Immigration Policy, 78458-78460 [2014-30641]

Download as PDF 78458 Federal Register / Vol. 79, No. 249 / Tuesday, December 30, 2014 / Notices Interview which will collect key programmatic components hypothesized to be associated with program effectiveness, such as leveraged funding, type of prevention intervention, costs, etc.. The SPF PFS cross-site instruments have been informed by current and previous crosssite evaluation efforts for SAMHSA, drawing heavily from lessons learned through prior and currently OMBapproved SPF SIG evaluations (OMB No. 0930–0279). The GLI–R is a web-based instrument to be completed by the PFS II, 2013, and 2014 grantee project directors (n=52), once at baseline and once in the final grant year. Baseline data for the PFS II and 2013 cohorts will be collected retrospectively. The GLI–R will provide categorical, qualitative, and quantitative data related to coordination of State efforts, use of strategic plans, access to data sources, data management, workforce development, cultural competence, sharing of evaluation data, and sustainability. The CLI–R is a web-based instrument designed to be completed by the PFS II, 2013, and 2014 subrecipient community project directors (n=610) to assess subrecipients’ progress through the SPF steps, prevention capacity, intervention implementation, and related funding and cost measures. The instrument will provide process data related to leveraging of funding, in-kind services, organizational capacity, collaboration with community partners, data infrastructure, planned intervention targets, intervention implementation (categorization, costs, adaptation, timing, dosage, and reach), cultural competence, evaluation, contextual factors, training and technical assistance needs, and sustainability. The CLI–R will be collected semiannually; however, not all questions will be answered every time. For instance, subrecipients will respond to items related to organizational capacity only at baseline and final follow-up, whereas they will respond to intervention implementation items every 6 months. The PD Interview is a semi-structured telephone interview with grantee project directors designed to collect more indepth information on subrecipient selection, criteria for intervention selection, continuation of SPF SIG activities, leveraging of funds, collaboration, evaluation activities, cultural competence policies, processes to impact health disparities, and challenges faced. The PD Interview will be collected at the beginning of the grant, in the third year of the grant, and in the final year of the grant. Baseline data for the PFS II and 2013 cohorts will be collected retrospectively and PFS II grantees will only participate in the interview at the beginning of their final year and at the close of their grant. ANNUALIZE BURDEN HOURS Number of respondents Instrument Responses per respondent 17 517 30 564 1 2 1 .................... mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES GLI–RB .................................................................................................... SLI–R ....................................................................................................... Grantee PD Interview .............................................................................. Annualized Total ............................................................................... Written comments and recommendations concerning the proposed information collection should be sent by January 29, 2015 to the SAMHSA Desk Officer at the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, Office of Management and Budget (OMB). To ensure timely receipt of comments, and to avoid potential delays in OMB’s receipt and processing of mail sent through the U.S. Postal Service, commenters are encouraged to submit their comments to OMB via email to: OIRA_Submission@omb.eop.gov. Although commenters are encouraged to send their comments via email, commenters may also fax their comments to: 202–395–7285. Commenters may also mail them to: Office of Management and Budget, Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, New Executive Office Building, Room 10102, Washington, DC 20503. Summer King, Statistician. [FR Doc. 2014–30313 Filed 12–29–14; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4162–20–P VerDate Sep<11>2014 21:42 Dec 29, 2014 Jkt 235001 DEPARTMENT OF STATE DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY [DHS Docket No. USCIS–2014–0014] Immigration Policy Department of State; Department of Homeland Security. ACTION: Notice of Request for Information. AGENCY: On November 21, 2014, the President issued a memorandum for the heads of executive departments and agencies on the subject of modernizing and streamlining the U.S. immigrant and nonimmigrant visa system for the 21st century. The Memorandum directs the Secretaries of State and Homeland Security, in consultation with various other Cabinet secretaries and the White House, to make recommendations to streamline and improve the Nation’s legal immigration system. Such efforts should focus on reducing Government costs, improving services for applicants, reducing burdens on employers, and combatting waste, fraud, and abuse in the system, while safeguarding the interests of American workers. This SUMMARY: PO 00000 Frm 00078 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 Total number of responses 17 1,034 30 1,081 Hours per response 1 2.6 1.4 .................... Total burden hours 17 2,688 42 2,747 notice solicits public input to inform the development of those recommendations. DATES: Responses must be received by January 29, 2015 to be considered. ADDRESSES: You may submit comments by any of the following methods: • Email: USCISFRComment@ uscis.dhs.gov. Include Visa Modernization in the subject line of the message. • Online: You may access the Federal Register Notice and submit comments via the Federal eRulemaking Portal Web site by visiting www.regulations.gov. In the search box either copy and paste, or type in, the e-Docket ID number USCIS– 2014–0014. Click on the link titled Open Docket Folder for the appropriate Notice and supporting documents, and click the Comment Now tab to submit a comment; • Mail: Attn: Laura Dawkins, Chief of the Regulatory Coordination Division, USCIS Office of Policy and Strategy, 20 Massachusetts Avenue NW., Washington, DC 20529–2140. Instructions: Response to this RFI is voluntary. Responses exceeding 30 pages will not be considered. Respondents need not reply to all questions listed below; however, E:\FR\FM\30DEN1.SGM 30DEN1 mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES Federal Register / Vol. 79, No. 249 / Tuesday, December 30, 2014 / Notices respondents should clearly indicate the number of each question to which they are responding. The Department of Homeland Security and the Department of State request that no business proprietary information, copyrighted information, or personally identifiable information be submitted in response to this RFI. Please note that the U.S. Government will not pay for response preparation, or for the use of any information contained in the response. The full text of the November 21 Memorandum is available at: https:// www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/ 2014/11/21/presidential-memorandummodernizing-and-streamlining-usimmigrant-visa-s. The White House Fact Sheet describing the President’s Immigration Accountability Executive Actions of November 20 is available at: https:// www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/ 2014/11/20/fact-sheet-immigrationaccountability-executive-action. Note that the November 21 Presidential Memorandum, and this RFI, are not focused on potential Federal Government actions that were announced as part of the President’s Immigration Accountability Executive Actions of November 20. Rather, this RFI seeks recommendations on improving and modernizing the legal immigration system in other ways. Federal agencies responsible for implementing the previously announced executive actions are establishing stakeholder engagement plans separate from this RFI. Do not submit responses detailing recommendations directly related to the actions announced on November 20, as separate processes exist to engage regarding those actions where necessary. For more information, see: https://www.dhs.gov/immigration-action https://www.uscis.gov/immigrationaction https://www.dol.gov/dol/fact-sheet/ immigration/perm.htm. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Laura Dawkins, Chief of the Regulatory Coordination Division, USCIS Office of Policy and Strategy, 20 Massachusetts Avenue NW., Washington, DC 20529– 2140; Telephone number 202–272– 8377. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On November 21, 2014, President Obama issued a Presidential Memorandum directing the Secretaries of State and Homeland Security to lead an interagency effort, in consultation with private and nonfederal public stakeholders, to develop within 120 days recommendations on streamlining and reforming the Nation’s legal immigration system, while safeguarding VerDate Sep<11>2014 21:42 Dec 29, 2014 Jkt 235001 the interests of American workers, including recommendations to: (i) Streamline and improve the legal immigration system—including immigrant and nonimmigrant visa processing—with a focus on reforms that reduce Government costs, improve services for applicants, reduce burdens on employers, and combat waste, fraud, and abuse in the system; (ii) ensure that administrative policies, practices, and systems use all of the immigrant visa numbers that Congress provides for and intends to be issued, consistent with demand; and (iii) modernize the information technology infrastructure underlying the visa processing system, with a goal of reducing redundant systems, improving the experience of applicants, and enabling better public and congressional oversight of the system. The Memorandum further directs the Secretaries of State and Homeland Security to establish metrics for measuring progress in implementing these recommendations and in achieving service-level improvements, taking into account the Federal Government’s responsibility to protect the integrity of U.S. borders and promote economic opportunity for all workers. Along with general comments and suggestions, the Departments of State and Homeland Security are also specifically seeking input on the following questions. To the extent possible and wherever appropriate, responses to this RFI should indicate the question number(s) and include, for each recommended action, (a) clear prioritization of which actions are most important and consequential; (b) estimates of the number of individuals affected, time saved, private and public costs saved, general economic benefit, or other impact metrics as appropriate; (c) legal authorities under existing statutes and case law; and (d) suggested government performance metrics as described above. Concrete recommendations are more useful than general observations. Such proposals need not be limited to the activities of the Department of State and the Department of Homeland Security, as the Memorandum also contemplates roles for the Departments of Agriculture, Commerce, Justice, Labor, and Education, and other departments and agencies as relevant. Note that responses should not include the modernization of the PERM labor certification program, as the Department of Labor has provided for a separate process to engage stakeholders on modernized recruitment and application requirements in this program, which applies to permanent PO 00000 Frm 00079 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 78459 workers; for more details, see: https:// www.dol.gov/dol/fact-sheet/ immigration/perm.htm. I. Streamlining the Legal Immigration System 1. What are the most important policy and operational changes that would streamline and improve the processing of immigrant visas at U.S. Embassies and Consulates, for both familysponsored and employment-based immigrant visas? 2. What are the most important policy and operational changes that would streamline and improve the processing of nonimmigrant visas at U.S. Embassies and Consulates, including visitor, student, temporary worker and other nonimmigrant visas? 3. What are the most important policy and operational changes that would streamline and improve U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) processing of the following types of immigrant and nonimmigrant visa petitions? a. Family-sponsored immigrant visa petitions b. Employment-based immigrant visa petitions c. Nonimmigrant petitions d. Humanitarian petitions and applications (such as U nonimmigrant status petitions, T nonimmigrant status applications, and VAWA self-petitions) e. H–1B temporary worker visa petitions, specifically, ways to reduce burdens on employers and workers engaging in the H–1B petition process, consistent with protections for U.S. and temporary foreign workers. (Note that employment authorization for certain H–4 dependent spouses of H–1 B nonimmigrants was a part of the President’s November 20 announcement described above, and recommendations regarding that topic should not be submitted here.) 4. What are the most important policy and operational changes that would streamline and improve the process of changing from one nonimmigrant status to another nonimmigrant status? 5. What are the most important policy and operational changes that would streamline and improve the process of applying for adjustment of status to that of a lawful permanent resident while in the United States? 6. What are the most important policy and operational changes that would streamline and improve the inspection of arriving immigrants and nonimmigrants at U.S. ports of entry? E:\FR\FM\30DEN1.SGM 30DEN1 mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES 78460 Federal Register / Vol. 79, No. 249 / Tuesday, December 30, 2014 / Notices 7. What are the most important policy and operational changes that would attract the world’s most talented researchers to U.S. universities, national laboratories, and other research institutions? (Do not submit responses directly related to the actions announced on November 20, including the strengthening and extending of the Optional Practical Training program for foreign students. Separate processes exist to engage regarding those actions where necessary; see details above.) 8. What are the most important policy and operational changes that would attract the world’s most talented entrepreneurs who want to start and grow their business in the United States? (Do not submit responses directly related to the actions announced on November 20, including the ‘‘national interest waiver’’ and ‘‘significant public benefit’’ parole pathways for entrepreneurs. Separate processes exist to engage regarding those actions where necessary; see details above.) 9. What are the policy or operational changes that could assist in creating additional immigration opportunities for high-demand professions, such as physicians? 10. Focusing on the EB–5 immigrant investor visa, what policy or operational changes would (a) reduce existing burdens and uncertainties on the part of petitioners, Regional Centers, and other participants in the program; (b) ensure that this program is achieving the greatest impact in terms of U.S. job creation, economic growth, and investment in national priority projects that the capital markets would not otherwise competitively finance; and (c) enhance protections against fraud, abuse, and criminal misuse of the program by petitioners or Regional Centers? 11. How can labor market related requirements for temporary workers be best tailored to meaningfully protect both U.S. and temporary foreign workers while achieving operational efficiency for both employers and relevant Federal agencies? 12. How should relevant occupational categories, descriptors, and/or data, such as the Department of Labor’s O*NET system (https:// www.onetonline.org) be refined and updated to better align the prevailing wage determination process for visas with the evolving job market? 13. Focusing on the diversity visa program, what are the most important policy and operational changes that would streamline and improve the diversity visa process, including enhancing protections against fraud? VerDate Sep<11>2014 21:42 Dec 29, 2014 Jkt 235001 14. What other policy and operational changes would most effectively combat waste, fraud, and abuse in the legal immigration system? II. Ensuring Use of All Immigrant Visa Numbers 15. What are the most important policy and operational changes, if any, available within the existing statutory framework to ensure that administrative policies, practices, and systems fully and fairly allocate all of the immigrant visa numbers that Congress provides for and intends to be issued each year going forward? 16. What are the most important policy and operational changes, if any, available within the existing statutory framework to ensure that administrative policies, practices, and systems fully and fairly allocate all of the immigrant visa numbers that Congress provided for and intended to be issued, but were not issued in past years? III. Modernizing IT Infrastructure 17. From the perspective of petitioners and applicants, which elements of the current legal immigration system (both immigrant and nonimmigrant systems) are most in need of modernized information technology (IT) solutions, and what changes would result in the most significant improvements to the user experience? 18. Which existing governmentcollected data and metrics would be most valuable to make available to the public, consistent with privacy protections and national security, in order to improve oversight and understanding of the legal immigration system? Karin M. King, Acting Deputy Assistant Secretary for Visa Services, Department of State. Esther Olavarria, Senior Counselor to the Secretary, Department of Homeland Security. [FR Doc. 2014–30641 Filed 12–29–14; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE P PO 00000 Frm 00080 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY Federal Emergency Management Agency [Docket ID: FEMA–2014–0030; OMB No. 1660–0020] Agency Information Collection Activities: Submission for OMB Review; Comment Request, Write Your Own (WYO) Program. Federal Emergency Management Agency, DHS. ACTION: Notice. AGENCY: The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) will submit the information collection abstracted below to the Office of Management and Budget for review and clearance in accordance with the requirements of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995. The submission will describe the nature of the information collection, the categories of respondents, the estimated burden (i.e., the time, effort and resources used by respondents to respond) and cost, and the actual data collection instruments FEMA will use. DATES: Comments must be submitted on or before January 29, 2015. ADDRESSES: Submit written comments on the proposed information collection to the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, Office of Management and Budget. Comments should be addressed to the Desk Officer for the Department of Homeland Security, Federal Emergency Management Agency, and sent via electronic mail to oira.submission@ omb.eop.gov or faxed to (202) 395–5806. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Requests for additional information or copies of the information collection should be made to Director, Records Management Division, 500 C Street SW., Room 7NE, Washington, DC 20472– 3100, facsimile number (202) 212–4701, or email address FEMA-InformationCollections-Management@dhs.gov. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Changes Since Publication of the 60 Day Federal Register Notice for the Federal Emergency Management Agency Write Your Own (WYO) Program. The number of respondents and the estimated burden hours have increased since FEMA published the 60 day Federal Register Notice on October 15, 2014. See 79 FR 61886. This is due to a clerical error. The respondent burden increased from 88 to 90. The estimated responses increased from 1056 to 1080. The estimated time per response SUMMARY: E:\FR\FM\30DEN1.SGM 30DEN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 249 (Tuesday, December 30, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Pages 78458-78460]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-30641]


=======================================================================
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DEPARTMENT OF STATE

DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

[DHS Docket No. USCIS-2014-0014]


Immigration Policy

AGENCY: Department of State; Department of Homeland Security.

ACTION: Notice of Request for Information.

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

SUMMARY: On November 21, 2014, the President issued a memorandum for 
the heads of executive departments and agencies on the subject of 
modernizing and streamlining the U.S. immigrant and nonimmigrant visa 
system for the 21st century. The Memorandum directs the Secretaries of 
State and Homeland Security, in consultation with various other Cabinet 
secretaries and the White House, to make recommendations to streamline 
and improve the Nation's legal immigration system. Such efforts should 
focus on reducing Government costs, improving services for applicants, 
reducing burdens on employers, and combatting waste, fraud, and abuse 
in the system, while safeguarding the interests of American workers. 
This notice solicits public input to inform the development of those 
recommendations.

DATES: Responses must be received by January 29, 2015 to be considered.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments by any of the following methods:
     Email: USCISFRComment@uscis.dhs.gov. Include Visa 
Modernization in the subject line of the message.
     Online: You may access the Federal Register Notice and 
submit comments via the Federal eRulemaking Portal Web site by visiting 
www.regulations.gov. In the search box either copy and paste, or type 
in, the e-Docket ID number USCIS-2014-0014. Click on the link titled 
Open Docket Folder for the appropriate Notice and supporting documents, 
and click the Comment Now tab to submit a comment;
     Mail: Attn: Laura Dawkins, Chief of the Regulatory 
Coordination Division, USCIS Office of Policy and Strategy, 20 
Massachusetts Avenue NW., Washington, DC 20529-2140.
    Instructions: Response to this RFI is voluntary. Responses 
exceeding 30 pages will not be considered. Respondents need not reply 
to all questions listed below; however,

[[Page 78459]]

respondents should clearly indicate the number of each question to 
which they are responding. The Department of Homeland Security and the 
Department of State request that no business proprietary information, 
copyrighted information, or personally identifiable information be 
submitted in response to this RFI. Please note that the U.S. Government 
will not pay for response preparation, or for the use of any 
information contained in the response.
    The full text of the November 21 Memorandum is available at: https://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2014/11/21/presidential-memorandum-modernizing-and-streamlining-us-immigrant-visa-s.
    The White House Fact Sheet describing the President's Immigration 
Accountability Executive Actions of November 20 is available at: https://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2014/11/20/fact-sheet-immigration-accountability-executive-action.
    Note that the November 21 Presidential Memorandum, and this RFI, 
are not focused on potential Federal Government actions that were 
announced as part of the President's Immigration Accountability 
Executive Actions of November 20. Rather, this RFI seeks 
recommendations on improving and modernizing the legal immigration 
system in other ways. Federal agencies responsible for implementing the 
previously announced executive actions are establishing stakeholder 
engagement plans separate from this RFI. Do not submit responses 
detailing recommendations directly related to the actions announced on 
November 20, as separate processes exist to engage regarding those 
actions where necessary. For more information, see:

https://www.dhs.gov/immigration-action
https://www.uscis.gov/immigrationaction
https://www.dol.gov/dol/fact-sheet/immigration/perm.htm.


FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Laura Dawkins, Chief of the Regulatory 
Coordination Division, USCIS Office of Policy and Strategy, 20 
Massachusetts Avenue NW., Washington, DC 20529-2140; Telephone number 
202-272-8377.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:  On November 21, 2014, President Obama 
issued a Presidential Memorandum directing the Secretaries of State and 
Homeland Security to lead an interagency effort, in consultation with 
private and nonfederal public stakeholders, to develop within 120 days 
recommendations on streamlining and reforming the Nation's legal 
immigration system, while safeguarding the interests of American 
workers, including recommendations to:
    (i) Streamline and improve the legal immigration system--including 
immigrant and nonimmigrant visa processing--with a focus on reforms 
that reduce Government costs, improve services for applicants, reduce 
burdens on employers, and combat waste, fraud, and abuse in the system;
    (ii) ensure that administrative policies, practices, and systems 
use all of the immigrant visa numbers that Congress provides for and 
intends to be issued, consistent with demand; and
    (iii) modernize the information technology infrastructure 
underlying the visa processing system, with a goal of reducing 
redundant systems, improving the experience of applicants, and enabling 
better public and congressional oversight of the system.
    The Memorandum further directs the Secretaries of State and 
Homeland Security to establish metrics for measuring progress in 
implementing these recommendations and in achieving service-level 
improvements, taking into account the Federal Government's 
responsibility to protect the integrity of U.S. borders and promote 
economic opportunity for all workers.
    Along with general comments and suggestions, the Departments of 
State and Homeland Security are also specifically seeking input on the 
following questions. To the extent possible and wherever appropriate, 
responses to this RFI should indicate the question number(s) and 
include, for each recommended action, (a) clear prioritization of which 
actions are most important and consequential; (b) estimates of the 
number of individuals affected, time saved, private and public costs 
saved, general economic benefit, or other impact metrics as 
appropriate; (c) legal authorities under existing statutes and case 
law; and (d) suggested government performance metrics as described 
above. Concrete recommendations are more useful than general 
observations. Such proposals need not be limited to the activities of 
the Department of State and the Department of Homeland Security, as the 
Memorandum also contemplates roles for the Departments of Agriculture, 
Commerce, Justice, Labor, and Education, and other departments and 
agencies as relevant. Note that responses should not include the 
modernization of the PERM labor certification program, as the 
Department of Labor has provided for a separate process to engage 
stakeholders on modernized recruitment and application requirements in 
this program, which applies to permanent workers; for more details, 
see: https://www.dol.gov/dol/fact-sheet/immigration/perm.htm.

I. Streamlining the Legal Immigration System

    1. What are the most important policy and operational changes that 
would streamline and improve the processing of immigrant visas at U.S. 
Embassies and Consulates, for both family-sponsored and employment-
based immigrant visas?
    2. What are the most important policy and operational changes that 
would streamline and improve the processing of nonimmigrant visas at 
U.S. Embassies and Consulates, including visitor, student, temporary 
worker and other nonimmigrant visas?
    3. What are the most important policy and operational changes that 
would streamline and improve U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services 
(USCIS) processing of the following types of immigrant and nonimmigrant 
visa petitions?

a. Family-sponsored immigrant visa petitions
b. Employment-based immigrant visa petitions
c. Nonimmigrant petitions
d. Humanitarian petitions and applications (such as U nonimmigrant 
status petitions, T nonimmigrant status applications, and VAWA self-
petitions)
e. H-1B temporary worker visa petitions, specifically, ways to reduce 
burdens on employers and workers engaging in the H-1B petition process, 
consistent with protections for U.S. and temporary foreign workers. 
(Note that employment authorization for certain H-4 dependent spouses 
of H-1 B nonimmigrants was a part of the President's November 20 
announcement described above, and recommendations regarding that topic 
should not be submitted here.)

    4. What are the most important policy and operational changes that 
would streamline and improve the process of changing from one 
nonimmigrant status to another nonimmigrant status?
    5. What are the most important policy and operational changes that 
would streamline and improve the process of applying for adjustment of 
status to that of a lawful permanent resident while in the United 
States?
    6. What are the most important policy and operational changes that 
would streamline and improve the inspection of arriving immigrants and 
nonimmigrants at U.S. ports of entry?

[[Page 78460]]

    7. What are the most important policy and operational changes that 
would attract the world's most talented researchers to U.S. 
universities, national laboratories, and other research institutions? 
(Do not submit responses directly related to the actions announced on 
November 20, including the strengthening and extending of the Optional 
Practical Training program for foreign students. Separate processes 
exist to engage regarding those actions where necessary; see details 
above.)
    8. What are the most important policy and operational changes that 
would attract the world's most talented entrepreneurs who want to start 
and grow their business in the United States? (Do not submit responses 
directly related to the actions announced on November 20, including the 
``national interest waiver'' and ``significant public benefit'' parole 
pathways for entrepreneurs. Separate processes exist to engage 
regarding those actions where necessary; see details above.)
    9. What are the policy or operational changes that could assist in 
creating additional immigration opportunities for high-demand 
professions, such as physicians?
    10. Focusing on the EB-5 immigrant investor visa, what policy or 
operational changes would (a) reduce existing burdens and uncertainties 
on the part of petitioners, Regional Centers, and other participants in 
the program; (b) ensure that this program is achieving the greatest 
impact in terms of U.S. job creation, economic growth, and investment 
in national priority projects that the capital markets would not 
otherwise competitively finance; and (c) enhance protections against 
fraud, abuse, and criminal misuse of the program by petitioners or 
Regional Centers?
    11. How can labor market related requirements for temporary workers 
be best tailored to meaningfully protect both U.S. and temporary 
foreign workers while achieving operational efficiency for both 
employers and relevant Federal agencies?
    12. How should relevant occupational categories, descriptors, and/
or data, such as the Department of Labor's O*NET system (https://www.onetonline.org) be refined and updated to better align the 
prevailing wage determination process for visas with the evolving job 
market?
    13. Focusing on the diversity visa program, what are the most 
important policy and operational changes that would streamline and 
improve the diversity visa process, including enhancing protections 
against fraud?
    14. What other policy and operational changes would most 
effectively combat waste, fraud, and abuse in the legal immigration 
system?

II. Ensuring Use of All Immigrant Visa Numbers

    15. What are the most important policy and operational changes, if 
any, available within the existing statutory framework to ensure that 
administrative policies, practices, and systems fully and fairly 
allocate all of the immigrant visa numbers that Congress provides for 
and intends to be issued each year going forward?
    16. What are the most important policy and operational changes, if 
any, available within the existing statutory framework to ensure that 
administrative policies, practices, and systems fully and fairly 
allocate all of the immigrant visa numbers that Congress provided for 
and intended to be issued, but were not issued in past years?

III. Modernizing IT Infrastructure

    17. From the perspective of petitioners and applicants, which 
elements of the current legal immigration system (both immigrant and 
nonimmigrant systems) are most in need of modernized information 
technology (IT) solutions, and what changes would result in the most 
significant improvements to the user experience?
    18. Which existing government-collected data and metrics would be 
most valuable to make available to the public, consistent with privacy 
protections and national security, in order to improve oversight and 
understanding of the legal immigration system?

Karin M. King,
Acting Deputy Assistant Secretary for Visa Services, Department of 
State.
Esther Olavarria,
Senior Counselor to the Secretary, Department of Homeland Security.
[FR Doc. 2014-30641 Filed 12-29-14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE P
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