[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 154 (Friday, August 9, 2002)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 51752-51754]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-20211]
=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF STATE
22 CFR Part 42
[Public Notice 4093]
Visas: Documentation of Immigrants Under the Immigration and
Nationality Act, as Amended--Diversity Visas
ACTION: Interim rule with request for comments.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: This interim rule makes certain amendments to the regulations
implementing the Diversity Visa (DV) Program. The amendments are
necessary to further clarify statutory requirements and to enhance the
Department's ability to combat fraudulent practices in the DV Program.
The Department is also amending the regulations to further clarify the
definition of ``high school education or its equivalent,'' to eliminate
the use of the Dictionary of Occupational Titles as a means to
determine the applicant's work experience, and to define further
acceptable photographs.
DATES: Effective Date: This rule takes effect on September 9, 2002.
Comment Date: Please submit written comments no later than
September 9, 2002.
ADDRESSES: Interested persons are invited to submit comments in
duplicate to: Chief, Office of Legislation and Regulations, Visa
Office, Department of State, Washington, DC 20520-0106, by fax at (202)
663-3898, or by e-mail to [email protected].
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Pam Chavez, Office of Legislation and
Regulations, Visa Office, phone (202) 663-1206, or e-mail
[email protected].
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The DV Program is provided for in sections
201(a)(3), 201(e), 203(c) and 204(a)(1)(G) of the Immigration and
Nationality Act (INA), as amended. The Department's regulations are
found at 22 CFR 42.33.
How Is the Department Amending Its Regulations?
O*Net OnLine replaces ``Dictionary of Occupational Titles''
The Department of Labor no longer maintains or publishes the
Dictionary of Occupational Titles which has been used as a means for
determining an applicant's work experience. Therefore, beginning with
cases processed for the DV 2003 Program, the Department of Labor's
O*Net OnLine will be the only source of information used to determine
qualifying work experience. The O*Net OnLine can be accessed at http://online.onetcenter.org.
Photographs for Applicant and Dependents
The Department is also modifying its regulations regarding the
photograph to be submitted. Photographs submitted for the 2004 DV
Program must be between
[[Page 51753]]
1\1/2\ by 1\1/2\ and 2 by 2 inches or (37 to 50 mm) square. Photos
showing the alien with hats or head coverings are acceptable but only
if they do not obscure any portion of the applicant's face.
Why Are the Regulations Being Modified?
During the processing of the immigrant visa applications of aliens
selected to compete for immigrant visas in earlier years, several
consular offices encountered cases in which the visa applicant was
proven, or strongly suspected, to be an impostor--that is, not the
individual who had submitted the petition which had been selected.
Thus, in order to provide additional deterrents to such abuses, the
Department is amending its regulations. Also, the Department is
amending its regulation regarding the work experience requirement.
Since the Department of Labor no longer maintains or publishes the
Dictionary of Occupational Titles, the Department of Labor's O*Net On-
Line will now be the only source of information used to determine
whether an applicant meets the work experience requirement.
Interim Rule
Administrative Procedure Act
The Department's implementation of this regulation as an interim
rule is based upon the ``good cause'' exceptions found at 5 U.S.C.
553(b)(B) and (d)(3). The publication of this rule as an interim rule
will allow sufficient time for interested persons to comment on the
regulatory changes and allows for timely registration for the DV-2004
Program scheduled for early October 2002.
Regulatory Flexibility Act
The Department of State, in accordance with the Regulatory
Flexibility Act (5 U.S.C. 605(b)), has reviewed this regulation and, by
approving it, certifies that this rule will not have a significant
economic impact on a substantial number of small entities.
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 private sector, of $100
million or more in any 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.
Executive Order 12866
The Department of State does not consider this rule, to be a
``significant regulatory action'' under Executive Order 12866, section
3(f), Regulatory Planning and Review. Therefore, in accordance with the
letter to the Department of State of February 4, 1994 from the Director
of the Office of Management and Budget, it does not require review by
the Office of Management and Budget.
Executive Order 13132
This regulation 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 section 6
of Executive Order 13132, it is determined that this rule does not have
sufficient federalism implications to warrant the preparation of a
federalism summary impact statement.
Paperwork Reduction Act
This rule does not impose any new reporting or record-keeping
requirements.
List of Subjects in 22 CFR Part 42
Aliens, Documentation, Immigrants, Passports and visas.
Accordingly, 22 CFR part 42 is amended as follows:
PART 42--[AMENDED]
1. The authority citation for part 42 continues to read as follows:
Authority: 8 U.S.C. 1104; 2651a.
2. Amend Sec. 42.33 as follows:
a. By revising paragraphs (a)(2) and (a)(3); and
b. By revising paragraphs (b)(1)(iii), (b)(2), (b)(3), and
(b)(4)(ii) to read as follows:
Sec. 42.33 Diversity immigrants.
* * * * *
(a) * * *
(2) Definition of high school education or its equivalent. For the
purposes of this section, the phrase high school education or its
equivalent shall mean successful completion of a twelve-year course of
elementary and secondary education in the United States or successful
completion in another country of a formal course of elementary and
secondary education comparable to completion of twelve years'
elementary and secondary education in the United States. In order to be
considered comparable to a U.S. high school education, a foreign course
of study must provide the alien with the minimum academic records
required for admission to study in U.S. universities or colleges as
determined in the most recent edition of the publication entitled
``Foreign Credentials Required for Consideration of Admission to
Universities and Colleges in the United States.
(3) Determinations of work experience. For all cases registered for
the 2003 Diversity Visa Program, consular officers shall use the
Department of Labor's O*Net OnLine to determine qualifying work
experience.
* * * * *
(b) * * *
(1) * * *
(iii) Name(s), and date(s) and place(s) of birth of spouse and all
child(ren), if any, (including legally-adopted and stepchildren,
regardless of whether or not they are living with the petitioner or
intend to accompany or follow to join the petitioner), but excluding
those children who are already U.S. citizens or LPRs); and
* * * * *
(2) Signatures. The petitioner shall personally sign his or her
signature on the sheet of paper, in his or her native alphabet.
(Neither an initialed signature nor block printing of the petitioner's
name will be accepted. The use of either will result in the
disqualification of the entry).
(3) Photographs. The alien shall also affix to the entry a
photograph of himself or herself and photographs of his or her spouse
and all unmarried children under the age of 21 years. The photographs
shall meet the following specifications:
(i) The photograph must be between 1\1/2\ by 1\1/2\ and 2 by 2
inches (37 to 50 mm) square;
(ii) The alien shall print his or her name and date of birth on the
back of the photograph;
(iii) The alien must be directly facing the camera; the head of the
person being photographed shall not be tilted up,
[[Page 51754]]
down, or to the side, and must cover about 50% of the photo area;
(iv) The photograph must be taken with the person in front of a
neutral, light-colored background;
(v) The alien's face must be in focus;
(vi) The person in the photograph shall not wear sunglasses or
other paraphernalia which detracts from the face;
(vii) Photos with the alien wearing head coverings or hats are only
acceptable due to religious beliefs, and even then, may not obscure any
portion of the face of the applicant. Photos of applicants wearing
tribal, military, airline or other headwear not specifically religious
in nature will not be accepted;
(viii) Photographs may be either color or black and white.
(4) * * *
(ii) Form of mailing. Petitions for consideration under this
section shall be submitted by normal surface or air mail only.
Petitions submitted by hand, telegram, FAX, or by any means requiring
any form of special handling or acknowledgement of receipt such as
express or priority mail, second day airmail, fax, hand or messenger
delivery) will not be processed. The petitioner shall type or print
legibly, using the Roman alphabet, on the upper left-hand corner of the
envelope in which the petition is mailed his or her full name and
mailing address, and the name of the country of which the petitioner is
a native, as shown on the petition itself. Envelopes shall be between
6" and 10" (15 cm to 25 cm) in length and between 3\1/2\" and 4\1/2\"
(9 cm to 11 cm) in width. Envelopes not bearing this information and/or
not conforming to the restrictions as to size shall not be processed
for consideration.
* * * * *
Dated: July 31, 2002.
George Lannon,
Acting Assistant Secretary for Consular Affairs, Department of State.
[FR Doc. 02-20211 Filed 8-8-02; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4710-06-P