Federal Register: November 26, 2008 (Volume 73, Number 229)
DOCID: fr26no08-139 FR Doc E8-28224
DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY
Veterans Affairs Department
CIS ID: [CIS No. 2465-08; DHS Docket No. USCIS-2008-0074]
NOTICE: Part VIII
DOCID: fr26no08-139
DOCUMENT ACTION: Notice.
SUBJECT CATEGORY:
Special Immigrant Nonminister Religious Worker Program Act
DATES: This notice is effective November 26, 2008.
DOCUMENT SUMMARY:
As required by the Special Immigrant Nonminister Religious Worker Program Act, Public Law 110391, this notice announces that the Secretary of Homeland Security has issued final regulations to eliminate or reduce fraud related to the granting of special immigrant status for nonminister religious workers. Those regulations became effective upon publication in today's issue of the Federal Register.
SUMMARY:
Homeland Security Department, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services,
SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION
Section 203(b)(4) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (Act), 8 U.S.C. 1153(b)(4), provides for the admission as special immigrants of individuals who qualify as professional or other religious workers in a religious vocation or occupation as defined at sections 101(a)(27)(C)(ii)(II) and (III) of the Act, 8 U.S.C. 1101(a)(27)(C)(ii)(II) and (III). These provisions, originally enacted in 1990, have been extended multiple times and last expired on October 1, 2008.
On October 10, 2008, President Bush signed the Special Immigrant Nonminister Religious Worker Program Act, Public Law 110391. Section (2)(a) of Public Law 110391 amended subclauses (II) and (III) of section 101(a)(27)(C)(ii) of the Act, by extending the October 1, 2008, expiration date to March 6, 2009. Section (2)(b) of Public Law 110391 requires the Secretary of Homeland Security to (1) Issue final regulations to eliminate or reduce fraud related to the granting of special immigrant status to nonminister religious workers; (2) submit a certification to Congress that such regulations have been issued and are in effect; (3) publish a notice in the Federal Register announcing that the regulations have been issued and are in effect. Section (2)(d) of Public Law 110391 prescribes that the statutory extension of the nonminister classifications is not effective until the certification to Congress is submitted.
On November 26, 2008, the Secretary of Homeland Security published final regulations to eliminate or reduce fraud in the entire religious worker program. These regulations address both the nonimmigrant religious worker classification and the special immigrant religious worker classification, including nonministers as defined at section 101(a)(27)(C)(ii)(II) and (III) of the Act. The regulations are effective on November 26, 2008.
This notice is issued in compliance with section (2)(b)(2) of
Public Law 110391 to certify that the regulations have been published and are in effect.
Dated: November 21, 2008.
Michael Chertoff,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. E828224 Filed 112508; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 911197P
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT
Emisa Tamanaha, Adjudications Officer, Service Center Operations, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, Department of Homeland Security, 20 Massachusetts Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20529, telephone (202) 2721505.