Domestic Violence Guidance Pamphlet for K Nonimmigrants, 42586-42590 [E8-16521]
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42586
Federal Register / Vol. 73, No. 141 / Tuesday, July 22, 2008 / Notices
have a copy of your materials
distributed to each member of the
committee or working group should
reach the Coast Guard on or before
September 2, 2008.
ADDRESSES: The full Committee will
meet at Marine Safety Unit Galveston,
2101 FM 2004, Texas City, Texas 77591,
(409) 978–2700. The working group
meeting will be held at Marine Safety
Unit Galveston, 2101 FM 2004, Texas
City, Texas 77591, (409) 978–2700. Send
written material and requests to make
oral presentations to LT Sean Hughes,
Assistant to the Executive Secretary of
HOGANSAC, 9640 Clinton Drive,
Houston, Texas 77029. This notice is
available in our online docket, USCG–
2008–0566, at https://
www.regulations.gov.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Commander Hal R. Pitts, Executive
Secretary of HOGANSAC, telephone
(713) 671–5164, e-mail
hal.r.pitts@uscg.mil or Lieutenant Sean
Hughes, Assistant to the Executive
Secretary of HOGANSAC, telephone
(713) 678–9001, e-mail
sean.p.hughes@uscg.mil.
Notice of
these meetings is given pursuant to the
Federal Advisory Committee Act, 5
U.S.C. App. (Pub. L. 92–463).
Agendas of the Meetings:
Houston/Galveston Navigation Safety
Advisory Committee (HOGANSAC). The
tentative agenda is as follows:
(1) Opening remarks by the
Committee Sponsor (RADM Whitehead)
or the Committee Sponsor’s
representative, Executive Director
(CAPT Diehl) and Chairperson (Ms.
Tava Foret).
(2) Approval of the May 22, 2008
minutes.
(3) Old Business:
(a) Navigation Operations (NAVOPS)/
Maritime Incident Review
subcommittee report;
(b) Dredging subcommittee report;
(c) Technology subcommittee report;
(d) Waterways Optimization
subcommittee report;
(e) Harbor of Safe Refuge
subcommittee report;
(f) HOGANSAC Outreach
subcommittee report;
(g) Commercial Recovery Contingency
subcommittee report; and
(h) Area Maritime Security Committee
(AMSC) Liaison’s report.
(4) New Business:
Working Groups Meeting. The
tentative agenda for the working groups
meeting is as follows:
(1) Presentation by each working
group of its accomplishments and plans
for the future;
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SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
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(2) Review and discuss the work
completed by each working group; and
(3) Put forth any action items for
consideration at full committee meeting.
Procedural
Both meetings are open to the public.
Please note that meetings may close
early if all business is finished. At the
Chairs’ discretion, members of the
public may make oral presentations
during the meetings. If you would like
to make an oral presentation at the
Committee’s September 16 meeting,
please notify the Coast Guard no later
than September 9, 2008. Written
material for distribution at a meeting
should reach the Coast Guard no later
than September 2, 2008. If you would
like a copy of your material distributed
to each member of the committee in
advance of the meetings, please submit
19 copies to the Coast Guard no later
than September 2, 2008.
Information on Services for Individuals
With Disabilities
For information on facilities or
services for individuals with disabilities
or to request special assistance at the
meetings, contact the Executive
Secretary or Assistant to the Executive
Secretary as soon as possible.
Dated: June 24, 2008.
J.H. Korn,
Captain U.S. Coast Guard, Commander, 8th
Coast Guard District, Acting.
[FR Doc. E8–16769 Filed 7–21–08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910–15–P
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
U.S. Citizenship and
Immigration Services, DHS.
ACTION: Notice.
AGENCY:
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
´
fiancé(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
PO 00000
Frm 00045
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Sfmt 4703
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: https://
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 fiancé(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’’
E:\FR\FM\22JYN1.SGM
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Federal Register / Vol. 73, No. 141 / Tuesday, July 22, 2008 / Notices
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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 marriagebased 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
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19:47 Jul 21, 2008
Jkt 214001
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
PO 00000
Frm 00046
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
42587
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 https://
www.regulations.gov, including any
personal information provided.
Docket: For access to the docket to
read background documents or
comments received, go to https://
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.
BILLING CODE 9111–97–P
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Federal Register / Vol. 73, No. 141 / Tuesday, July 22, 2008 / Notices
Federal Register / Vol. 73, No. 141 / Tuesday, July 22, 2008 / Notices
[FR Doc. E8–16521 Filed 7–21–08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 9111–97–C
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19:47 Jul 21, 2008
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42590
]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 141 (Tuesday, July 22, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Pages 42586-42590]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-16521]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
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.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
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 fiancé(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: https://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 fiancé(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''
[[Page 42587]]
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 https://www.regulations.gov,
including any personal information provided.
Docket: For access to the docket to read background documents or
comments received, go to https://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]
BILLING CODE 9111-97-C
