[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 147 (Tuesday, July 30, 1996)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 39585]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-19271]


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UNITED STATES INFORMATION AGENCY

22 CFR Part 514


Exchange Visitor Program

AGENCY: United States Information Agency.

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: To facilitate use of the short-term scholar category for the 
purpose of participation in the Exchange Visitor Program, the Agency is 
extending the permitted period of program participation as a short-term 
scholar from four months to six months.

EFFECTIVE DATE: This rule is effective July 30, 1996.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Stanley S. Colvin, Assistant General Counsel, United States Information 
Agency, 301 4th Street, SW., Washington, DC 20547; Telephone, (202) 
619-4979.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On June 10, 1996 the Agency adopted a final 
rule governing eligibility for Exchange Visitor Program participation 
as a professor or research scholar. This final rule, which amended 
Sec. 514.20 of the Exchange Visitor Program regulations, limits program 
participation as a professor or research scholar to nonimmigrant aliens 
who have not been physically present in the United States, in J visa 
status, for all or part of the twelve month period preceding their 
entry into the United States as a professor or research scholar 
participant.
    An exception to this rule was provided to nonimmigrant aliens 
present in the United States for less than six months or whose presence 
in the United States was pursuant to program participation as a short-
term scholar. Accordingly, both to facilitate use of the short-term 
scholar category and to conform the period of program duration of the 
short-term scholar category to the exception permitted by 
Sec. 514.20(d), the Agency hereby extends the period of program 
duration for this category from four months to six months.

List of Subjects in 22 CFR Part 514

    Cultural exchange programs.

    Dated: July 24, 1996.
Les Jin,
General Counsel.

    Accordingly, 22 CFR part 514 is amended as follows:

PART 514--EXCHANGE VISITOR PROGRAM

    1. The authority citation for part 514 continues to read as 
follows:

    Authority: 8 U.S.C. 1101(a)(15)(J), 1182, 1258; 22 U.S.C. 1431-
1442, 2451-2460; Reorganization Plan No. 2 of 1977, 42 FR 62461, 3 
CFR, 1977 Comp. p. 200; E.O. 12048, 43 FR 13361, 3 CFR 1978 Comp. p. 
168; USIA Delegation Order No. 85-5 (50 FR 27393.)

    2. Section 514.21 is amended by revising paragraph (g) to read as 
follows:


Sec. 514.21  Short-term scholars.

* * * * *
    (g) Duration of participation. The short-term scholar shall be 
authorized to participate in the Exchange Visitor Program for the 
length of time necessary to complete the program, which time shall not 
exceed six months. Programs under this section are exempted from 
Sec. 514.8(b) governing the minimum duration of a program. Extensions 
beyond the duration of participation are not permitted under this 
category.

[FR Doc. 96-19271 Filed 7-29-96; 8:45 am]
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