[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 127 (Tuesday, July 1, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Page 37470]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-14843]


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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services

[CIS No. 2423-08; DHS Docket No. USCIS 2008-0031]
RIN 1615-ZA60


Small Business Non-Retaliation Policy

AGENCY: U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, DHS.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: In support of the initiatives of the National Ombudsman of the 
U.S. Small Business Administration, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration 
Services (USCIS) announces adoption of a small business non-retaliation 
policy. If a small business questions or lodges a complaint regarding a 
USCIS policy or action or seeks help from others to deal with such a 
policy or action, USCIS will not retaliate against that small business 
in any fashion. The full policy is established by this notice.

DATES: The Acting Director of USCIS approved the small business non-
retaliation policy on June 24, 2008. The policy remains in effect until 
modified or rescinded by the Acting Director.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments about this policy although USCIS is 
not officially requesting public comments. To ensure that your comments 
and related materials are not entered more than once in the docket, 
please submit them by only one of the following methods:
     Federal eRulemaking Portal: http://www.regulations.gov. 
Follow the instructions for submitting comments.
     Mail: Chief, Regulatory Management Division, U.S. 
Citizenship and Immigration Services, Department of Homeland Security, 
111 Massachusetts Avenue, NW., Suite 3008, Washington, DC 20529. To 
ensure proper handling, please reference DHS Docket No. USCIS-2008-0031 
on your correspondence. This mailing address may also be used for 
paper, disk, or CD-ROM submissions.
     Hand Delivery/Courier: Regulatory Management Division, 
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, Department of Homeland 
Security, 111 Massachusetts Avenue, NW., Suite 3008, Washington, DC 
20529. Contact Telephone Number (202) 272-8377.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Christine Gooding, Customer Assistance 
Office, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, 111 Massachusetts 
Ave., NW., 6th Floor, Washington, DC 20539; Phone: 1-800-357-2099

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The National Ombudsman of the U.S. Small 
Business Administration (SBA) has asked each Federal agency to adopt a 
policy that the agency will not retaliate against small businesses that 
question or complain about the way the agency does business. On June 
24, 2008, the Acting Director of U.S. Citizenship and Immigration 
Services (USCIS) approved the following statement of USCIS policy:
    If a small business questions or complains about a U.S. Citizenship 
and Immigration Services policy or action or seeks help from others to 
deal with a USCIS policy or action, USCIS will not retaliate against 
that small business in any way. If a small business thinks that USCIS 
has not followed this policy, the agency will investigate, take 
appropriate action, and ensure that mistakes are not repeated. Small 
businesses may comment, ask questions, or file a complaint about USCIS 
policies or actions by contacting the USCIS Customer Assistance Office, 
local USCIS offices, or the Small Business Administration's Office of 
the National Ombudsman at 1-888-REG-FAIR (734-3247), fax 202-481-5719; 
e-mail [email protected].
    Small businesses generally are independently owned and operated and 
are not dominant in their fields. If you need help determining whether 
or not your business qualifies as a ``small business,'' contact the 
SBA's Office of the National Ombudsman using the information as noted 
above.

    Dated: June 24, 2008.
Jonathan R. Scharfen,
Acting Director, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services.
[FR Doc. E8-14843 Filed 6-30-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 9111-97-P