[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 26 (Tuesday, February 9, 1999)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 6187-6189]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-3021]
========================================================================
Rules and Regulations
Federal Register
________________________________________________________________________
This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains regulatory documents
having general applicability and legal effect, most of which are keyed
to and codified in the Code of Federal Regulations, which is published
under 50 titles pursuant to 44 U.S.C. 1510.
The Code of Federal Regulations is sold by the Superintendent of Documents.
Prices of new books are listed in the first FEDERAL REGISTER issue of each
week.
========================================================================
Federal Register / Vol. 64, No. 26 / Tuesday, February 9, 1999 /
Rules and Regulations
[[Page 6187]]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE
Immigration and Naturalization Service
8 CFR Part 274a
[INS No. 1947-98]
RIN 1115-AE94
Interim Designation of Acceptable Receipts for Employment
Eligibility Verification
AGENCY: Immigration and Naturalization Service, Justice.
ACTION: Interim rule with request for comments.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: This interim rule amends the regulations of the Immigration
and Naturalization Service (Service) relating to acceptable receipts
for completion of the Employment Eligibility Verification form (Form I-
9). A ``receipt'' is a document that an employee may present to his or
her employer in lieu of a document listed on the Form I-9. The
regulations currently provide for three types of receipts: a receipt
for the application for a replacement document; the arrival portion of
an Arrival-Departure Record, Form I-94, marked with a temporary I-551
stamp and affixed with the individual's picture; and the departure
portion of a Form I-94 containing a refugee admission stamp.
Presentation of one of these types of receipts satisfies the Form I-9
documentation requirements, but only for a temporary period. At the end
of this period, the employee must present the document listed on the
Form I-9 that corresponds to the receipt.
This interim rule makes two revisions to the provisions governing
receipts. First, this rule revises the validity period of the second
type of receipt, the Form I-94 marked with a temporary I-551 stamp and
affixed with the bearer's photograph. Second, this rule adds the
Employment Authorization Card, Form I-688B, to the list of documents
that an individual can present before the receipt validity period
expires for the third type of receipt, the Form I-94 marked with a
refugee admission stamp. These changes are being made to facilitate
compliance with the regulations pending completion of the Service's
comprehensive document reduction effort.
DATES: Effective date: This interim rule is effective February 9, 1999.
Comment date: Written comments must be submitted on or before April
12, 1999.
ADDRESSES: Please submit written comments, in triplicate, to the
Director, Policy Directives and Instructions Branch, Immigration and
Naturalization Service, 425 I Street, NW., Room 5307, Washington, DC
20536. To ensure proper handling, please reference INS No. 1947-98 on
your correspondence. Comments are available for public inspection at
the above address by calling (202) 514-3048 to arrange for an
appointment.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Marguerite Przybylski, Associate
General Counsel, Office of the General Counsel, Immigration and
Naturalization Service, 425 I Street NW., Room 6100, Washington, DC,
20536; (202) 514-2895.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
What are the requirements of the Illegal Immigration Reform and
Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996 (IIRIRA) as it relates to
documentation of employment?
Section 412 of IIRIRA, Pub. L. 104-208, enacted on September 30,
1996, amended the employment eligibility verification provisions of
section 274A of the Immigration and Nationality Act (Act) to require a
reduction in the number of documents acceptable for completion of the
Form I-9. The Act provides for three lists of documents: documents that
establish both identity and employment eligibility (List A documents);
documents that establish identity only (List B documents); and
documents that establish work eligibility only (List C documents).
Which Documents were Removed on September 30, 1997?
On September 30, 1997, an interim rule was published in the Federal
Register at 62 FR 51001 implementing the IIRIRA amendments to the list
of documents. The September 30, 1997, interim rule removed four
documents from List A as follows:
(1) Certificate of United States Citizenship, Form N-560 or N-561;
(2) Certificate of Naturalization, Form N-550 or N-570;
(3) Reentry Permit, Form I-327; and
(4) Refugee Travel document, Form I-571.
The interim rule also modified the List A document relating to
nonimmigrants eligible to work incident to their nonimmigrant status,
and revised the ``receipt rule.''
What Changes are Being Made by This Interim Rule?
Under the current regulations at 8 CFR 274a.2(b)(1)(vi), the
special rule for receipts requires an employer, or recruiter or
referrer for a fee, to accept a receipt in lieu of a List A, List B, or
List C document in certain circumstances for completion of the Form I-
9. The current regulations authorize the use of receipts in three
instances:
(1) When the individual presents a receipt for the application for
a replacement document;
(2) When the individual presents the arrival portion of Form I-94
which the Service has: (a) marked with a temporary I-551 stamp
indicating lawful permanent residence and (b) affixed with the alien's
picture; and
(3) When the individual presents the departure portion of Form I-94
that the Service has marked with a refugee admission stamp.
This interim rule amends the receipt rule as its applies to Forms
I-94 that are marked with either a temporary I-551 stamp or a refugee
admission stamp. These amendments are necessary to account for
procedural delays that have become apparent since publication of the
September 30, 1997, interim rule.
A. Forms I-94 Marked With a Temporary I-551 Stamp
Current regulations at 8 CFR 274a.2(b)(1)(vi)(B) provide that if an
individual presents to his or her employer the arrival portion of Form
I-94 that the Service has marked with a temporary I-551 stamp and has
affixed the alien's picture in lieu of a Permanent Resident Card, Form
I-551, the individual must present the actual Form I-551 within 180
days from the date of hire or, in the case of
[[Page 6188]]
reverification, the date employment authorization expires even if the
temporary I-551 stamp on the Form I-94 contains a later expiration
date. At the time of the September 30, 1997, interim rule, when this
provision was added to the regulations, the Service determined that the
180-day validity period would be a sufficient amount of time for an
individual to obtain the actual Form I-551. Since the September 30,
1997, interim rule, the Service has determined that in some cases, it
may take longer than 180 days to obtain the actual Form I-551. In
addition, the Service determined that employers may be confused when
the expiration date written on the Form I-94 itself and the regulatory
validity period of the receipt are not the same. It is likely that
employers will rely upon the expiration date of the stamp on Form I-94,
rather than count 180 days from the date the employee presents the
receipt, since the date of the stamp is more obvious. To eliminate this
confusion, this interim rule amends the regulations to provide that the
receipt validity period for the Form I-94 marked with a temporary I-552
stamp and affixed with a picture is to be the same as the expiration
date of the temporary I-551 stamp written on Form I-94. The Service
issues some Forms I-94 marked with temporary I-552 stamps with a
validity period that is less than 1 year. Some are issued with a
validity period that is more than 1 year. However, most are issued with
a 1-year validity period. Given the Service's current card production
capabilities, 1 year is a sufficient amount of time for the individual
to obtain the actual Form I-551.
Some Forms I-94 marked with temporary I-551 stamps and affixed with
the alien's picture do not have expiration dates. For such Forms I-94,
the interim rule amends the validity period from the current 180 days
from the date of hire or, in the case of reverification, the date
employment authorization expires, to 1 year from the date of issuance
of the Form I-94. This amendment comports with the 1-year validity
period generally assigned to Forms I-94 marked with stamps and affixed
with pictures that do contain expiration dates.
B. Forms I-94 Marked With a Refugee Admission Stamp
Current regulations at 8 CFR 274a.2(b)(1)(vi)(C) provide that an
individual who presents to his or her employer the departure portion of
Form I-94 containing a refugee admission stamp as a receipt to complete
the Form I-9, must present either Form I-766 (Employment Authorization
Document (EAD)) or an unrestricted social security account number card
and a List B document within 90 days of the date of hire or, in the
case of reverification, the date employment authorization expires. The
Form I-766 was introduced as a new employment authorization document in
a final rule published in the Federal Register at 61 FR 46534 on
September 4, 1996. The Form I-766 will eventually replace Forms I-688,
I-688A, and I-688B as evidence of employment authorization. However,
Forms I-688B continue to be issued by the Service at this time. Because
some refugees will be in possession of Forms I-688B rather than Forms
I-766, this interim rule amends the current regulations to add Form I-
688B to the list of documents acceptable for presentation upon
expiration of the 90-day receipt period. Form I-688A is only issued to
legalization applicants and does not apply to refugees. Form I-688 is
the Temporary Resident Card and also does not apply to refugees.
What is the status of the Service's plan to make comprehensive
revisions to the employment verification process?
On February 2, 1998, a proposed rule was published in the Federal
Register at 63 FR 5287 proposing comprehensive changes to the
employment verification process, including a reduction in the list of
acceptable documents. The comment period closed on April 3, 1998. The
Service received many thoughtful and detailed comments from the public.
The Service is currently reviewing the comments and will issue a final
rule with a revised Form I-9 once this review process is completed.
Until that time, Service regulations as amended by this interim rule
will remain in effect. As with the September 30, 1997, interim rule,
the Service will withhold enforcement of civil money penalties for
violations associated with the changes made by the interim rule
committed before the effective date of a final rule containing the
revised Form I-9.
Good Cause Exception
The Service's implementation of this rule as an interim rule, with
provisions for post-promulgation public comment, is based on the ``good
cause'' exceptions found at 5 U.S.C. 553(b)(3)(B) and (d)(3). The
reason and necessity for this determination is as follows:
The interim rule adding Form I-94 to the receipt rule was issued on
September 30, 1997, in order to implement the document reduction
provisions of section 412(a) of IIRIRA. This rule relieves restrictions
by extending the validity period of one type of receipt in order to
provide adequate time for the issuance of the original document
represented by the receipt. The rule also assists refugees by adding
the Employment Authorization Card (Form I-688B) to the list of
documents acceptable for presentation upon the expiration of the 90-day
receipt period for the Form I-94 marked with a refugee admission stamp.
Further, the rule makes clarifying and other changes to facilitate
compliance with the regulations pending completion of the Service's
comprehensive document reduction effort.
Regulatory Flexibility Act
The Commissioner of the Immigration and Naturalization Service, in
accordance with 5 U.S.C. 605(b), has reviewed this interim rule and, by
approving it, certifies that this rule does not have a significant
economic impact on a substantial number of small entities. This rule is
a short-term measure, which is limited in scope and only modifies a
small portion of the entire employment verification process. It does
not introduce new forms. As a result, this rule would not require small
entities to significantly change established practices.
Executive Order 12866
This rule is 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. Accordingly, it has been submitted to the Office of Management
and Budget for review.
Executive Order 12612
The regulation adopted 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 12988 Civil Justice Reform
This interim rule meets the applicable standards set forth in
sections 3(a) and 3(b)(2) of E.O. 12988.
Unfunded Mandates Reform Act of 1995
This rule will not result in the expenditure by State, local, and
tribal governments in the aggregate, or by the
[[Page 6189]]
private sector, of $100 million or more in any 1 year, and it will not
significantly or uniquely affect small governments. Therefore, no
actions were deemed necessary under the provisions of the Unfunded
Mandates Reform Act of 1995.
Small Business Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act of 1996
This rule is not a major rule as defined by section 804 of the
Small Business Regulatory Enforcement Act of 1996. This rule will not
result in an annual effect on the economy of $100 million or more; a
major increase in costs or prices; or significant adverse effects on
competition, employment, investment, productivity, innovation, or on
the ability of United States-based companies to compete with foreign-
based companies in domestic and export markets.
List of Subjects in 8 CFR Part 274a
Administrative practice and procedures, Aliens, Employment,
Penalties, Reporting and recordkeeping requirements.
Accordingly, part 274a of chapter I of title 8 of the Code of
Federal Regulations is amended as follows:
PART 274a--CONTROL OF EMPLOYMENT OF ALIENS
1. The authority citation for part 274a continues to read as
follows:
Authority: 8 U.S.C. 1101, 1103, 1324a; 8 CFR part 2.
2. Section 274a.2 is amended by revising paragraphs (b)(1)(vi)(B)
and (b)(1)(vi)(C) to read as follows:
Sec. 274a.2 Verification of employment eligibility.
* * * * *
(b) * * *
(1) * * *
(vi) * * *
(B) Form I-94 indicating temporary evidence of permanent resident
status. The individual indicates in section 1 of the Form I-9 that he
or she is a lawful permanent resident and the individual:
(1) Presents the arrival portion of Form I-94 containing an
unexpired ``Temporary I-551'' stamp and photograph of the individual,
which is designated for purposes of this section as a receipt for Form
I-551; and
(2) Presents the Form I-551 by the expiration date of the
``Temporary Form I-551'' stamp or, if the stamp has no expiration date,
within 1 year from the issuance date of the arrival portion of Form I-
94; or
(C) Form I-94 indicating refugee status. The individual indicates
in section 1 of the Form I-9 that he or she is an alien authorized to
work and the individual:
(1) Presents the departure portion of the Form I-94 containing an
unexpired refugee admission stamp, which is designated for purposes of
this section as a receipt for the Form I-766, Form I-688B, or a social
security account number card that contains no employment restrictions;
and
(2) Presents, within 90 days of the hire or, in the case of
reverification, the date employment authorization expires, either an
unexpired Form I-766 or Form I-688B, or a social security account
number card that contains no employment restrictions, and a document
described under paragraph (b)(1)(v)(B) of this section.
* * * * *
Dated: November 25, 1998.
Doris Meissner,
Commissioner, Immigration and Naturalization Service.
[FR Doc. 99-3021 Filed 2-8-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4410-10-M