. This re-registration is limited to persons who already 
have registered for the initial period of TPS which ended on August 10, 
1993.

EFFECTIVE DATES: This extension of designation is effective on August 
11, 1996, and will remain in effect until August 10, 1997. The primary 
re-registration procedures become effective on July 29, 1996, and will 
remain in effect until August 27, 1996.

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

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Under section 244A of the Act, as amended by 
section 302(a) of Public Law 101-649 and section 304(b) of Public Law 
102-232 (8 U.S.C. 1254a), the Attorney General is authorized to grant 
Temporary Protected Status in the United States to eligible aliens who 
are nationals of a foreign state designated by the Attorney General, or 
who have no nationality and who last habitually resided in that state. 
The Attorney General may designate a state upon finding that the state 
is experiencing ongoing armed conflict, environmental disaster, or 
certain other extraordinary and temporary conditions that prevent 
nationals or residents of the country from returning in safety.
    Effective on August 10, 1992, the Attorney General designated 
Bosnia-Hercegovina for Temporary Protected Status for a period of 12 
months, 57 FR 35604. The Attorney General extended

[[Page 39472]]

the designation of Bosnia-Hercegovina under the TPS program for 
additional 12-month periods until August 10, 1996, 60 FR 39004.
    This notice extends the designation of Bosnia-Hercegovina under the 
Temporary Protected Status program for an additional 12 months, in 
accordance with sections 244A(b)(3) (A) and (C) of the Act. This notice 
also describes the procedures that eligible aliens who are nationals of 
Bosnia-Hercegovina (or who have no nationality and who last habitually 
resided in Bosnia-Hercegovina) must follow in order to re-register for 
TPS.
    In addition to timely re-registrations and late re-registrations 
authorized by this notice's extension of Bosnia-Hercegovina's TPS 
designation, late initial registrations are possible for some Bosnians 
under 8 CFR240.2(f)(2). Such late initial registrants must have been 
``continuously physically present'' in the United States since August 
10, 1992, must have had a valid immigrant or non-immigrant status 
during the original registration period, and must register no later 
than 30 days from the expiration of such status.
    An Application for Employment Authorization, Form I-765, must 
always be filed as part of either a re-registration or as part of a 
late initial registration together with the Application for Temporary 
Protected Status, Form I-821. The appropriate filing fee must accompany 
Form I-765 unless a properly documented fee waiver request is submitted 
to the Immigration and Naturalization Service or the applicant does not 
wish to obtain employment authorization. The Immigration and 
Naturalization Service requires TPS registrants to submit Form I-765 
for data-gathering purposes.

Notice of Extension of Designation of Bosnia-Hercegovina Under the 
Temporary Protected Status Program

    By the authority vested in me as Attorney General under section 
244A of the Immigration and Nationality Act, as amended, (8 U.S.C. 
1254a), and pursuant to sections 244A(b)(3) (A) and (C) of the Act, I 
have had consultations with the appropriate agencies of the Government 
concerning (a) The conditions in Bosnia-Hercegovina; and (b) whether 
permitting nationals of Bosnia-Hercegovina, and aliens having no 
nationality who last habitually resided in Bosnia-Hercegovina, to 
remain temporarily in the United States is contrary to the national 
interest of the United States. As a result, I determine that the 
conditions for the original designation of Temporary Protected Status 
for Bosnia-Hercegovina continue to be met. Accordingly, it is ordered 
as follows:
    (1) The designation of Bosnia-Hercegovina under section 244A(b) of 
the Act is extended for an additional 12-month period from August 11, 
1996, to August 10, 1997.
    (2) I estimate that there are approximately 400 nationals of 
Bosnia-Hercegovina, and aliens having no nationality who last 
habitually resided in Bosnia-Hercegovina, who have been granted 
Temporary Protected Status and who are eligible for re-registration.
    (3) In order to maintain current registration for Temporary 
Protected Status, a national of Bosnia-Hercegovina (or an alien having 
no nationality who last habitually resided in Bosnia-Hercegovina) who 
received a grant of TPS during the initial period of designation from 
August 10, 1992, to August 10, 1993, must comply with the re-
registration requirements contained in 8 CFR 240.17, which are 
described in pertinent part in paragraphs (4) and (5) of this notice.
    (4) A national of Bosnia-Hercegovina (or an alien having no 
nationality who last habitually resided in Bosnia-Hercegovina) who 
previously has been granted TPS, must re-register by filing a new 
Application for Temporary Protected Status, Form I-821, together with 
an Application for Employment Authorization, Form I-765, within the 30-
day period beginning on July 29, 1996 and ending on August 27, 1996 in 
order to be eligible for Temporary Protected Status during the period 
from August 11, 1996, until August 10, 1997. Late re-registration 
applications will be allowed pursuant to 8 CFR 240.17(c).
    (5) There is no fee for Form I-821 filed as part of the re-
registration application. A Form I-821 filed as part of the re-
registration application. A Form I-765 must also be filed at the same 
time. If the alien requests employment authorization for the extension 
period, the fee prescribed in 8 CFR 103.7(b)(1), currently seventy 
dollars ($70), will be charged for Form I-765. An alien who does not 
request employment authorization must nonetheless file Form I-765 
together with Form I-821, but in such cases no fee will be charged.
    (6) Pursuant to section 244A(b)(3)(A) of the Act, the Attorney 
General will review, at least 60 days before August 10, 1997, the 
designation of Bosnia-Hercegovina under the TPS program to determine 
whether the conditions for designation continue to be met. Notice of 
that determination, including the basis for the determination, will be 
published in the Federal Register.
    (7) Information concerning the TPS program for nationals of Bosnia-
Hercegovina, and aliens having no nationality who last habitually 
resided in Bosnia-Hercegovina, will be available at local Immigration 
and Naturalization Service offices upon publication of this notice.

    Dated: July 23, 1996.
Janet Reno,
Attorney General.
[FR Doc. 96-19209 Filed 7-26-96; 8:45 am]
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