[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 141 (Tuesday, July 22, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Pages 42586-42590]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-16521]


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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services

[CIS No. 2435-07; DHS Docket No. USCIS-2007-0061]
RIN 1615-ZA66


Domestic Violence Guidance Pamphlet for K Nonimmigrants

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

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services is soliciting 
comments from the public on a pamphlet discussing the rights and 
resources available to individuals coming to the United States under 
the K nonimmigrant classification as the fianc[eacute](e) or the spouse 
of a U.S. citizen. The pamphlet is required by the International 
Marriage Broker Regulation Act of 2005 and is intended to help such 
aliens understand the immigration process and prevent domestic 
violence.

DATES: Written comments must be submitted on or before September 19, 
2008.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments, identified by DHS Docket No. USCIS-
2007-0061, by 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-2007-0061 
on your correspondence. This mailing address may 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: Andrew Perry, Family and Victim 
Protection Division, Office of Policy and Strategy, U.S. Citizenship 
and Immigration Services, Department of Homeland Security, 20 
Massachusetts Avenue, NW., Suite 2304, Washington, DC 20529. Contact 
Telephone Number (202) 272-1470.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

I. Background

    Citing the fact that K nonimmigrants may face a higher risk of 
domestic violence in relationships arranged by International Marriage 
Brokers (IMBs), Congress enacted the International Marriage Broker 
Regulation Act of 2005 (IMBRA), subtitle D, Public Law No. 109-162, 119 
Stat. 3066-3077 (2006). A K nonimmigrant is an alien who:
    (1) Is the fianc[eacute](e) of a U.S. citizen (USC) who has 
petitioned for the alien to enter the United States solely to conclude 
a valid marriage with him or her (referred to as ``K-1'' 
nonimmigrants);
    (2) Is married to a U.S.C. who has petitioned the alien for lawful 
permanent residence and is seeking to enter the United States to await 
approval of the petition and availability of an immigrant visa 
(referred to as ``K-3'' nonimmigrants); or
    (3) Is the minor child of the alien accompanying or following to 
join the alien (referred to as ``K-2'' or ``K-4''

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nonimmigrants). Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) sec. 
1101(a)(15)(K); 8 U.S.C. 214.1(a)(2).
    Pursuant to the requirements established by IMBRA, the Secretary of 
Homeland Security, in consultation with the Attorney General and the 
Secretary of State, must develop and distribute to K nonimmigrant visa 
applicants an information pamphlet explaining the legal rights and 
resources for immigrant victims of domestic violence. 8 U.S.C. 
1375a(a)(1). The pamphlet must include information on the following 
eight topics:
    (1) The K nonimmigrant visa application process and the marriage-
based immigration process;
    (2) The illegality of domestic violence, sexual assault, and child 
abuse in the United States and the dynamics of domestic violence;
    (3) Domestic violence and sexual assault services in the United 
States, including the National Domestic Violence Hotline and the 
National Sexual Hotline;
    (4) The legal rights of immigrant victims of abuse and other crimes 
in immigration, criminal justice, family law, and other matters, 
including access to protection orders;
    (5) The obligations of parents to provide child support;
    (6) Marriage fraud under United States immigration laws and the 
penalties for committing such fraud;
    (7) A warning concerning the potential use of K nonimmigrant visas 
by U.S. citizens who have a history of committing domestic violence, 
sexual assault, child abuse, or other crimes and an explanation that 
such acts may not have resulted in a criminal record for such a 
citizen; and
    (8) Notification of the requirement under IMBRA that international 
marriage brokers provide their foreign national clients with background 
information gathered on U.S. citizen clients from searches of Federal 
and state sex offender public registries and collected from U.S. 
citizen clients regarding their marital history, and domestic violence 
or other violent criminal history. But that such information may not be 
complete or accurate because the U.S. citizen clients may not have a 
criminal record or may not have truthfully reported their marital or 
criminal record. 8 U.S.C. 1375a(a)(2).
    The pamphlet must be translated by the Secretary of State into 
Russian, Spanish, Tagalog, Vietnamese, Chinese, Ukrainian, Thai, 
Korean, Polish, Japanese, French, Arabic, Portuguese, Hindi, and such 
other languages as the Secretary of State, in the Secretary's 
discretion, may specify. 8 U.S.C. 1375a(a)(4)(A). The Secretary of 
Homeland Security, in consultation with the Attorney General and the 
Secretary of State, must determine every 2 years at least 14 languages 
into which the information pamphlet is translated based on the 
languages spoken by the greatest concentrations of K nonimmigrant visa 
applicants. 8 U.S.C. 1375a(a)(4)(B).
    The law includes specific requirements for distribution of the 
information pamphlet to aliens seeking K nonimmigrant status. The 
Secretary of State must mail the information pamphlet to the alien 
seeking K nonimmigrant status along with the instruction packet for K 
nonimmigrant visa applications. 8 U.S.C. 1375a(a)(5)(A)(i). In 
addition, consular officers must provide a copy of the information 
pamphlet to all applicants for a K nonimmigrant visa during their 
interview for the visa. 8 U.S.C. 1375a(b)(1)(B).
    The law also requires that the pamphlet be distributed to each 
alien seeking to obtain lawful permanent resident status. For each 
alien applying for a family-based immigrant visa outside the United 
States or adjustment of status (on Form I-485, Application to register 
Permanent Residence or Adjust Status) within the United States, a copy 
of the information pamphlet must be provided at such alien's consular 
or adjustment of status interview. 8 U.S.C. 1375a(b)(2). The 
information pamphlet must be made available at all consular offices 
abroad, posted on the Web sites of the Department of State, and 
Department of Homeland Security, and all consular posts processing K 
nonimmigrant visa applications, and made available to IMBs, government 
agencies, and nongovernmental advocacy organizations. 8 U.S.C. 
1375a(a)(5)(B), (C) and (D).

II. Solicitation of Comments on the Information Pamphlet

    U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) is developing the 
information pamphlet required by IMBRA and is inviting the public to 
submit comments on all aspects of the pamphlet before its issuance and 
distribution. Comments that will provide the most assistance to USCIS 
will reference a specific portion of the pamphlet, explain the reason 
for any recommended change, and include data, information, or authority 
that supports the recommended change.
    Instructions: All submissions received must include the agency name 
and DHS Docket No. USCIS-2007-0061 for this Notice. All comments 
received will be posted without change to http://www.regulations.gov, 
including any personal information provided.
    Docket: For access to the docket to read background documents or 
comments received, go to http://www.regulations.gov. Submitted comments 
may also be inspected at the Regulatory Management Division, U.S. 
Citizenship and Immigration Services, Department of Homeland Security, 
111 Massachusetts Avenue, NW., Suite 3008, Washington, DC 20529.

    Dated: July 14, 2008.
Jonathan Scharfen,
Acting Director, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services.
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[FR Doc. E8-16521 Filed 7-21-08; 8:45 am]
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