81_FR_5929 81 FR 5906 - Visas: Documentation of Nonimmigrants Under the Immigration and Nationality Act, as Amended

81 FR 5906 - Visas: Documentation of Nonimmigrants Under the Immigration and Nationality Act, as Amended

DEPARTMENT OF STATE

Federal Register Volume 81, Issue 23 (February 4, 2016)

Page Range5906-5908
FR Document2016-02191

As a result of this rule, a passport and a visa will be required of a British, French, or Netherlands national, or of a national of Antigua, Barbados, Grenada, Jamaica, or Trinidad and Tobago, who has residence in British, French, or Netherlands territory located in the adjacent islands of the Caribbean area, or has residence in Antigua, Barbados, Grenada, Jamaica, or Trinidad and Tobago, if the alien is proceeding to the United States as an agricultural worker. In light of past experience, and to promote consistency of treatment across H-2A agricultural workers, prudent border management requires these temporary workers to obtain a visa along with most other H-2A agricultural workers. The previous rule allowing temporary workers from these countries to enter the United States without a visa presented a vulnerability. Temporary workers from these countries now require H-2A visas to enter the United States.

Federal Register, Volume 81 Issue 23 (Thursday, February 4, 2016)
[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 23 (Thursday, February 4, 2016)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 5906-5908]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2016-02191]


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DEPARTMENT OF STATE

22 CFR Part 41

[Public Notice: 9428]
RIN 1400-AD17


Visas: Documentation of Nonimmigrants Under the Immigration and 
Nationality Act, as Amended

AGENCY: Department of State.

ACTION: Interim final rule.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: As a result of this rule, a passport and a visa will be 
required of a British, French, or Netherlands national, or of a 
national of Antigua, Barbados, Grenada, Jamaica, or Trinidad and 
Tobago, who has residence in British, French, or Netherlands territory 
located in the adjacent islands of the Caribbean area, or has residence 
in Antigua, Barbados, Grenada, Jamaica, or Trinidad and Tobago, if the 
alien is proceeding to the United States as an agricultural worker. In 
light of past experience, and to promote consistency of treatment 
across H-2A agricultural workers, prudent border management requires 
these temporary workers to obtain a visa along with most other H-2A 
agricultural workers.
    The previous rule allowing temporary workers from these countries 
to enter the United States without a visa presented a vulnerability. 
Temporary workers from these countries now require H-2A visas to enter 
the United States.

DATES: This rule is effective February 19, 2016. Comment period: The 
Department will accept comments until April 4, 2016.

ADDRESSES: 
     Interested parties may submit comments at any time by any 
of the following methods:
     Mail: U.S. Department of State, Visa Services, Legislation 
and Regulations Division, 600 19th Street NW., Room 12-526B, 
Washington, DC 20006 ATTN: Paul-Anthony L. Magadia.
     If you have access to the Internet you may submit comments 
by going to http://www.regulations.gov/#!home and searching for Public 
Notice number XXXX.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Paul-Anthony L. Magadia, U.S. 
Department of State, Visa Services, Legislation and Regulations 
Division, Washington, DC 20006, (202) 485-7641, Email: 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Why is the Department promulgating this rule?

    The Department of State (the Department) is amending the previous 
rule to alleviate fraud and security concerns that have developed 
subsequent to that rule's publication. The previous rule, 22 CFR 
41.2(e)(1), allowed nationals of certain Caribbean countries, as well 
as nationals of certain other countries who have residence in such 
countries' territories in the Caribbean, to enter the United States as 
temporary agricultural workers without visas. The amended rule requires 
that temporary workers from these countries obtain H-2A visas to enter 
the United States.

What is the current rule?

    Currently, British, French, and Netherlands nationals and nationals 
of Antigua, Barbados, Grenada, Jamaica, and Trinidad and Tobago, who 
have their residence in British, French, or Netherlands territory 
located in the adjacent islands of the Caribbean area or in Antigua, 
Barbados, Grenada, Jamaica, or Trinidad and Tobago, are not required to 
obtain visas before traveling to the United States as H-2A agricultural 
workers.

What will prospective H-2A agricultural workers be required to do?

    The amended rule requires these prospective H-2A agricultural 
workers to obtain a visa prior to traveling to the United States. Any 
spouses or children of these workers also will have to obtain a visa. 
To obtain a visa, these nonimmigrant aliens will have to be in 
possession of a valid passport, submit a visa application to and appear 
for an interview at a U.S. embassy or consulate, and undergo the 
Department's visa screening process.

Will the amended rule ensure that prospective H-2A agricultural workers 
are properly screened prior to their arrival in the United States?

    Requiring these prospective H-2A agricultural workers to obtain 
visas will ensure that they are sufficiently screened prior to arrival 
in the United States. This will lessen the possibility that persons who 
pose security risks to the United States and other potential 
immigration violators may improperly gain admission to the United 
States. At the same time, requiring that these applicants appear before 
consular officers will provide greater opportunities to prescreen for 
potential employment fraud and will promote compliance with Department 
of Homeland Security (DHS) and Department of Labor (DOL) H-2A rules.

[[Page 5907]]

How will the amended rule further the national security interests of 
the United States?

    The Department, in conjunction with DHS, has determined that the 
visa exemption provided a loophole that could potentially be exploited 
by terrorists and other persons seeking to engage in unlawful 
activities in the United States and threatens the security interests of 
the United States. This visa exemption is outdated in the post-9/11 
environment and inconsistent with the visa requirement for other H-2A 
agricultural workers from other countries. The Department and DHS have 
determined that eliminating this visa exemption furthers the national 
security interests of the United States.

How will the amended rule affect the Department's visa issuance 
process?

    The application of the general visa requirement to the class of 
Caribbean agricultural workers described above will ensure that these 
applicants for admission, like other H-2A agricultural workers, are 
properly screened through the Department's visa issuance process prior 
to arrival in the United States. This will lessen the possibility that 
persons who pose security risks to the United States and other 
potential immigration violators may improperly gain admission to the 
United States.
    Moreover, extending the visa requirement to these Caribbean H-2A 
agricultural workers will better ensure that such workers are protected 
from certain employment and recruitment-based abuses. It also will 
ensure that agricultural workers have been informed, and are aware of, 
their rights and responsibilities before departing from their home 
countries to engage in H-2A agricultural work.

What other changes is the Department making in this rule?

    Redesignated paragraph (e)(2)(iv) is being amended to reflect that 
The Royal Virgin Islands Police Department has been renamed the Royal 
Virgin Islands Police Force.

Will DHS be publishing a parallel amendment?

    DHS is publishing a parallel amendment to 8 CFR 212.1(b).

Regulatory Findings

Administrative Procedure Act

    The publication of this rule as an interim final rule, with 
provisions for post-promulgation public comments, is based on the good 
cause exception found in section 553 of the Administrative Procedure 
Act (APA) (5 U.S.C. 553(b)(B)). There is reasonable concern that 
publication of the rule as a proposed rule, which would permit 
continuation of the current visa exemption, could lead to an increase 
in applications for admission in bad faith by persons who would 
otherwise have been denied visas and are seeking to avoid the visa 
requirement and consular screening process during the period between 
the publication of a proposed and a final rule. Accordingly, the 
Department finds that it is impracticable and contrary to the public 
interest to publish this rule with prior notice and comment period. 
Under the good cause exception, this rule is exempt from the notice and 
comment and delayed effective date requirements of the APA.
    In addition, the Department is of the opinion that eliminating the 
visa exemption and requiring a visa for Caribbean H-2A agricultural 
workers, and the spouses or children accompanying or following these 
workers, is a foreign affairs function of the U.S. government. As this 
rule implements this function, the Department is of the opinion that, 
pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 553(a)(1), this rule is exempt from the 
requirements of 5 U.S.C. 553, including the notice and comment and 30-
day delayed effective date requirements. The Department is nevertheless 
providing the opportunity for the public to provide comments for 60 
days.

Regulatory Flexibility Act/Executive Order 13272: Small Business

    Because this interim final rule is exempt from notice and comment 
rulemaking under 5 U.S.C. 553, it is exempt from the regulatory 
flexibility analysis requirements set forth at sections 603 and 604 of 
the Regulatory Flexibility Act (5 U.S.C. 603 and 604). Nonetheless, 
consistent with section 605(b) of the Regulatory Flexibility Act (5 
U.S.C. 605(b)), the Department certifies that this rule will not have a 
significant economic impact on a substantial number of small entities. 
This rulemaking regulates individual aliens who seek consideration for 
nonimmigrant visas and does not affect any small entities, as defined 
in 5 U.S.C. 601(6).

The Unfunded Mandates Reform Act of 1995

    Section 202 of the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act of 1995, Public Law 
104-4, 109 Stat. 48, 2 U.S.C. 1532, generally requires agencies to 
prepare a statement before proposing any rule that may result in an 
annual expenditure of $100 million or more by state, local, or tribal 
governments, or by the private sector. This rule will not result in any 
such expenditure, nor will it significantly or uniquely affect small 
governments.

The Small Business Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act of 1996

    This rule is not a major rule as defined by 5 U.S.C. 804, for 
purposes of congressional review of agency rulemaking under the Small 
Business Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act of 1996, Public Law 104-
121.

Executive Order 12866: Regulatory Review

    The costs of this rulemaking are discussed in the companion DHS 
rule, RIN 1651-AB09, included elsewhere in this edition of the Federal 
Register. That discussion is incorporated by reference herein. The 
Department has reviewed the costs and benefits of this rule to ensure 
its consistency with the regulatory philosophy and principles set forth 
in Executive Order 12866 and has determined that the benefits of this 
interim final rule justify its costs.

Executive Order 13563

    The Department has considered this rule in light of Executive Order 
13563, dated January 18, 2011, and affirms that this regulation is 
consistent with the guidance therein.

Executive Orders 12372 and 13132: Federalism

    This regulation will not have substantial direct effects on the 
states, on the relationship between the national government and the 
states, or the distribution of power and responsibilities among the 
various levels of government; nor will the rule have federalism 
implications warranting the application of Executive Orders 12372 and 
13132.

Executive Order 13175 Consultation and Coordination With Indian Tribal 
Governments

    The Department has determined that this rulemaking will not have 
tribal implications, will not impose substantial direct compliance 
costs on Indian tribal governments, and will not pre-empt tribal law. 
Accordingly, the requirements of Executive Order 13175 do not apply to 
this rulemaking.

Executive Order 12988: Civil Justice Reform

    The Department has reviewed this interim final rule in light of 
Executive Order 12988 to eliminate ambiguity, minimize litigation, 
establish clear legal standards, and reduce burden.

[[Page 5908]]

Paperwork Reduction Act

    This rule does not impose any new information collections subject 
to the Paperwork Reduction Act, 44 U.S.C., Chapter 35. The Department 
anticipates between 100 and 4,100 additional nonimmigrant visa 
applicants per year as a result of this rulemaking. The current burden 
for this information collection (OMB Control No. 1405-0182) is 
13,875,345 hours, with 11,100,276 respondents. The burden per response 
is 75 minutes. The top estimate for the number of additional 
respondents would add approximately 5,000 hours to a burden that is 
almost 14 million hours. Therefore, the addition of these respondents 
does not significantly increase the burden associated with this 
information collection.

List of Subjects in 22 CFR Part 41

    Aliens, Foreign officials, Immigration, Nonimmigrants, Passports 
and visas.

    For the reasons stated in the preamble, the Department of State is 
amending 22 CFR part 41 to read as follows:

PART 41--[AMENDED]

0
1. The authority citation for part 41 is revised to read as follows:

    Authority: 22 U.S.C. 2651a; 8 U.S.C. 1104; Pub. L. 105-277, 112 
Stat. 2681-795 through 2681-801; 8 U.S.C. 1185 note (section 7209 of 
Pub. L. 108-458, as amended by section 546 of Pub. L. 109-295).


0
2. Amend Sec.  41.2 as follows:
0
a. Remove paragraph (e).
0
b. Redesignate paragraphs (f) through (m) as paragraphs (e) through 
(l).
0
c. Revise redesignated paragraph (e)(2)(iv).
    The revisions read as follows:


Sec.  41.2  Exemption or waiver by Secretary of State and Secretary of 
Homeland Security of passport and/or visa requirements for certain 
categories of nonimmigrants.

* * * * *
    (e) * * *
    (2) * * *
    (iv) Presents a current certificate issued by the Royal Virgin 
Islands Police Force indicating that he or she has no criminal record.
* * * * *

    Dated: January 22, 2016.
David T. Donahue,
Acting Assistant Secretary for Consular Affairs, Department of State.
[FR Doc. 2016-02191 Filed 2-3-16; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4710-06-P



                                                  5906                Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 23 / Thursday, February 4, 2016 / Rules and Regulations

                                                  PART 71—DESIGNATION OF CLASS A,                            DEPARTMENT OF STATE                                   Why is the Department promulgating
                                                  B, C, D, AND E AIRSPACE AREAS; AIR                                                                               this rule?
                                                  TRAFFIC SERVICE ROUTES; AND                                22 CFR Part 41                                           The Department of State (the
                                                  REPORTING POINTS                                                                                                 Department) is amending the previous
                                                                                                             [Public Notice: 9428]                                 rule to alleviate fraud and security
                                                  ■ 1. The authority citation for part 71                                                                          concerns that have developed
                                                  continues to read as follows:                              RIN 1400–AD17                                         subsequent to that rule’s publication.
                                                    Authority: 49 U.S.C. 106(f), 106(g); 40103,                                                                    The previous rule, 22 CFR 41.2(e)(1),
                                                  40113, 40120; E.O. 10854, 24 FR 9565, 3 CFR,               Visas: Documentation of                               allowed nationals of certain Caribbean
                                                  1959–1963 Comp., p. 389.                                   Nonimmigrants Under the Immigration                   countries, as well as nationals of certain
                                                                                                             and Nationality Act, as Amended                       other countries who have residence in
                                                  § 71.1       [Amended]                                                                                           such countries’ territories in the
                                                                                                             AGENCY:    Department of State.                       Caribbean, to enter the United States as
                                                  ■ 2. The incorporation by reference in
                                                                                                             ACTION:   Interim final rule.                         temporary agricultural workers without
                                                  14 CFR 71.1 of FAA Order 7400.9Z,
                                                                                                                                                                   visas. The amended rule requires that
                                                  Airspace Designations and Reporting                        SUMMARY:   As a result of this rule, a                temporary workers from these countries
                                                  Points, dated August 6, 2015, effective                    passport and a visa will be required of               obtain H–2A visas to enter the United
                                                  September 15, 2015, is amended as                          a British, French, or Netherlands                     States.
                                                  follows:                                                   national, or of a national of Antigua,
                                                                                                                                                                   What is the current rule?
                                                  Paragraph 6002 Class E Airspace
                                                                                                             Barbados, Grenada, Jamaica, or Trinidad
                                                                                                             and Tobago, who has residence in                        Currently, British, French, and
                                                  designated as surface areas.
                                                                                                             British, French, or Netherlands territory             Netherlands nationals and nationals of
                                                  *        *      *       *      *                                                                                 Antigua, Barbados, Grenada, Jamaica,
                                                                                                             located in the adjacent islands of the
                                                  AGL SD E2        Rapid City, SD (Amended)                  Caribbean area, or has residence in                   and Trinidad and Tobago, who have
                                                  Rapid City Regional Airport, SD                            Antigua, Barbados, Grenada, Jamaica, or               their residence in British, French, or
                                                    (Lat. 44°02′43″ N., long. 103°03′27″ W.)                 Trinidad and Tobago, if the alien is                  Netherlands territory located in the
                                                  Ellsworth AFB, SD                                          proceeding to the United States as an                 adjacent islands of the Caribbean area or
                                                    (Lat. 44°08′42″ N., long. 103°06′13″ W.)                 agricultural worker. In light of past                 in Antigua, Barbados, Grenada, Jamaica,
                                                  Rapid City VORTAC                                          experience, and to promote consistency                or Trinidad and Tobago, are not
                                                    (Lat. 43°58′34″ N., long. 103°00′44″ W.)                 of treatment across H–2A agricultural                 required to obtain visas before traveling
                                                    Within a 4.4-mile radius of the Rapid City               workers, prudent border management                    to the United States as H–2A
                                                  Regional Airport, excluding the portion north              requires these temporary workers to                   agricultural workers.
                                                  of a line between the intersection of the                  obtain a visa along with most other H–                What will prospective H–2A
                                                  Rapid City Regional Airport 4.4-mile radius                2A agricultural workers.
                                                  and the Ellsworth AFB 4.7-mile radius, and                                                                       agricultural workers be required to do?
                                                  that airspace extending upward from the                      The previous rule allowing temporary                  The amended rule requires these
                                                  surface within 2.6 miles each side of the                  workers from these countries to enter                 prospective H–2A agricultural workers
                                                  Rapid City VORTAC 155°/335°. radials                       the United States without a visa                      to obtain a visa prior to traveling to the
                                                  extending from the 4.4-mile radius of the                  presented a vulnerability. Temporary                  United States. Any spouses or children
                                                  Rapid City Regional Airport to 7 miles                     workers from these countries now                      of these workers also will have to obtain
                                                  southeast of the VORTAC, excluding that                    require H–2A visas to enter the United                a visa. To obtain a visa, these
                                                  airspace within the Rapid City, SD, Class D                States.                                               nonimmigrant aliens will have to be in
                                                  airspace area.
                                                                                                             DATES: This rule is effective February                possession of a valid passport, submit a
                                                  *        *      *       *      *                           19, 2016. Comment period: The                         visa application to and appear for an
                                                  Paragraph 6004 Class E Airspace Areas                      Department will accept comments until                 interview at a U.S. embassy or
                                                  Designated as an Extension to a Class D or                 April 4, 2016.                                        consulate, and undergo the
                                                  Class E Surface Area.
                                                                                                             ADDRESSES:
                                                                                                                                                                   Department’s visa screening process.
                                                  *        *      *       *      *                             • Interested parties may submit                     Will the amended rule ensure that
                                                  AGL SD E4        Rapid City, SD (Amended)                  comments at any time by any of the                    prospective H–2A agricultural workers
                                                  Rapid City Regional Airport, SD                            following methods:                                    are properly screened prior to their
                                                    (Lat. 44°02′43″ N., long. 103°03′27″ W.)                   • Mail: U.S. Department of State, Visa              arrival in the United States?
                                                  Rapid City VORTAC                                          Services, Legislation and Regulations                   Requiring these prospective H–2A
                                                    (Lat. 43°58′34″ N., long. 103°00′44″ W.)                 Division, 600 19th Street NW., Room                   agricultural workers to obtain visas will
                                                    That airspace extending upward from the                  12–526B, Washington, DC 20006 ATTN:                   ensure that they are sufficiently
                                                  surface within 2.6 miles each side of the                  Paul-Anthony L. Magadia.                              screened prior to arrival in the United
                                                  Rapid City VORTAC 155°/335° radials                          • If you have access to the Internet                States. This will lessen the possibility
                                                  extending from the 4.4-mile radius of the                  you may submit comments by going to                   that persons who pose security risks to
                                                  Rapid City Regional Airport to 7 miles                                                                           the United States and other potential
                                                                                                             http://www.regulations.gov/#!home and
                                                  southeast of the VORTAC, excluding that
                                                                                                             searching for Public Notice number                    immigration violators may improperly
                                                  airspace within the Rapid City, SD, Class D
                                                  airspace area.                                             XXXX.                                                 gain admission to the United States. At
asabaliauskas on DSK5VPTVN1PROD with RULES




                                                                                                                                                                   the same time, requiring that these
                                                    Issued in Fort Worth, Texas, on January 27,              FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:                      applicants appear before consular
                                                  2016.                                                      Paul-Anthony L. Magadia, U.S.                         officers will provide greater
                                                  Robert W. Beck,                                            Department of State, Visa Services,                   opportunities to prescreen for potential
                                                  Manager, Operations Support Group, ATO                     Legislation and Regulations Division,                 employment fraud and will promote
                                                  Central Service Center.                                    Washington, DC 20006, (202) 485–7641,                 compliance with Department of
                                                  [FR Doc. 2016–02037 Filed 2–3–16; 8:45 am]                 Email: magadiapl@state.gov.                           Homeland Security (DHS) and
                                                  BILLING CODE 4910–13–P                                     SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:                            Department of Labor (DOL) H–2A rules.


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                                                                   Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 23 / Thursday, February 4, 2016 / Rules and Regulations                                          5907

                                                  How will the amended rule further the                   U.S.C. 553(b)(B)). There is reasonable                sector. This rule will not result in any
                                                  national security interests of the United               concern that publication of the rule as               such expenditure, nor will it
                                                  States?                                                 a proposed rule, which would permit                   significantly or uniquely affect small
                                                    The Department, in conjunction with                   continuation of the current visa                      governments.
                                                  DHS, has determined that the visa                       exemption, could lead to an increase in
                                                                                                                                                                The Small Business Regulatory
                                                  exemption provided a loophole that                      applications for admission in bad faith
                                                                                                          by persons who would otherwise have                   Enforcement Fairness Act of 1996
                                                  could potentially be exploited by
                                                  terrorists and other persons seeking to                 been denied visas and are seeking to                    This rule is not a major rule as
                                                  engage in unlawful activities in the                    avoid the visa requirement and consular               defined by 5 U.S.C. 804, for purposes of
                                                  United States and threatens the security                screening process during the period                   congressional review of agency
                                                                                                          between the publication of a proposed                 rulemaking under the Small Business
                                                  interests of the United States. This visa
                                                                                                          and a final rule. Accordingly, the                    Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act of
                                                  exemption is outdated in the post-9/11
                                                                                                          Department finds that it is impracticable             1996, Public Law 104–121.
                                                  environment and inconsistent with the
                                                                                                          and contrary to the public interest to
                                                  visa requirement for other H–2A                                                                               Executive Order 12866: Regulatory
                                                                                                          publish this rule with prior notice and
                                                  agricultural workers from other                                                                               Review
                                                                                                          comment period. Under the good cause
                                                  countries. The Department and DHS
                                                                                                          exception, this rule is exempt from the                 The costs of this rulemaking are
                                                  have determined that eliminating this
                                                                                                          notice and comment and delayed                        discussed in the companion DHS rule,
                                                  visa exemption furthers the national
                                                                                                          effective date requirements of the APA.               RIN 1651–AB09, included elsewhere in
                                                  security interests of the United States.                   In addition, the Department is of the              this edition of the Federal Register.
                                                  How will the amended rule affect the                    opinion that eliminating the visa                     That discussion is incorporated by
                                                  Department’s visa issuance process?                     exemption and requiring a visa for                    reference herein. The Department has
                                                                                                          Caribbean H–2A agricultural workers,                  reviewed the costs and benefits of this
                                                     The application of the general visa
                                                                                                          and the spouses or children                           rule to ensure its consistency with the
                                                  requirement to the class of Caribbean
                                                                                                          accompanying or following these                       regulatory philosophy and principles set
                                                  agricultural workers described above
                                                                                                          workers, is a foreign affairs function of             forth in Executive Order 12866 and has
                                                  will ensure that these applicants for
                                                                                                          the U.S. government. As this rule                     determined that the benefits of this
                                                  admission, like other H–2A agricultural
                                                                                                          implements this function, the                         interim final rule justify its costs.
                                                  workers, are properly screened through                  Department is of the opinion that,
                                                  the Department’s visa issuance process                  pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 553(a)(1), this rule             Executive Order 13563
                                                  prior to arrival in the United States.                  is exempt from the requirements of 5
                                                  This will lessen the possibility that                                                                           The Department has considered this
                                                                                                          U.S.C. 553, including the notice and
                                                  persons who pose security risks to the                                                                        rule in light of Executive Order 13563,
                                                                                                          comment and 30-day delayed effective
                                                  United States and other potential                                                                             dated January 18, 2011, and affirms that
                                                                                                          date requirements. The Department is
                                                  immigration violators may improperly                                                                          this regulation is consistent with the
                                                                                                          nevertheless providing the opportunity
                                                  gain admission to the United States.                                                                          guidance therein.
                                                                                                          for the public to provide comments for
                                                     Moreover, extending the visa                         60 days.                                              Executive Orders 12372 and 13132:
                                                  requirement to these Caribbean H–2A
                                                                                                                                                                Federalism
                                                  agricultural workers will better ensure                 Regulatory Flexibility Act/Executive
                                                  that such workers are protected from                    Order 13272: Small Business                             This regulation will not have
                                                  certain employment and recruitment-                        Because this interim final rule is                 substantial direct effects on the states,
                                                  based abuses. It also will ensure that                  exempt from notice and comment                        on the relationship between the national
                                                  agricultural workers have been                          rulemaking under 5 U.S.C. 553, it is                  government and the states, or the
                                                  informed, and are aware of, their rights                exempt from the regulatory flexibility                distribution of power and
                                                  and responsibilities before departing                   analysis requirements set forth at                    responsibilities among the various
                                                  from their home countries to engage in                  sections 603 and 604 of the Regulatory                levels of government; nor will the rule
                                                  H–2A agricultural work.                                 Flexibility Act (5 U.S.C. 603 and 604).               have federalism implications warranting
                                                                                                          Nonetheless, consistent with section                  the application of Executive Orders
                                                  What other changes is the Department
                                                                                                          605(b) of the Regulatory Flexibility Act              12372 and 13132.
                                                  making in this rule?
                                                                                                          (5 U.S.C. 605(b)), the Department                     Executive Order 13175 Consultation
                                                    Redesignated paragraph (e)(2)(iv) is                  certifies that this rule will not have a
                                                  being amended to reflect that The Royal                                                                       and Coordination With Indian Tribal
                                                                                                          significant economic impact on a                      Governments
                                                  Virgin Islands Police Department has                    substantial number of small entities.
                                                  been renamed the Royal Virgin Islands                   This rulemaking regulates individual                    The Department has determined that
                                                  Police Force.                                           aliens who seek consideration for                     this rulemaking will not have tribal
                                                  Will DHS be publishing a parallel                       nonimmigrant visas and does not affect                implications, will not impose
                                                  amendment?                                              any small entities, as defined in 5 U.S.C.            substantial direct compliance costs on
                                                                                                          601(6).                                               Indian tribal governments, and will not
                                                    DHS is publishing a parallel                                                                                pre-empt tribal law. Accordingly, the
                                                  amendment to 8 CFR 212.1(b).                            The Unfunded Mandates Reform Act of                   requirements of Executive Order 13175
                                                                                                          1995                                                  do not apply to this rulemaking.
                                                  Regulatory Findings
asabaliauskas on DSK5VPTVN1PROD with RULES




                                                                                                             Section 202 of the Unfunded
                                                  Administrative Procedure Act                                                                                  Executive Order 12988: Civil Justice
                                                                                                          Mandates Reform Act of 1995, Public
                                                                                                                                                                Reform
                                                    The publication of this rule as an                    Law 104–4, 109 Stat. 48, 2 U.S.C. 1532,
                                                  interim final rule, with provisions for                 generally requires agencies to prepare a                The Department has reviewed this
                                                  post-promulgation public comments, is                   statement before proposing any rule that              interim final rule in light of Executive
                                                  based on the good cause exception                       may result in an annual expenditure of                Order 12988 to eliminate ambiguity,
                                                  found in section 553 of the                             $100 million or more by state, local, or              minimize litigation, establish clear legal
                                                  Administrative Procedure Act (APA) (5                   tribal governments, or by the private                 standards, and reduce burden.


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                                                  5908             Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 23 / Thursday, February 4, 2016 / Rules and Regulations

                                                  Paperwork Reduction Act                                 DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY                            1(b)(4)(viii)(c)(2) requires a partnership
                                                                                                                                                                to assign its income to activities and
                                                    This rule does not impose any new                     Internal Revenue Service                              provides for the grouping of a
                                                  information collections subject to the                                                                        partnership’s activities into one or more
                                                  Paperwork Reduction Act, 44 U.S.C.,                     26 CFR Part 1                                         CFTE categories based generally on
                                                  Chapter 35. The Department anticipates                                                                        whether net income from the activities
                                                  between 100 and 4,100 additional                        [TD 9748]
                                                                                                                                                                is allocated to partners in the same
                                                  nonimmigrant visa applicants per year                   RIN 1545–BM57                                         sharing ratios. Section 1.704–
                                                  as a result of this rulemaking. The                                                                           1(b)(4)(viii)(c)(3) provides rules for
                                                  current burden for this information                     Allocation of Creditable Foreign Taxes                determining the partnership’s net
                                                  collection (OMB Control No. 1405–                                                                             income (for U.S. federal income tax
                                                                                                          AGENCY:  Internal Revenue Service (IRS),
                                                  0182) is 13,875,345 hours, with                                                                               purposes) in a CFTE category, including
                                                                                                          Treasury.
                                                  11,100,276 respondents. The burden per                                                                        rules for allocating and apportioning
                                                  response is 75 minutes. The top                         ACTION: Final and temporary
                                                                                                          regulations.                                          expenses, losses, and other deductions
                                                  estimate for the number of additional                                                                         to gross income. Section 1.704–
                                                  respondents would add approximately                     SUMMARY:    This document contains                    1(b)(4)(viii)(d) assigns CFTEs to the
                                                  5,000 hours to a burden that is almost                  temporary regulations that provide                    CFTE category that includes the related
                                                  14 million hours. Therefore, the                        guidance relating to the allocation by a              income under the principles of § 1.904–
                                                  addition of these respondents does not                  partnership of creditable foreign tax                 6, with certain modifications. In order to
                                                  significantly increase the burden                       expenditures. These temporary                         satisfy the safe harbor, partnership
                                                  associated with this information                        regulations are necessary to improve the              allocations of CFTEs in a CFTE category
                                                  collection.                                             operation of an existing safe harbor rule             must be in proportion to the allocations
                                                  List of Subjects in 22 CFR Part 41                      that is used for determining whether                  of the partnership’s net income in the
                                                                                                          allocations of creditable foreign tax                 CFTE category.
                                                   Aliens, Foreign officials, Immigration,                expenditures are deemed to be in                      I. Effect of Section 743(b) Adjustments
                                                  Nonimmigrants, Passports and visas.                     accordance with the partners’ interests
                                                                                                          in the partnership. The text of these                    Section 1.704–1(b)(4)(viii)(c)(3)(i) of
                                                    For the reasons stated in the                                                                               the current final regulations provides
                                                  preamble, the Department of State is                    temporary regulations also serves as the
                                                                                                          text of the proposed regulations set forth            that a partnership determines its net
                                                  amending 22 CFR part 41 to read as                                                                            income in a CFTE category by taking
                                                  follows:                                                in the notice of proposed rulemaking
                                                                                                          (REG–100861–15) published in the                      into account all partnership items
                                                                                                          Proposed Rules section in this issue of               attributable to the relevant activity or
                                                  PART 41—[AMENDED]
                                                                                                                                                                group of activities, including items of
                                                                                                          the Federal Register. These regulations
                                                                                                                                                                gross income, gain, loss, deduction, and
                                                  ■ 1. The authority citation for part 41 is              affect partnerships that pay or accrue
                                                                                                                                                                expense, and items allocated pursuant
                                                  revised to read as follows:                             foreign income taxes, and their partners.
                                                                                                                                                                to section 704(c). The current final
                                                    Authority: 22 U.S.C. 2651a; 8 U.S.C. 1104;            DATES: Effective Date: These regulations              regulations do not state whether an
                                                  Pub. L. 105–277, 112 Stat. 2681–795 through             are effective on February 4, 2016.                    adjustment under section 743(b) is taken
                                                  2681–801; 8 U.S.C. 1185 note (section 7209                 Applicability Dates: For dates of                  into account in computing the
                                                  of Pub. L. 108–458, as amended by section               applicability, see §§ 1.704–                          partnership’s net income in a CFTE
                                                  546 of Pub. L. 109–295).                                1T(b)(1)(ii)(b)(1) and (b)(1)(ii)(b)(3)(B).           category.
                                                  ■ 2. Amend § 41.2 as follows:                           FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:                         In the case of a transfer of a
                                                                                                          Suzanne M. Walsh, (202) 317–4908 (not                 partnership interest that results in an
                                                  ■ a. Remove paragraph (e).
                                                                                                          a toll-free call).                                    adjustment under section 743(b)
                                                  ■ b. Redesignate paragraphs (f) through
                                                                                                          SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:                            (because the partnership has a section
                                                  (m) as paragraphs (e) through (l).                                                                            754 election in effect, or because there
                                                  ■ c. Revise redesignated paragraph                      Background and Explanation of                         is a substantial built-in loss (as defined
                                                  (e)(2)(iv).                                             Provisions                                            in section 743(d)) in the partnership),
                                                     The revisions read as follows:                          Allocations of creditable foreign tax              the partnership must adjust the basis of
                                                                                                          expenditures (‘‘CFTEs’’) do not have                  partnership property with respect to the
                                                  § 41.2 Exemption or waiver by Secretary of              substantial economic effect, and                      transferee partner only (a section 743(b)
                                                  State and Secretary of Homeland Security
                                                                                                          accordingly a CFTE must be allocated in               adjustment). No adjustment is made to
                                                  of passport and/or visa requirements for
                                                  certain categories of nonimmigrants.                    accordance with the partners’ interests               the common basis of partnership
                                                                                                          in the partnership. See § 1.704–                      property, and the section 743(b)
                                                  *      *     *     *    *                               1(b)(4)(viii). Section 1.704–1(b)(4)(viii)            adjustment has no effect on the
                                                     (e) * * *                                            provides a safe harbor under which                    partnership’s computation of any item
                                                     (2) * * *                                            CFTE allocations are deemed to be in                  under section 703. § 1.743–1(j)(1).
                                                     (iv) Presents a current certificate                  accordance with the partners’ interests                  The Treasury Department and the IRS
                                                  issued by the Royal Virgin Islands                      in the partnership. In general, the                   believe that a transferee partner’s
                                                  Police Force indicating that he or she                  purpose of the safe harbor is to match                section 743(b) adjustment with respect
                                                  has no criminal record.                                 allocations of CFTEs with the income to               to its interest in a partnership should
asabaliauskas on DSK5VPTVN1PROD with RULES




                                                  *      *     *     *    *                               which the CFTEs relate.                               not be taken into account in computing
                                                                                                             In order to apply the safe harbor, a               such partnership’s net income in a
                                                    Dated: January 22, 2016.                              partnership must (1) determine the                    CFTE category because the basis
                                                  David T. Donahue,                                       partnership’s ‘‘CFTE categories,’’ (2)                adjustment is unique to the transferee
                                                  Acting Assistant Secretary for Consular                 determine the partnership’s net income                partner and because the basis
                                                  Affairs, Department of State.                           in each CFTE category, and (3) allocate               adjustment ordinarily would not be
                                                  [FR Doc. 2016–02191 Filed 2–3–16; 8:45 am]              the partnership’s CFTEs to each                       taken into account by a foreign
                                                  BILLING CODE 4710–06–P                                  category. Section 1.704–                              jurisdiction in computing its foreign


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Document Created: 2016-02-04 00:31:04
Document Modified: 2016-02-04 00:31:04
CategoryRegulatory Information
CollectionFederal Register
sudoc ClassAE 2.7:
GS 4.107:
AE 2.106:
PublisherOffice of the Federal Register, National Archives and Records Administration
SectionRules and Regulations
ActionInterim final rule.
DatesThis rule is effective February 19, 2016. Comment period: The Department will accept comments until April 4, 2016.
ContactPaul-Anthony L. Magadia, U.S. Department of State, Visa Services, Legislation and Regulations Division, Washington, DC 20006, (202) 485-7641, Email: [email protected]
FR Citation81 FR 5906 
RIN Number1400-AD17
CFR AssociatedAliens; Foreign Officials; Immigration; Nonimmigrants and Passports and Visas

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