[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 117 (Friday, June 18, 1999)]
[Notices]
[Pages 32890-32892]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-15523]


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DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE

Immigration and Naturalization Service
[INS No. 1961-98]


Important Announcement for Class Members of American Baptist 
Churches v. Thornburgh (ABC) Regarding Change of Address Notification

AGENCY: Immigration and Naturalization Service, Justice.

ACTION: Notice Regarding Change of Address Notifications for ABC Class 
Members.

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SUMMARY: This notice informs class members of American Baptist Churches 
v. Thornburgh, 760 F. Supp. 796 (N.D. Cal. 1991) (ABC) of a change in 
procedures for notifying the Immigration and Naturalization Service 
(Service) of an address change. It requests ABC class members to submit 
change of address notifications directly to the Asylum Offices that 
have jurisdiction over their asylum applications, rather than to the 
ABC Project Post Office Box in Washington, DC. This action will allow 
the Service to expedite action in response to a change in address and 
will be more convenient for the Service and ABC class members. However, 
the Service will continue to process change of address notifications 
sent to the ABC Project Post Office Box to ensure that Service records 
are updated for those class members who are unaware of this change in 
procedure.

DATES: This notice is effective June 18, 1999.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Joanna Ruppel, International Affairs, 
Department of Justice, Immigration and Naturalization Service, 425 I 
Street NW, ULLICO Bldg., third floor, Washington, DC 20536, telephone 
number (202) 305-2663.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Why Is the Service Requesting That Address Notifications No Longer 
Be Sent to the ABC Post Office Box?

    The ABC Project Post Office Box in Washington, DC, has provided a 
centralized location for ABC class members to submit change of address 
forms. This was necessary in the past

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because not all ABC class members who were eligible to seek benefits of 
the settlement agreement had applied for asylum or any other benefit 
with the Service. However, the deadlines by which ABC class members 
were required to apply for asylum in order to retain benefits of the 
settlement agreement have now passed. Guatemalan class members were 
required to apply for asylum on or before January 3, 1995. Salvadoran 
class members were required to apply for asylum on or before January 
31, 1996 (with an administrative grace period to February 16, 1996). 
Because all ABC class members who are eligible for benefits of the 
settlement agreement have applied for asylum, a centralized location 
for change of address notification by ABC class members is no longer 
necessary or efficient.
    Currently, the Service Office of International Affairs, based in 
Washington, DC, receives change of address notifications submitted to 
the ABC Project Post Office Box. The Office of International Affairs 
enters the change of address in the computer system when there is 
sufficient information in the notice to identify the correct record and 
make the change, or when necessary, asks the sender for additional 
information. The Office of International Affairs then forwards the 
notification to the appropriate Asylum Office for filing with the 
applicant's records. Many of the change of address notifications sent 
to the ABC Project Post Office Box are duplicates of notifications that 
ABC class members or their representatives have sent directly to the 
appropriate Asylum Offices, which have already updated the address in 
the computer system, thus creating duplicative efforts. Additionally, 
the Asylum Offices, which maintain the asylum application files, are in 
the best position to seek additional information or clarification from 
an applicant who submits a change of address notification that may 
require further action. For example, the Asylum Office may need to 
request or transfer the file when an applicant has moved to another 
jurisdiction. The unnecessary and additional step of first processing 
the change of address notification in Washington, DC, before it is sent 
to the appropriate Asylum Office delays such action. For these reasons, 
the Service believes that submission of change of address notifications 
directly to the Asylum Office that has jurisdiction over the asylum 
application will enhance efficiency, expedite action that needs to be 
taken in response to the address change, and generally be more 
convenient for both the Service and ABC class members.

How Should ABC Class Members Notify the Service of a Change of 
Address?

    As it requires for all aliens within the United States, Section 265 
of the Immigration and Nationality Act requires ABC class members to 
notify the Service within 10 days of any change of address. The change 
of address notification required from ABC class members should be sent 
to the Asylum Office that has jurisdiction over the class member's 
asylum application. Notification may be made on the Form I-855, ABC 
Change of Address Form, or a plain piece of paper containing the 
information requested in the Form I-855. The Form I-855 requests the 
class member's full printed name, date of birth, nationality, Alien 
Registration Number (A-Number), and the class member's previous 
address. The information should be clearly printed. Alternatively, ABC 
class members may use a Form AR-11 to notify the Service of a change of 
address and may send the form to the address specified on the card or 
to the Asylum Office that has jurisdiction over the class member's 
asylum application.
    The Form I-855, Change of Address Form, directs individuals to send 
the completed form to the ABC Project Post Office Box. The form is 
being amended to instruct that the form be sent to the Asylum Office 
that has jurisdiction over the class member's asylum application, 
rather than to the ABC Project Post Office Box. Individuals who 
continue to use old copies of the Form I-855 should disregard the 
instruction to sent the notice to the ABC Project Post Office Box and 
should instead sent the form to the Asylum Office that has jurisdiction 
over the asylum application.
    It is important that a class member notify the Service of address 
changes to ensure that the class member receives notice to his or her 
asylum interview. An ABC class member may lose the right to an ABC 
asylum interview, and the Service may deny his or her asylum 
application if the class member fails to appear for an interview and 
that failure to appear has not been excused for good cause.

What Will Happen to Change of Address Notifications That Are Sent 
to the ABC Project Post Office Box?

    The Service will continue to process change of address notification 
sent to the ABC Project Post Office Box. However, for expediency and 
efficiency, the Service strongly encourages each ABC class member to 
send any change of address notification directly to the Asylum Office 
that has jurisdiction over the class member's asylum application.

    Dated: May 28, 1999.
Doris Meissner,
Commissioner, Immigration and Naturalization Service.

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[FR Doc. 99-15523 Filed 6-17-99; 8:45 am]
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