Identification of Foreign Countries Whose Nationals Are Eligible To Participate in the H-2A and H-2B Nonimmigrant Worker Programs, 74735-74736 [2014-29353]
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Federal Register / Vol. 79, No. 241 / Tuesday, December 16, 2014 / Notices
eligible for submission for other generic
mechanisms that are designed to yield
quantitative results.
The Office of Management and Budget
is particularly interested in comments
which:
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
agency’s estimate of the burden of the
proposed collection of information,
including the validity of the
methodology and assumptions used;
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 submissions
of responses.
Analysis
Agency: The Department of Homeland
Security.
Title: Generic Clearance for the
Collection of Qualitative Feedback on
Agency Service Delivery.
OMB Number: 1601–0014.
Frequency: One per Request.
Affected Public: Individuals and
households, businesses and
organizations, State, Local or Tribal
Government.
Number of Respondents: 500,000.
Estimated Time Per Respondent: 10
minutes.
Total Burden Hours: 83,350 Hours.
Dated: December 9, 2014.
Carlene C. Ileto,
Executive Director, Enterprise Business
Management Office.
[FR Doc. 2014–29351 Filed 12–15–14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 9110–9B–P
DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND
SECURITY
[Docket No. DHS–2011–0108]
mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
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,
SUMMARY:
VerDate Sep<11>2014
19:38 Dec 15, 2014
Jkt 235001
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 68 countries whose
nationals are eligible to participate in
the H–2A and H–2B programs for the
coming year.
DATES: Effective Date: This notice is
effective January 18, 2015, and shall be
without effect at the end of one year
after January 18, 2015.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Francis Cissna, Office of Policy,
Department of Homeland Security,
Washington, DC 20528, (202) 447–3835.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background
Generally, USCIS may approve H–2A
and H–2B petitions for nationals of only
those 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, however, may 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). Examples of factors
serving the U.S. interest that could
result in the non-inclusion of a country
or the removal of a country from the list
include, but are not limited to, fraud,
abuse, and non-compliance with the
PO 00000
Frm 00054
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
74735
terms and conditions of the H–2
programs by nationals of that country.
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). In implementing
these regulatory provisions, the
Secretary of Homeland Security, with
the concurrence of the Secretary of
State, has published a series of notices
on a regular basis. See 75 FR 2,879 (Jan.
19, 2010) (adding 11 countries); 76 FR
2,915 (Jan. 18, 2011) (removing
Indonesia and adding 15 countries); 77
FR 2,558 (Jan. 18, 2012) (adding 5
countries); 78 FR 4,154 (Jan. 18, 2013)
(adding 1 country); FR 79 3,214 (Jan.17,
2014) (adding 4 countries).
The Secretary of Homeland Security
has determined, with the concurrence of
the Secretary of State, that 63 countries
previously designated in the January 17,
2014 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 5 countries whose
nationals are eligible to participate in
the H–2A and H–2B programs. This
determination is made taking into
account the four regulatory 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 country 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 the Czech Republic,
Denmark, Madagascar, Portugal, and
Sweden as countries whose nationals
are eligible to participate in the H–2A
and H–2B programs.
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74736
Federal Register / Vol. 79, No. 241 / Tuesday, December 16, 2014 / Notices
mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
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), 215(a)(1), and
241 of the Immigration and Nationality
Act (8 U.S.C. 1184(a)(1), 1185(a)(1), and
1231), I am designating, with the
concurrence of the Secretary of State,
nationals from the following countries
to be eligible to participate in the H–2A
and H–2B nonimmigrant worker
programs:
Argentina
Australia
Austria
Barbados
Belize
Brazil
Bulgaria
Canada
Chile
Costa Rica
Croatia
Czech Republic
Denmark
Dominican Republic
Ecuador
El Salvador
Estonia
Ethiopia
Fiji
Grenada
Guatemala
Haiti
Honduras
Hungary
Iceland
Ireland
Israel
Italy
Jamaica
Japan
Kiribati
Latvia
Lithuania
Macedonia
Madagascar
Mexico
Moldova
Montenegro
Nauru
The Netherlands
Nicaragua
New Zealand
Norway
Panama
Papua New Guinea
Peru
The Philippines
Poland
Portugal
Romania
Samoa
Serbia
Slovakia
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19:38 Dec 15, 2014
Jkt 235001
Slovenia
Solomon Islands
South Africa
South Korea
Spain
Sweden
Switzerland
Thailand
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 should
they seek an extension of stay in H–2
classification, or a change of status from
one H–2 status to another. Similarly,
persons holding nonimmigrant status
other than H–2 status are not affected by
this notice unless they seek a change of
status to H–2 status.
Nothing in this notice limits the
authority of the Secretary of Homeland
Security or his 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.
Jeh Charles Johnson,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2014–29353 Filed 12–15–14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 9110–9M–P
DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND
SECURITY
Office of the Secretary
[Docket No. DHS–2014–0068]
Privacy Act of 1974; Department of
Homeland Security/United States
Coast Guard—002 Employee
Assistance Program Records System
of Records
Privacy Office, Department of
Homeland Security.
ACTION: Notice of Privacy Act System of
Records.
AGENCY:
In accordance with the
Privacy Act of 1974, the Department of
Homeland Security proposes to update
and reissue a current Department of
Homeland Security system of records
titled, ‘‘Department of Homeland
Security/United States Coast Guard
Employee Assistance Program Records
System of Records.’’ This system of
records allows the Department of
Homeland Security/United States Coast
SUMMARY:
PO 00000
Frm 00055
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
Guard to administer the United States
Coast Guard Employee Assistance
Program for military personnel. As a
result of the biennial review of this
system, the system manager and address
category has been updated.
Additionally, this notice includes nonsubstantive changes to simplify the
formatting and text of the previously
published notice. This updated system
will be included in the Department of
Homeland Security’s inventory of
record systems.
DATES: Submit comments on or before
January 15, 2015. This updated system
will be effective January 15, 2015.
ADDRESSES: You may submit comments,
identified by docket number DHS–
2014–0068 by one of the following
methods:
• Federal e-Rulemaking Portal: https://
www.regulations.gov. Follow the
instructions for submitting comments.
• Fax: 202–343–4010.
• Mail: Karen L. Neuman, Chief
Privacy Officer, Privacy Office,
Department of Homeland Security,
Washington, DC 20528.
Instructions: All submissions received
must include the agency name and
docket number for this rulemaking. 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, please visit https://
www.regulations.gov.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For
general questions, please contact:
Marilyn Scott-Perez (202) 475–3515,
Privacy Officer, Commandant (CG–61),
United States Coast Guard, Mail Stop
7710, Washington, DC 20593. For
privacy questions, please contact: Karen
L. Neuman, (202) 343–1717, Chief
Privacy Officer, Privacy Office,
Department of Homeland Security,
Washington, DC 20528.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. Background
In accordance with the Privacy Act of
1974, 5 U.S.C. 552a, the Department of
Homeland Security (DHS) United States
Coast Guard (USCG) proposes to update
and reissue a current DHS system of
records titled, ‘‘DHS/United States Coast
Guard—002 Employee Assistance
Program Records System of Records.’’
The collection and maintenance of this
information will allow the DHS/USCG
to administer the United States Coast
Guard Employee Assistance Program for
military personnel. As a result of a
biennial review of the system, the
system manager and address category
E:\FR\FM\16DEN1.SGM
16DEN1
]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 241 (Tuesday, December 16, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Pages 74735-74736]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-29353]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
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 68 countries whose nationals are
eligible to participate in the H-2A and H-2B programs for the coming
year.
DATES: Effective Date: This notice is effective January 18, 2015, and
shall be without effect at the end of one year after January 18, 2015.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Francis Cissna, Office of Policy,
Department of Homeland Security, Washington, DC 20528, (202) 447-3835.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background
Generally, USCIS may approve H-2A and H-2B petitions for nationals
of only those 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, however, may
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). Examples of
factors serving the U.S. interest that could result in the non-
inclusion of a country or the removal of a country from the list
include, but are not limited to, fraud, abuse, and non-compliance with
the terms and conditions of the H-2 programs by nationals of that
country.
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). In implementing these regulatory provisions,
the Secretary of Homeland Security, with the concurrence of the
Secretary of State, has published a series of notices on a regular
basis. See 75 FR 2,879 (Jan. 19, 2010) (adding 11 countries); 76 FR
2,915 (Jan. 18, 2011) (removing Indonesia and adding 15 countries); 77
FR 2,558 (Jan. 18, 2012) (adding 5 countries); 78 FR 4,154 (Jan. 18,
2013) (adding 1 country); FR 79 3,214 (Jan.17, 2014) (adding 4
countries).
The Secretary of Homeland Security has determined, with the
concurrence of the Secretary of State, that 63 countries previously
designated in the January 17, 2014 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 5 countries
whose nationals are eligible to participate in the H-2A and H-2B
programs. This determination is made taking into account the four
regulatory 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 country 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 the Czech Republic, Denmark, Madagascar, Portugal, and Sweden as
countries whose nationals are eligible to participate in the H-2A and
H-2B programs.
[[Page 74736]]
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), 215(a)(1), and 241 of the
Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1184(a)(1), 1185(a)(1), and
1231), I am designating, with the concurrence of the Secretary of
State, nationals from the following countries to be eligible to
participate in the H-2A and H-2B nonimmigrant worker programs:
Argentina
Australia
Austria
Barbados
Belize
Brazil
Bulgaria
Canada
Chile
Costa Rica
Croatia
Czech Republic
Denmark
Dominican Republic
Ecuador
El Salvador
Estonia
Ethiopia
Fiji
Grenada
Guatemala
Haiti
Honduras
Hungary
Iceland
Ireland
Israel
Italy
Jamaica
Japan
Kiribati
Latvia
Lithuania
Macedonia
Madagascar
Mexico
Moldova
Montenegro
Nauru
The Netherlands
Nicaragua
New Zealand
Norway
Panama
Papua New Guinea
Peru
The Philippines
Poland
Portugal
Romania
Samoa
Serbia
Slovakia
Slovenia
Solomon Islands
South Africa
South Korea
Spain
Sweden
Switzerland
Thailand
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 should they seek an
extension of stay in H-2 classification, or a change of status from one
H-2 status to another. Similarly, persons holding nonimmigrant status
other than H-2 status are not affected by this notice unless they seek
a change of status to H-2 status.
Nothing in this notice limits the authority of the Secretary of
Homeland Security or his 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.
Jeh Charles Johnson,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2014-29353 Filed 12-15-14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 9110-9M-P
