[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 51 (Tuesday, March 17, 1998)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 13026-13027]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-6826]


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DEPARTMENT OF STATE

22 CFR Part 41

[Public Notice 2763]


Bureau of Consular Affairs; Documentation of Nonimmigrants Under 
the Immigration and Nationality Act, as Amended--Filing an Application

AGENCY: Bureau of Consular Affairs, DOS.

ACTION: Proposed rule.

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SUMMARY: Consular offices abroad have been experiencing an ever-
increasing volume of nonimmigrant visa (NIV) applications. Some have 
had to begin declining to accept new applications from persons denied 
as intending immigrants in the recent past. This proposed rule would 
put this practice on a regulatory footing by formalizing a non-
acceptance-for-six-months policy with respect to a new application from 
an alien whose prior NIV application has been refused under the 
provisions of INA 214(b).

DATES: Written comments must be received on or before May 18, 1998.

ADDRESSES: Written comments should be submitted, in duplicate, to the 
Chief, Legislation and Regulations Division, Visa Services, Department 
of State, Washington, D.C. 20520-0106.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: H. Edward Odom, Chief, Legislation and 
Regulations Division, Visa Services, CA/VO/L/R, Department of State, 
Washington, D.C. 20520-0106, (202) 663-1204.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Section 214(b) of the Immigration and 
Nationality Act (INA) establishes a presumption that an alien is an 
intending immigrant unless he or she can establish entitlement to a 
nonimmigrant classification. Moreover, for certain classes of 
nonimmigrants, there is also a statutory requirement incorporated in 
the definitions of those nonimmigrant classifications (INA 101(a)(15)) 
that the alien establish that he or she has a residence abroad which

[[Page 13027]]

the alien has no intention of abandoning. This is most commonly shown 
by possession of a well-paying job, a home, family or other ties, etc. 
which would, in themselves, compel the alien to return voluntarily to 
that place after a temporary period in the United States. 
Traditionally, the class of nonimmigrant most likely to fail this test 
is visitor for business or pleasure (``B'') under INA 101(a)(15)(B). An 
applicant may request reconsideration by the refusing consular officer 
and all refusals must, by regulation (41.121(c)), be reviewed within 
120 days by a senior officer, who looks at the information as 
originally before the consular officer. While an applicant may also 
file an entirely new application, the sooner such a new application is 
filed after the original application, the less likely it is that 
conditions relevant to the intending immigrant issue will have so 
changed as to warrant issuance of a visa on the new application.
    Nonetheless, at a number of consular offices, significant resources 
are spent on ``re-applications'' based on nothing more than the 
original application, resources that the posts cannot afford no matter 
how strong their ``service'' orientation. Many posts continue to 
experience increasing workloads without concomitant increasing staffs. 
Some posts have therefore instituted local policies, similar to the 
proposed rule, to limit expenditure of time and space on the many re-
applications which are non-meritorious, while reserving discretion to 
accept re-applications in special circumstances, such as genuine 
(documentable) emergencies. The Department believes it preferable to 
have this procedure reflected in uniformly applicable regulations as 
other procedures generally are.
    The rules at 22 CFR 41.103(a) outline the general procedures for 
filing an application for a nonimmigrant visa, and are thus the logical 
location for this proposed rule. No regulation could prevent an alien 
from filling out an application form; it is possible, however, to 
prevent its ``filing'', i.e., acceptance for adjudication by a consular 
officer.
    This rule is proposed under the authority of INA 104 which invests 
in the Secretary of State the right to promulgate regulations necessary 
to administer immigration laws relating to the duties and functions of 
consular officers.
    This rule is not expected to have a significant impact on a 
substantial number of small entities under the criteria of the 
Regulatory Flexibility Act. In addition, this rule imposes no reporting 
or record-keeping action on the public requiring the approval of the 
Office of Management and Budget under the Paperwork Reduction Act. This 
rule has been reviewed as required under E.O. 12998 and determined to 
be in compliance therewith.
    This rule is exempt from review under E.O. 12866, but has been 
reviewed internally to ensure consistency therewith.

List of Subjects in 22 CFR Part 41

    Aliens, Nonimmigrants, Passports, Visas.
    In view of the foregoing, 22 CFR Part 41 is proposed to be amended 
as follows:

PART 41--[AMENDED]

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

    Authority: 8 U.S.C. 1104.

    2. Section 41.103 is amended by adding paragraph (a)(4), to read as 
follows:


Sec. 41.103  Filing an application and Form OF-156

* * * * *
    (4) A consular officer may refuse to accept for adjudication an 
application for a nonimmigrant visa from an applicant whose prior 
application at that post was denied under the provisions of INA 214(b) 
within the preceding six months, unless the applicant presents 
significantly different new evidence or evidence of a genuine 
emergency.
* * * * *
    Dated: March 10, 1998.
Mary A. Ryan,
Assistant Secretary for Consular Affairs.
[FR Doc. 98-6826 Filed 3-16-98; 8:45 am]
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