[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 198 (Thursday, October 10, 1996)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 53058]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-25834]


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DEPARTMENT OF STATE

22 CFR Part 41

[Public Notice 2452 ]


Bureau of Consular Affairs; Visas Documentation of Nonimmigrants 
Under the Immigration and Nationality Act, as Amended; Application for 
Nonimmigrant Visa--Olympic Procedures

AGENCY: Bureau of Consular Affairs, DOS.

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: In order to accommodate the increased workload as a result of 
the Summer Olympic Games held in Atlanta in July 1996, the Department 
made certain temporary changes in established procedures for processing 
nonimmigrant visas for the great number of participants [61 FR 1521, 
January 22, 1996]. These changes included: granting the Deputy 
Assistant Secretary for the Visa Office authority to designate consular 
posts for processing of NIVs regardless of the applicant's place of 
residence or physical presence, a waiver of the passport requirement at 
the time of visa application, and a waiver of the photograph 
requirement at the time of NIV application and issuance. As these 
special procedures are no longer applicable, the Department is removing 
them from the regulations.

DATES: October 10, 1996.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Stephen K. Fischel, Chief, Legislation 
and Regulations Division, 202 663-1204.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    The Games of the XXVI Olympiad held in Atlanta, Georgia were the 
largest in history with 10,000 athletes and at least 45,000 persons in 
the entire Olympic Family. ``Olympic Family Members'' included: 
athletes, coaches, trainers, support personnel, senior officials of the 
International Olympic Committee, International Federations, National 
Olympic Committees, and other Olympic Games Organizing Committees, as 
well as official guests, rightsholding broadcasters, accredited 
international media representatives and international judges and 
juries. The vast majority of ``Olympic Family Members'' were aliens and 
had to be processed for admission into the United States for the Games. 
The great numbers involved required the Department of State and other 
agencies engaged in the process to devise means to accommodate 
``Olympic Family Members'' in the most efficient fashion. Visa 
processing procedures for the Games were specifically designed to 
minimize the burden on the currently heavily taxed resources at U.S. 
consular posts abroad and to facilitate visa processing for ``Olympic 
Family Members.''

Final Rule

    This final rule removes the temporary regulations established for 
processing nonimmigrant visas for temporary visitors to the United 
States for purposes of the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta. It is being 
promulgated as a final rule based on the exception found at 5 U.S.C. 
553(b), the Department for good cause having found that public notice 
is unnecessary because the rule merely eliminates regulations that are 
no longer relevant.
    This rule is not expected to have a significant impact on a 
substantial number of small entities under the Regulatory Flexibility 
Act, 5 U.S.C. 605(b). This rule does not impose information collection 
requirements under the Paperwork Reduction Act, 44 U.S.C. Chapter 35. 
This rule has been reviewed as required under E.O. 12988. This rule is 
exempt from review under E.O. 12866, but has been reviewed internally 
by the Department to ensure consistency with the objectives thereof.

List of Subjects in 22 CFR Part 41

    Aliens, Documentation, Nonimmigrants, Passports and visas.

    In view of the foregoing, Part 41 of Title 22 is amended by 
deleting paragraph (c) to 41.101; paragraph (e) to 41.104; subparagraph 
(iv) to 41.105(a)(3); and subparagraph (3) to 41.113(k), which were 
added in 61 FR 1521, January 22, 1996.

PART 41--[AMENDED]

    1. The authority citation for Part 41 continues to read:

    Authority: 8 U.S.C. 1101 and 1104; 19 U.S.C. 3401.

    2. Part 41, is amended:


Sec. 41.101  [Amended]

    a. By removing paragraph (c) from Sec. 41.101;


Sec. 41.104  [Amended]

    b. By removing paragraph (e) from Sec. 41.104 ;


Sec. 41.105  [Amended]

    c. By removing paragraph (a)(3)(iv) from Sec. 41.105 and in 
paragraph (a)(3)(iii) of that section by removing the word ``or'' and 
by replacing the semicolon with a period after the word ``age''.


Sec. 41.113  [Amended]

    d. By replacing the semicolon with a period after the word ``card'' 
and by removing the word ``or'' in the last line of paragraph 
(k)(2)(ii); and by removing paragraph (k)(3) from Sec. 41.113.

    Dated: September 17, 1996.
Mary A. Ryan,
Assistant Secretary for Consular Affairs.
[FR Doc. 96-25834 Filed 10-9-96; 8:45 am]
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