[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 203 (Thursday, October 20, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 72600-72601]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-25326]


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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

U.S. Customs and Border Protection

[CBP Dec. No. 16-18]


Electronic Visa Update System (EVUS) Requirements: Identification 
of the People's Republic of China (PRC) as an EVUS Country and 
Designation of Maximum Validity B-1, B-2, and B-1/B-2 Visas as 
Designated Visa Categories

AGENCY: U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Department of Homeland 
Security.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: In this Federal Register, DHS is publishing a final rule 
titled ``Establishment of the Electronic Visa Update System (EVUS)'' 
(hereafter ``EVUS Final Rule''), amending 8 CFR part 215, subpart B, to 
establish the Electronic Visa Update System and to specify certain 
requirements. According to the rule, nonimmigrant aliens who hold a 
passport issued by an identified country containing a U.S. nonimmigrant 
visa of a designated category will be required to provide biographic 
and other information to DHS by enrolling in EVUS to maintain the 
validity of those visas. The EVUS final rule specifies that the 
Secretary of Homeland Security, in consultation with the Secretary of 
State, may identify countries and designate nonimmigrant visa 
categories for purposes of the EVUS requirements and that notice of 
identified countries and designated nonimmigrant visa categories will 
be published in the Federal Register. Through this notice, the 
Secretary of Homeland Security, after consultation with the Secretary 
of State, identifies the People's Republic of China (PRC) as an EVUS 
country and designates B-1, B-2, and B-1/B-2 visas issued without 
restriction for the maximum validity period, which is generally 10 
years,\1\ as designated visa categories when the visas are contained in 
a passport issued by the PRC.
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    \1\ This includes visas issued for more than nine years and all 
replacement visas issued to correct errors in the original instance.

DATES: This identification and designation is effective October 20, 
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2016.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Suzanne Shepherd, Office of Field 
Operations, [email protected] or (202) 344-2073.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Background

    In this Federal Register, DHS is publishing a final rule titled 
``Establishment of the Electronic Visa Update System (EVUS)'' amending 
8 CFR part 215, subpart B, to establish the Electronic Visa Update 
System. EVUS is an online information update system that allows for the 
collection of biographic and other information from nonimmigrant aliens 
who hold a passport issued by an identified country containing a U.S. 
nonimmigrant visa of a designated category. See EVUS Final Rule. 
Nonimmigrant aliens subject to these regulations must periodically 
enroll in EVUS and obtain a notification of compliance prior to travel 
to the United States. As discussed in the Department of State's 
parallel rule, ``Visa Information Update Requirements under the 
Electronic Visa Update System (EVUS),'' also published in this Federal 
Register, individuals subject to the EVUS requirements must comply with 
the EVUS regulations in 8 CFR part 215, subpart B, in order to maintain 
the validity of their visas of a designated category.
    As specified in 8 CFR 215.22, and explained in the EVUS Final Rule, 
the Secretary of Homeland Security, in the Secretary's discretion and 
in consultation with the Secretary of State, may identify countries 
(``EVUS countries'') whose passport holders will be subject to the EVUS 
regulations, if the passport contains a U.S. nonimmigrant visa of a 
designated category, and designate applicable visa categories. The 
regulations state that notice of identified countries and designated 
visa categories will be published in the Federal Register. See 8 CFR 
215.22 and 8 CFR 215.23(c). This announcement provides such a notice.

Identification and Designation

    Pursuant to 8 CFR 215.22, the Secretary, following consultation 
with the Secretary of State, identifies the People's Republic of China 
(PRC) as an EVUS country and designates all B-1, B-2, and B-1/B-2 visas 
issued without restriction for maximum validity, which generally will 
be 10 years, but includes visas issued for more than nine years and all 
replacement visas issued to correct errors in the original visa, as 
designated visa categories when the visas are contained in a passport 
issued by the PRC.
    B nonimmigrant visas, often referred to as ``visitor visas,'' are 
issued to individuals seeking to travel and be admitted to the United 
States temporarily for business (visa category B-1); for tourism or 
pleasure, (visa

[[Page 72601]]

category B-2), or a combination of both purposes (visa category B-1/B-
2). See section 101(a)(15)(B) of the Immigration and Nationality Act of 
1952, as amended (INA) (8 U.S.C. 1101(a)(15)(B)), 8 CFR 214.1(a), and 
22 CFR 41.31.
    Accordingly, nonimmigrant aliens who hold a passport issued by the 
PRC containing a U.S. nonimmigrant B-1, B-2 or B-1/B-2 visa issued 
without restriction, for maximum validity, which generally will be 10 
years, but includes visas issued for more than nine years and all 
replacement visas issued to correct an error in the original visa, must 
comply with the EVUS regulations in 8 CFR part 215, subpart B, in 
addition to all other applicable immigration laws and regulations.

    Dated: October 13, 2016.
Jeh Charles Johnson,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2016-25326 Filed 10-19-16; 8:45 am]
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