Identification of Foreign Countries Whose Nationals Are Eligible To Participate in the H-2A and H-2B Nonimmigrant Worker Programs, 2558-2559 [2012-870]
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2558
Federal Register / Vol. 77, No. 11 / Wednesday, January 18, 2012 / Notices
Dated: January 11, 2012.
Jennifer S. Spaeth,
Director, Office of Federal Advisory
Committee Policy .
[FR Doc. 2012–869 Filed 1–17–12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4140–01–P
DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND
SECURITY
[Docket No. DHS–2011–0108]
RIN 1601–ZA11
Identification of Foreign Countries
Whose Nationals Are Eligible To
Participate in the H–2A and H–2B
Nonimmigrant Worker Programs
Office of the Secretary, DHS.
Notice.
AGENCY:
ACTION:
Under Department of
Homeland Security (DHS) regulations,
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration
Services (USCIS) may approve petitions
for H–2A and H–2B nonimmigrant
status only for nationals of countries
that the Secretary of Homeland Security,
with the concurrence of the Secretary of
State, has designated by notice
published in the Federal Register. That
notice must be renewed each year. This
notice announces that the Secretary of
Homeland Security, in consultation
with the Secretary of State, is
identifying 58 countries whose
nationals are eligible to participate in
the H–2A and H–2B programs for the
coming year. New countries on this
year’s list include Haiti, Iceland,
Montenegro, Spain, and Switzerland.
DATES: Effective Date: This notice is
effective January 18, 2012, and shall be
without effect at the end of one year
after January 18, 2012.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Francis Cissna, Office of Policy,
Department of Homeland Security,
Washington, DC 20528, (202) 447–3835.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background: USCIS generally may
approve H–2A and H–2B petitions only
for nationals of countries that the
Secretary of Homeland Security, with
the concurrence of the Secretary of
State, has designated as participating
countries. Such designation must be
published as a notice in the Federal
Register and expires after one year.
USCIS may, however, allow a national
from a country not on the list to be
named as a beneficiary of an H–2A or
H–2B petition based on a determination
that such participation is in the U.S.
interest. See 8 CFR 214.2(h)(5)(i)(F) and
8 CFR 214.2(h)(6)(i)(E).
In designating countries to include on
the list, the Secretary of Homeland
tkelley on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
SUMMARY:
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16:07 Jan 17, 2012
Jkt 226001
Security, with the concurrence of the
Secretary of State, will take into account
factors including, but not limited to: (1)
The country’s cooperation with respect
to issuance of travel documents for
citizens, subjects, nationals, and
residents of that country who are subject
to a final order of removal; (2) the
number of final and unexecuted orders
of removal against citizens, subjects,
nationals, and residents of that country;
(3) the number of orders of removal
executed against citizens, subjects,
nationals, and residents of that country;
and (4) such other factors as may serve
the U.S. interest. See 8 CFR
214.2(h)(5)(i)(F)(1)(i) and 8 CFR
214.2(h)(6)(i)(E)(1).
In December 2008, DHS published in
the Federal Register two notices,
‘‘Identification of Foreign Countries
Whose Nationals Are Eligible to
Participate in the H–2A Visa Program,’’
and ‘‘Identification of Foreign Countries
Whose Nationals Are Eligible to
Participate in the H–2B Visa Program,’’
which designated 28 countries whose
nationals are eligible to participate in
the H–2A and H–2B programs. See 73
FR 77,043 (Dec. 18, 2008); 73 FR 77,729
(Dec. 19, 2008). The notices ceased to
have effect on January 17, 2010 and
January 18, 2010, respectively. See
8 CFR 214.2(h)(5)(i)(F)(2) and 8 CFR
214.2(h)(6)(i)(E)(3).
To allow for the continued operation
of the H–2A and H–2B programs, the
Secretary of Homeland Security
published, with the concurrence of the
Secretary of State, a notice in the
Federal Register on January 19, 2010,
‘‘Identification of Foreign Countries
Whose Nationals Are Eligible to
Participate in the H–2A and H–2B
Programs.’’ The notice provided for the
continued eligibility of the 28 countries
initially listed in the Federal Register
notices of December 18 and December
19, 2008, and added 11 additional
countries. See 75 FR 2,879 (Jan. 19,
2010). A notice in the Federal Register
on January 18, 2011, ‘‘Identification of
Foreign Countries Whose Nationals Are
Eligible to Participate in the H–2A and
H–2B Programs,’’ provided for the
continued eligibility of 38 of the
countries listed in the 2010 notice,
removed Indonesia from the list, as
Indonesia was not meeting the
standards set forth in the regulation, and
added 15 countries. See 76 FR 2,915
(Jan. 18, 2011).
The Secretary of Homeland Security
has determined, with the concurrence of
the Secretary of State, that the 53
countries previously designated in the
January 18, 2011 notice continue to
meet the standards identified in that
notice for eligible countries and
PO 00000
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Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
therefore should remain designated as
countries whose nationals are eligible to
participate in the H–2A and H–2B
programs. Further, the Secretary of
Homeland Security, with the
concurrence of the Secretary of State,
has determined that it is now
appropriate to add five additional
countries to the list of countries whose
nationals are eligible to participate in
the H–2A and H–2B programs. This
determination is made taking into
account the four factors identified
above. The Secretary of Homeland
Security also considered other pertinent
factors including, but not limited to,
evidence of past usage of the H–2A and
H–2B programs by nationals of the
countries to be added, as well as
evidence relating to the economic
impact on particular U.S. industries or
regions resulting from the addition or
continued non-inclusion of specific
countries. In consideration of all of the
above, this notice designates for the first
time Haiti, Iceland, Montenegro, Spain,
and Switzerland as countries whose
nationals are eligible to participate in
the H–2A and H–2B programs.
Designation of Countries Whose
Nationals Are Eligible To Participate in
the H–2A and H–2B Nonimmigrant
Worker Programs
Pursuant to the authority provided to
the Secretary of Homeland Security
under sections 214(a)(1), and 215(a)(1)
and 241 of the Immigration and
Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1184(a)(1),
1185(a)(1), and 1231), I have designated,
with the concurrence of the Secretary of
State, that nationals from the following
countries are eligible to participate in
the H–2A and H–2B non-immigrant
worker programs:
Argentina
Australia
Barbados
Belize
Brazil
Bulgaria
Canada
Chile
Costa Rica
Croatia
Dominican Republic
Ecuador
El Salvador
Estonia
Ethiopia
Fiji
Guatemala
Haiti
Honduras
Hungary
Iceland
Ireland
Israel
Jamaica
E:\FR\FM\18JAN1.SGM
18JAN1
Federal Register / Vol. 77, No. 11 / Wednesday, January 18, 2012 / Notices
tkelley on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
Japan
Kiribati
Latvia
Lithuania
Macedonia
Mexico
Moldova
Montenegro
Nauru
The Netherlands
Nicaragua
New Zealand
Norway
Papua New Guinea
Peru
Philippines
Poland
Romania
Samoa
Serbia
Slovakia
Slovenia
Solomon Islands
South Africa
South Korea
Spain
Switzerland
Tonga
Turkey
Tuvalu
Ukraine
United Kingdom
Uruguay
Vanuatu
DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND
SECURITY
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration
Services
Agency Information Collection
Activities: New Information Collection:
Comment Request
60-Day notice of information
collection under review: E-Verify 2012
Web User Survey.
ACTION:
*
*
*
*
*
The Department of Homeland
Security, U.S. Citizenship and
Immigration Services (USCIS) will be
submitting the following information
collection request for review and
clearance in accordance with the
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995. The
information collection is published to
obtain comments from the public and
affected agencies. Comments are
encouraged and will be accepted for
sixty days until March 19, 2012.
Written comments and/or suggestions
regarding the item(s) contained in this
notice, especially regarding the
estimated public burden and associated
response time, should be directed to the
Department of Homeland Security
(DHS), USCIS, Chief, Regulatory
Products Division, 20 Massachusetts
Avenue NW., Washington, DC 20529–
2020. Comments may also be submitted
to DHS via facsimile to (202) 272–0997
or via email at rfs.regs@dhs.gov. When
submitting comments by email, please
make sure to add E-Verify 2012 Web
User Survey in the subject box.
This notice does not affect the status
of aliens who currently hold valid H–2A
or H–2B nonimmigrant status. Persons
currently holding such status, however,
will be affected by this notice at the
time they seek an extension of stay in
H–2 classification, or a change of status
from another non-immigrant status to
H–2 status, or a change of status from
H–2A to H–2B (and vice-versa).
Nothing in this notice limits the
authority of the Secretary of Homeland
Security or her designee or any other
federal agency to invoke against any
foreign country or its nationals any
other remedy, penalty, or enforcement
action available by law.
Janet Napolitano,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2012–870 Filed 1–17–12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 9110–9M–P
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16:07 Jan 17, 2012
Jkt 226001
Note: The address listed in this notice
should only be used to submit comments
concerning E-Verify Program Data Collection.
Please do not submit requests for individual
case status inquiries to this address. If you
are seeking information about the status of
your individual case, please check ‘‘My Case
Status’’ online at https://egov.uscis.gov/cris/
Dashboard.do, or call the USCIS National
Customer Service Center at 1–(800) 375–5283
(TTY 1–(800) 767–1833).
Written comments and suggestions
from the public and affected agencies
should address one or more of the
following four points:
(1) Evaluate whether the proposed
collection of information is necessary
for the proper performance of the
functions of the agency, including
whether the information will have
practical utility;
(2) Evaluate the accuracy of the
agencies estimate of the burden of the
proposed collection of information,
including the validity of the
methodology and assumptions used;
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2559
(3) Enhance the quality, utility, and
clarity of the information to be
collected; and
(4) Minimize the burden of the
collection of information on those who
are to respond, including through the
use of appropriate automated,
electronic, mechanical, or other
technological collection techniques or
other forms of information technology,
e.g., permitting electronic submission of
responses.
Overview of This Information
Collection
(1) Type of Information Collection:
New information collection.
(2) Title of the Form/Collection: EVerify 2012 Web User Survey.
(3) Agency form number, if any, and
the applicable component of the
Department of Homeland Security
sponsoring the collection: No Form
Number; U.S. Citizenship and
Immigration Services.
(4) Affected public who will be asked
or required to respond, as well as a brief
abstract: Primary: Individuals or
Households. E-Verify 2012 Web User
Survey is necessary in order for U.S.
Citizenship and Immigration Services
(USCIS) to obtain data from E-Verify
employers in anticipation of the
enactment of mandatory state and/or
national eligibility verification programs
for all or a substantial number of
employers.
(5) An estimate of the total number of
respondents and the amount of time
estimated for an average respondent to
respond: 2,800 responses at 30 minutes
(.50 hours) per response.
(6) An estimate of the total public
burden (in hours) associated with the
collection: 1,400 annual burden hours.
If you need a copy of the information
collection instrument, please visit the
Web site at: https://www.regulations.
gov/.
We may also be contacted at: USCIS,
Regulatory Products Division, 20
Massachusetts Avenue NW.,
Washington, DC 20529–2020,
Telephone number (202) 272–8377.
Dated: January 12, 2012.
Sunday Aigbe,
Chief, Regulatory Products Division, Office
of the Executive Secretariat, U.S. Citizenship
and Immigration Services, Department of
Homeland Security.
[FR Doc. 2012–874 Filed 1–17–12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 9111–97–P
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]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 11 (Wednesday, January 18, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 2558-2559]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-870]
=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY
[Docket No. DHS-2011-0108]
RIN 1601-ZA11
Identification of Foreign Countries Whose Nationals Are Eligible
To Participate in the H-2A and H-2B Nonimmigrant Worker Programs
AGENCY: Office of the Secretary, DHS.
ACTION: Notice.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: Under Department of Homeland Security (DHS) regulations, U.S.
Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) may approve petitions for
H-2A and H-2B nonimmigrant status only for nationals of countries that
the Secretary of Homeland Security, with the concurrence of the
Secretary of State, has designated by notice published in the Federal
Register. That notice must be renewed each year. This notice announces
that the Secretary of Homeland Security, in consultation with the
Secretary of State, is identifying 58 countries whose nationals are
eligible to participate in the H-2A and H-2B programs for the coming
year. New countries on this year's list include Haiti, Iceland,
Montenegro, Spain, and Switzerland.
DATES: Effective Date: This notice is effective January 18, 2012, and
shall be without effect at the end of one year after January 18, 2012.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Francis Cissna, Office of Policy,
Department of Homeland Security, Washington, DC 20528, (202) 447-3835.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background: USCIS generally may approve H-2A and H-2B petitions
only for nationals of countries that the Secretary of Homeland
Security, with the concurrence of the Secretary of State, has
designated as participating countries. Such designation must be
published as a notice in the Federal Register and expires after one
year. USCIS may, however, allow a national from a country not on the
list to be named as a beneficiary of an H-2A or H-2B petition based on
a determination that such participation is in the U.S. interest. See 8
CFR 214.2(h)(5)(i)(F) and 8 CFR 214.2(h)(6)(i)(E).
In designating countries to include on the list, the Secretary of
Homeland Security, with the concurrence of the Secretary of State, will
take into account factors including, but not limited to: (1) The
country's cooperation with respect to issuance of travel documents for
citizens, subjects, nationals, and residents of that country who are
subject to a final order of removal; (2) the number of final and
unexecuted orders of removal against citizens, subjects, nationals, and
residents of that country; (3) the number of orders of removal executed
against citizens, subjects, nationals, and residents of that country;
and (4) such other factors as may serve the U.S. interest. See 8 CFR
214.2(h)(5)(i)(F)(1)(i) and 8 CFR 214.2(h)(6)(i)(E)(1).
In December 2008, DHS published in the Federal Register two
notices, ``Identification of Foreign Countries Whose Nationals Are
Eligible to Participate in the H-2A Visa Program,'' and
``Identification of Foreign Countries Whose Nationals Are Eligible to
Participate in the H-2B Visa Program,'' which designated 28 countries
whose nationals are eligible to participate in the H-2A and H-2B
programs. See 73 FR 77,043 (Dec. 18, 2008); 73 FR 77,729 (Dec. 19,
2008). The notices ceased to have effect on January 17, 2010 and
January 18, 2010, respectively. See 8 CFR 214.2(h)(5)(i)(F)(2) and 8
CFR 214.2(h)(6)(i)(E)(3).
To allow for the continued operation of the H-2A and H-2B programs,
the Secretary of Homeland Security published, with the concurrence of
the Secretary of State, a notice in the Federal Register on January 19,
2010, ``Identification of Foreign Countries Whose Nationals Are
Eligible to Participate in the H-2A and H-2B Programs.'' The notice
provided for the continued eligibility of the 28 countries initially
listed in the Federal Register notices of December 18 and December 19,
2008, and added 11 additional countries. See 75 FR 2,879 (Jan. 19,
2010). A notice in the Federal Register on January 18, 2011,
``Identification of Foreign Countries Whose Nationals Are Eligible to
Participate in the H-2A and H-2B Programs,'' provided for the continued
eligibility of 38 of the countries listed in the 2010 notice, removed
Indonesia from the list, as Indonesia was not meeting the standards set
forth in the regulation, and added 15 countries. See 76 FR 2,915 (Jan.
18, 2011).
The Secretary of Homeland Security has determined, with the
concurrence of the Secretary of State, that the 53 countries previously
designated in the January 18, 2011 notice continue to meet the
standards identified in that notice for eligible countries and
therefore should remain designated as countries whose nationals are
eligible to participate in the H-2A and H-2B programs. Further, the
Secretary of Homeland Security, with the concurrence of the Secretary
of State, has determined that it is now appropriate to add five
additional countries to the list of countries whose nationals are
eligible to participate in the H-2A and H-2B programs. This
determination is made taking into account the four factors identified
above. The Secretary of Homeland Security also considered other
pertinent factors including, but not limited to, evidence of past usage
of the H-2A and H-2B programs by nationals of the countries to be
added, as well as evidence relating to the economic impact on
particular U.S. industries or regions resulting from the addition or
continued non-inclusion of specific countries. In consideration of all
of the above, this notice designates for the first time Haiti, Iceland,
Montenegro, Spain, and Switzerland as countries whose nationals are
eligible to participate in the H-2A and H-2B programs.
Designation of Countries Whose Nationals Are Eligible To Participate in
the H-2A and H-2B Nonimmigrant Worker Programs
Pursuant to the authority provided to the Secretary of Homeland
Security under sections 214(a)(1), and 215(a)(1) and 241 of the
Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1184(a)(1), 1185(a)(1), and
1231), I have designated, with the concurrence of the Secretary of
State, that nationals from the following countries are eligible to
participate in the H-2A and H-2B non-immigrant worker programs:
Argentina
Australia
Barbados
Belize
Brazil
Bulgaria
Canada
Chile
Costa Rica
Croatia
Dominican Republic
Ecuador
El Salvador
Estonia
Ethiopia
Fiji
Guatemala
Haiti
Honduras
Hungary
Iceland
Ireland
Israel
Jamaica
[[Page 2559]]
Japan
Kiribati
Latvia
Lithuania
Macedonia
Mexico
Moldova
Montenegro
Nauru
The Netherlands
Nicaragua
New Zealand
Norway
Papua New Guinea
Peru
Philippines
Poland
Romania
Samoa
Serbia
Slovakia
Slovenia
Solomon Islands
South Africa
South Korea
Spain
Switzerland
Tonga
Turkey
Tuvalu
Ukraine
United Kingdom
Uruguay
Vanuatu
This notice does not affect the status of aliens who currently hold
valid H-2A or H-2B nonimmigrant status. Persons currently holding such
status, however, will be affected by this notice at the time they seek
an extension of stay in H-2 classification, or a change of status from
another non-immigrant status to H-2 status, or a change of status from
H-2A to H-2B (and vice-versa).
Nothing in this notice limits the authority of the Secretary of
Homeland Security or her designee or any other federal agency to invoke
against any foreign country or its nationals any other remedy, penalty,
or enforcement action available by law.
Janet Napolitano,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2012-870 Filed 1-17-12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 9110-9M-P
