Extension of the Designation of Liberia for Temporary Protected Status, 15328-15334 [2016-06328]
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Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 55 / Tuesday, March 22, 2016 / Notices
asabaliauskas on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
navigate with particular caution and
within which the direction of traffic
flow may be recommended.
Recommended route means a route of
undefined width, for the convenience of
ships in transit, which is often marked
by centerline buoys.
Recommended track is a route which
has been specially examined to ensure
so far as possible that it is free of
dangers and along which vessels are
advised to navigate.
Regulated Navigation Area (RNA)
means a water area within a defined
boundary for which regulations for
vessels navigating within the area have
been established under 33 CFR part 165.
Roundabout means a routing measure
comprising a separation point or
circular separation zone and a circular
traffic lane within defined limits. Traffic
within the roundabout is separated by
moving in a counterclockwise direction
around the separation point or zone.
Separation zone or separation line
means a zone or line separating the
traffic lanes in which ships are
proceeding in opposite or nearly
opposite directions; or separating a
traffic lane from the adjacent sea area;
or separating traffic lanes designated for
particular classes of ship proceeding in
the same direction.
Traffic lane means an area within
defined limits in which one-way traffic
is established. Natural obstacles,
including those forming separation
zones, may constitute a boundary.
Traffic Separation Scheme (TSS)
means a routing measure aimed at the
separation of opposing streams of traffic
by appropriate means and by the
establishment of traffic lanes.
Two-way route means a route within
defined limits inside which two-way
traffic is established, aimed at providing
safe passage of ships through waters
where navigation is difficult or
dangerous.
Vessel routing system means any
system of one or more routes or routing
measures aimed at reducing the risk of
casualties; it includes traffic separation
schemes, two-way routes, recommended
tracks, areas to be avoided, no anchoring
areas, inshore traffic zones,
roundabouts, precautionary areas, and
deep-water routes.
III. Background and Purpose
A. Section 310 of the 2015 Coast
Guard Authorization Act, Public Law
114–120 signed by the President on
February 8, 2016, directs the
Commandant of the Coast Guard to
complete and submit to the Committee
on Transportation and Infrastructure of
the House of Representatives and the
Committee on Commerce, Science, and
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Transportation of the Senate a Port
Access Route Study (PARS) of
Nantucket Sound using the standards
and methodology of the Atlantic Coast
Port Access Route Study, to determine
whether the Coast Guard should revise
existing regulations to improve
navigation safety in Nantucket Sound
due to factors such as increased vessel
traffic, changing vessel traffic patterns,
weather conditions, or navigational
difficulty. The Atlantic Coast Port
Access Route Study contained in the
‘‘marine planning guidelines’’ of the
Study are included in the docket for this
notice.
B. The purpose of this notice is to
announce commencement of this PARS
and to solicit public comments. We
encourage you to participate in the
study process by submitting comments
in response to this notice. Comments
should address impacts to navigation in
Nantucket Sound resulting from factors
such as increased vessel traffic,
changing vessel traffic patterns, weather
conditions, or navigational difficulty.
IV. This PARS: Timeline, Study Area,
and Process
The First Coast Guard District will
conduct this PARS. The study will
commence upon publication of this
notice and may take 10 months to
complete.
The study area is described as
Nantucket Sound, an area bounded by a
line connecting the following
geographic positions, including the
entrance and exit routes to the sound
but not the individual harbors.
• 41°41′ N., 070°00′ W.;
• 41°20′ N., 070°00′ W.;
• 41°16′ N., 070°15′ W.
• 41°28′ N., 070°40′ W.; and
• 41°34′ N., 070°40′ W.;
An illustration showing the study area
is available in the docket.
We will publish the results of the
PARS in the Federal Register. It is
possible that the study may validate the
status quo (no routing measures) and
conclude that no changes are necessary.
It is also possible that the study may
recommend one or more changes to
address navigational safety and the
efficiency of vessel traffic management.
The recommendations may lead to
future rulemakings or appropriate
international agreements.
This notice is published under the
authority of 5 U.S.C. 552(a).
Dated: March 10, 2016.
L. L. Fagan,
Rear Admiral, U.S. Coast Guard, Commander,
First Coast Guard District.
[FR Doc. 2016–06424 Filed 3–21–16; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 9110–04–P
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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND
SECURITY
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration
Services
[CIS No. 2579–15; DHS Docket No. USCIS–
2014–0011]
RIN 1615–ZB47
Extension of the Designation of Liberia
for Temporary Protected Status
U.S. Citizenship and
Immigration Services, Department of
Homeland Security.
ACTION: Notice.
AGENCY:
Through this Notice, the
Department of Homeland Security
(DHS) announces that the Secretary of
Homeland Security (Secretary) is
extending the designation of Liberia for
Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for 6
months, from May 22, 2016, through
November 21, 2016.
The extension allows currently
eligible TPS beneficiaries to retain TPS
through November 21, 2016, so long as
they otherwise continue to meet the
eligibility requirements for TPS. The
Secretary has determined that an
extension is warranted because,
although there have been significant
improvements, conditions in Liberia
supporting its November 2014
designation for TPS continue to be met.
Through this Notice, DHS also sets
forth procedures necessary for eligible
nationals of Liberia (or aliens having no
nationality who last habitually resided
in Liberia) to re-register for TPS and to
apply for renewal of their Employment
Authorization Documents (EADs) with
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration
Services (USCIS). Re-registration is
limited to persons who have previously
registered for TPS under the designation
of Liberia and whose applications have
been granted. Certain nationals of
Liberia (or aliens having no nationality
who last habitually resided in Liberia)
who have not previously applied for
TPS may be eligible to apply under the
late initial registration provisions if they
meet (1) at least one of the late initial
filing criteria, and (2) all TPS eligibility
criteria (including continuous residence
in the United States since November 20,
2014, and continuous physical presence
in the United States since November 21,
2014).
For individuals who have already
been granted TPS under Liberia’s
designation, the 60-day re-registration
period runs from March 22, 2016
through May 23, 2016. USCIS will issue
new EADs with a November 21, 2016,
expiration date to eligible Liberia TPS
SUMMARY:
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beneficiaries who timely re-register and
apply for EADs under this extension.
Given the timeframes involved with
processing TPS re-registration
applications, DHS recognizes that not
all re-registrants will receive new EADs
before their current EADs expire on May
21, 2016. Accordingly, through this
Notice, DHS automatically extends the
validity of EADs issued under the TPS
designation of Liberia for 6 months,
through November 21, 2016, and
explains how TPS beneficiaries and
their employers may determine which
EADs are automatically extended and
their impact on the Employment
Eligibility Verification (Form I–9) and EVerify processes.
DATES: The 6-month extension of the
TPS designation of Liberia is effective
May 22, 2016, and will remain in effect
through November 21, 2016. The 60-day
re-registration period runs from March
22, 2016 through May 23, 2016. (Note:
It is important for re-registrants to
timely re-register during this 60-day
period and not to wait until their EADs
expire.)
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
• For further information on TPS,
including guidance on the application
process and additional information on
eligibility, please visit the USCIS TPS
Web page at https://www.uscis.gov/tps.
You can find specific information about
Liberia’s TPS extension by selecting
‘‘Liberia’’ from the menu on the left side
of the TPS Web page.
• For questions concerning this FRN,
you can also contact Jerry Rigdon, Chief
of the Waivers and Temporary Services
Branch, Service Center Operations
Directorate, U.S. Citizenship and
Immigration Services, Department of
Homeland Security, 20 Massachusetts
Avenue NW., Washington, DC 20529–
2060; or by phone at (202) 272–1533
(this is not a toll-free number). Note:
The phone number provided here is
solely for questions regarding this TPS
Notice. It is not for individual case
status inquires.
• Applicants seeking information
about the status of their individual cases
can check Case Status Online, available
at the USCIS Web site at https://
www.uscis.gov, or call the USCIS
National Customer Service Center at
800–375–5283 (TTY 800–767–1833).
• Further information will also be
available at local USCIS offices upon
publication of this Notice.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Table of Abbreviations
BIA—Board of Immigration Appeals
DHS—Department of Homeland Security
DOS—Department of State
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EAD—Employment Authorization Document
EVD—Ebola Virus Disease
FNC—Final Nonconfirmation
Government—U.S. Government
IJ—Immigration Judge
INA—Immigration and Nationality Act
OSC—U.S. Department of Justice, Office of
Special Counsel for Immigration-Related
Unfair Employment Practices
SAVE—USCIS Systematic Alien Verification
for Entitlements Program
Secretary—Secretary of Homeland Security
TNC—Tentative Nonconfirmation
TPS—Temporary Protected Status
TTY—Text Telephone
USCIS—U.S. Citizenship and Immigration
Services
What is temporary protected status
(TPS)?
• TPS is a temporary immigration
status granted to eligible nationals of a
country designated for TPS under the
Immigration and Nationality Act (INA),
or to eligible persons without
nationality who last habitually resided
in the designated country.
• During the TPS designation period,
TPS beneficiaries are eligible to remain
in the United States, may not be
removed, and are authorized to work
and obtain EADs so long as they
continue to meet the requirements of
TPS.
• TPS beneficiaries may also be
granted travel authorization as a matter
of discretion.
• The granting of TPS does not result
in or lead to permanent resident status.
• To qualify for TPS, beneficiaries
must meet the eligibility requirements at
INA section 244(c)(2), 8 U.S.C.
1254a(c)(2).
• When the Secretary terminates a
country’s TPS designation, although
TPS benefits end, former TPS
beneficiaries continue to hold any
lawful immigration status that they
maintained or obtained while holding
TPS.
When and why was Liberia designated
for TPS?
On November 21, 2014, the Secretary
designated Liberia for TPS for a period
of 18 months due to the extraordinary
and temporary conditions caused by an
epidemic of Ebola Virus Disease (EVD)
in West Africa that prevented nationals
of Liberia from returning to Liberia in
safety. The extraordinary and temporary
conditions included high EVD
transmission rates in widespread
geographic areas, overwhelmed health
care systems unable to handle the large
number of EVD patients or to provide
treatment for normally preventable or
treatable conditions, and containment
measures that were causing significant
disruptions to Liberia’s economy and
individuals’ ability to access food and
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earn a livelihood. See Designation of
Liberia for Temporary Protected Status,
79 FR 69502 (Nov. 21, 2014).
What authority does the Secretary have
to extend the designation of Liberia for
TPS?
Section 244(b)(1) of the INA, 8 U.S.C.
1254a(b)(1), authorizes the Secretary,
after consultation with appropriate
agencies of the U.S. Government
(Government), to designate a foreign
state (or part thereof) for TPS if the
Secretary determines that certain
country conditions exist.1 The Secretary
may then grant TPS to eligible nationals
of that foreign state (or eligible aliens
having no nationality who last
habitually resided in the designated
country). See INA section 244(a)(1)(A),
8 U.S.C. 1254a(a)(1)(A).
At least 60 days before the expiration
of a country’s TPS designation or
extension, the Secretary, after
consultation with appropriate
Government agencies, must review the
conditions in a foreign state designated
for TPS to determine whether the
conditions for the TPS designation
continue to be met. See INA section
244(b)(3)(A), 8 U.S.C. 1254a(b)(3)(A). If
the Secretary determines that a foreign
state continues to meet the conditions
for TPS designation, the designation
may be extended for an additional
period of 6, 12, or 18 months. See INA
section 244(b)(3)(C), 8 U.S.C.
1254a(b)(3)(C). If the Secretary
determines that the foreign state no
longer meets the conditions for TPS
designation, the Secretary must
terminate the designation. See INA
section 244(b)(3)(B), 8 U.S.C.
1254a(b)(3)(B).
Why is the Secretary extending the TPS
designation for Liberia through
November 21, 2016?
DHS and the Department of State
(DOS) have reviewed conditions in
Liberia. Based on the reviews and after
consulting with DOS, the Secretary has
determined that a 6-month extension is
warranted because, although there have
been significant improvements,
conditions in Liberia supporting its
November 2014 designation for TPS
persist.
Guinea, Liberia, and Sierra Leone
were designated for TPS in the midst of
the largest EVD outbreak in history.
1 As of March 1, 2003, in accordance with section
1517 of title XV of the Homeland Security Act of
2002, Public Law 107–296, 116 Stat. 2135, any
reference to the Attorney General in a provision of
the INA describing functions transferred from the
Department of Justice to DHS ‘‘shall be deemed to
refer to the Secretary’’ of Homeland Security. See
6 U.S.C. 557 (codifying the Homeland Security Act
of 2002, tit. XV, section 1517).
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From March 2014 through November
2015, these three countries suffered over
11,000 deaths among their more than
28,500 cases of EVD. At the height of the
outbreak in late 2014, hundreds of new
cases were being reported each week,
the health care systems were
overwhelmed, and containment
measures were causing significant
disruptions to individuals’ ability to
access food and earn a livelihood. A
robust response by the international
community and the governments of
Guinea, Liberia, and Sierra Leone has
now brought EVD transmission in West
Africa substantially under control. The
World Health Organization declared
Liberia free of EVD transmission on
January 14, 2016.
Despite the absence of current
widespread EVD transmission, Guinea,
Liberia, and Sierra Leone still face
containment and recovery challenges,
and the risk of flare-ups of EVD remains,
as demonstrated by the two cases
reported in Sierra Leone in January 2016
after the country had previously been
declared free of EVD transmission. All
three countries continue to experience
consequences of the epidemic,
including the ongoing medical issues
and mental trauma experienced by EVD
survivors; challenges in rebuilding
fragile healthcare systems; and lingering
food insecurity due to the epidemic’s
impact on economic activity,
productivity, and livelihoods. The
World Health Organization continues to
consider the EVD outbreak a Public
Health Emergency of International
Concern.
Although the countries continue to
struggle with the effects of the epidemic,
in light of the absence of widespread
transmission of EVD, the U.S.
Department of Health and Human
Services, Centers for Disease Control
and Prevention has removed warnings
for travel to Guinea, Liberia, and Sierra
Leone. Accordingly, the restrictions
placed on grants of advance parole for
travel to Guinea, Liberia, and Sierra
Leone in conjunction with these
countries’ designations for TPS in
November 2014 are removed.
Beneficiaries of TPS Liberia who wish
to travel abroad must still comply with
the requirements for obtaining advance
parole stated in the Instructions to Form
I–131, Application for Travel Document.
They should also be aware that travel
abroad may cause a break in their
continuous residence and continuous
physical presence in the United States,
making them ineligible for TPS, unless
the absence from the United States is
considered by USCIS to be ‘‘brief, casual
and innocent’’ under 8 CFR 244.1.
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Based upon this review and after
consultation with appropriate
Government agencies, the Secretary has
determined that:
• Conditions supporting the
November 2014 designation of Liberia
for TPS continue to be met. See INA
section 244(b)(3)(A) and (C), 8 U.S.C.
1254a(b)(3)(A) and (C).
• There continue to be extraordinary
and temporary conditions in Liberia that
prevent Liberian nationals (or aliens
having no nationality who last
habitually resided in Liberia) from
returning to Liberia in safety. See INA
section 244(b)(1)(C), 8 U.S.C.
1254a(b)(1)(C).
• It is not contrary to the national
interest of the United States to permit
Liberian nationals (or aliens having no
nationality who last habitually resided
in Liberia) who meet the eligibility
requirements of TPS to remain in the
United States temporarily. See INA
section 244(b)(1)(C), 8 U.S.C.
1254a(b)(1)(C).
• The designation of Liberia for TPS
should be extended for a 6-month
period from May 22, 2016, through
November 21, 2016. See INA section
244(b)(3)(C), 8 U.S.C. 1254a(b)(3)(C).
• Requests for advance travel
authorization (‘‘advance parole’’) for
travel to Guinea, Liberia, or Sierra Leone
no longer require demonstration of
extraordinary circumstances in order to
be approvable.
• There are approximately 2,085
current Liberia TPS beneficiaries who
are expected to file for re-registration
under the extension.
Notice of Extension of the TPS
Designation of Liberia
By the authority vested in me as
Secretary under INA section 244, 8
U.S.C. 1254a, I have determined, after
consultation with the appropriate
Government agencies, that conditions
supporting Liberia’s November 2014
designation for TPS continue to be met.
See INA section 244(b)(3)(A), 8 U.S.C.
1254a(b)(3)(A). On the basis of this
determination, I am extending the
existing designation of Liberia for TPS
for 6 months, from May 22, 2016,
through November 21, 2016. See INA
section 244(b)(3)(C), 8 U.S.C.
1254a(b)(3)(C).
Jeh Charles Johnson,
Secretary.
Required Application Forms and
Application Fees To Register or Reregister for TPS
To register or re-register for TPS based
on the designation of Liberia, you must
submit each of the following
applications:
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1. Application for Temporary Protected
Status (Form I–821)
• If you are filing an application for
late initial registration, you must pay
the fee for the Application for
Temporary Protected Status (Form I–
821). See 8 CFR 244.2(f)(2) and 244.6
and information on late initial filing on
the USCIS TPS Web page at https://
www.uscis.gov/tps.
• If you are filing an application for
re-registration, you do not need to pay
the fee for the Application for
Temporary Protected Status (Form I–
821). See 8 CFR 244.17.
2. Application for Employment
Authorization (Form I–765)
• If you are applying for late initial
registration and want an EAD, you must
pay the fee for the Application for
Employment Authorization (Form I–
765) only if you are age 14 through 65.
You do not need to pay this fee if you
are under the age of 14 or are 66 or
older.
• If you are applying for reregistration, you must pay the fee for the
Application for Employment
Authorization (Form I–765), regardless
of your age, if you want an EAD.
• You do not pay the fee for the
Application for Employment
Authorization (Form I–765) if you are
not requesting an EAD, regardless of
whether you are applying for late initial
registration or re-registration.
You must submit both completed
application forms together. If you are
unable to pay the application fee and/
or biometrics fee, you may complete a
Request for Fee Waiver (Form I–912) or
submit a personal letter requesting a fee
waiver with satisfactory supporting
documentation. For more information
on the application forms and fees for
TPS, please visit the USCIS TPS Web
page at https://www.uscis.gov/tps. Fees
for the Application for Temporary
Protected Status (Form I–821), the
Application for Employment
Authorization (Form I–765), and
biometric services are also described in
8 CFR 103.7(b).
Biometric Services Fee
Biometrics (such as fingerprints) are
required for all applicants 14 years and
older. Those applicants must submit a
biometric services fee. As previously
stated, if you are unable to pay for the
biometric services fee, you may
complete a Request for Fee Waiver
(Form I–912) or submit a personal letter
requesting a fee waiver with satisfactory
supporting documentation. For more
information on the biometric services
fee, please visit the USCIS Web site at
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https://www.uscis.gov. If necessary, you
may be required to visit an Application
Support Center to have your biometrics
captured.
Re-filing a Re-registration TPS
Application After Receiving a Denial of
a Fee Waiver Request
You should file as soon as possible
within the 60-day re-registration period
so USCIS can process your application
and issue any EAD promptly. Filing
early will also allow you to have time
to re-file your application before the
deadline, should USCIS deny your fee
waiver request. If, however, you receive
a denial of your fee waiver request and
are unable to re-file by the reregistration deadline, you may still refile your application. This situation will
be reviewed to determine whether you
established good cause for late reregistration. However, you are urged to
re-file within 45 days of the date on any
USCIS fee waiver denial notice, if
possible. See INA section 244(c)(3)(C); 8
U.S.C. 1254a(c)(3)(C); 8 CFR 244.17(c).
For more information on good cause for
late re-registration, visit the USCIS TPS
Web page at https://www.uscis.gov/tps.
Note: Although a re-registering TPS
beneficiary age 14 and older must pay
the biometric services fee (but not the
initial TPS application fee) when filing
a TPS re-registration application, you
may decide to wait to request an EAD,
and therefore not pay the Application
for Employment Authorization (Form I–
765) fee until after USCIS has approved
your TPS re-registration, if you are
eligible. If you choose to do this, you
would file the Application for
Temporary Protected Status (Form I–
821) with the biometrics fee and the
Application for Employment
Authorization (Form I–765) without the
fee and without requesting an EAD.
Mailing Information
Mail your application for TPS to the
proper address in Table 1.
TABLE 1—MAILING ADDRESSES
You are applying
through the U.S.
Postal Service.
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Mail to . . .
USCIS, Attn: TPS Liberia, P.O. Box
6943, Chicago, IL
60680–6943.
USCIS, Attn: TPS Liberia, 131 S. Dearborn Street, 3rd
Floor, Chicago, IL
60603–5517.
If you were granted TPS by an
Immigration Judge (IJ) or the Board of
Immigration Appeals (BIA) and you
wish to request an EAD or are re-
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E-Filing
You cannot electronically file your
application when re-registering or
submitting an initial registration for
Liberia TPS. Please mail your
application to the mailing address listed
in Table 1.
Supporting Documents
The filing instructions on the
Application for Temporary Protected
Status (Form I–821) list all the
documents needed to establish basic
eligibility for TPS. You must also
submit two color passport-style
photographs of yourself. You may also
find information on the acceptable
documentation and other requirements
for applying or registering for TPS on
the USCIS Web site at www.uscis.gov/
tps under ‘‘Liberia.’’
Do I need to submit additional
supporting documentation?
If one or more of the questions listed
in Part 4, Question 2 of the Application
for Temporary Protected Status (Form I–
821) applies to you, then you must
submit an explanation on a separate
sheet(s) of paper and/or additional
documentation.
Employment Authorization Document
(EAD)
If . . .
You are using a nonU.S. Postal Service
delivery service.
registering for the first time following a
grant of TPS by an IJ or the BIA, please
mail your application to the appropriate
mailing address in Table 1. After you
submit your application and receive a
USCIS receipt number, please send an
email to the appropriate USCIS Service
Center handling your application,
providing the receipt number and
stating that you submitted a reregistration and/or request for an EAD
based on an IJ/BIA grant of TPS. This
will aid in the verification of your grant
of TPS and processing of your
application, as USCIS may not have
received records of your grant of TPS by
either the IJ or the BIA. To get
additional information, including the
email address of the appropriate Service
Center, you may go to the USCIS TPS
Web page at https://www.uscis.gov/tps.
How can I obtain information on the
status of my EAD request?
To get case status information about
your TPS application, including the
status of a request for an EAD, you can
check Case Status Online at https://
www.uscis.gov, or call the USCIS
National Customer Service Center at
800–375–5283 (TTY 800–767–1833). If
your Application for Employment
Authorization (Form I–765) has been
pending for more than 90 days, and you
still need assistance, you may request an
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EAD inquiry appointment with USCIS
by using the InfoPass system at
https://infopass.uscis.gov. However, we
strongly encourage you first to check
Case Status Online or call the USCIS
National Customer Service Center for
assistance before making an InfoPass
appointment.
Am I eligible to receive an automatic 6month extension of my current EAD
through November 21, 2016?
Provided that you currently have TPS
under the designation of Liberia, this
Notice automatically extends your EAD
by 6 months if you:
• Are a national of Liberia (or an alien
having no nationality who last
habitually resided in Liberia);
• Received an EAD under the
November 2014 designation of Liberia
for TPS; and
• Have an EAD with a marked
expiration date of May 21, 2016, bearing
the notation ‘‘A–12’’ or ‘‘C–19’’ on the
face of the card under ‘‘Category.’’
Although this Notice automatically
extends your EAD through November
21, 2016, you must re-register timely for
TPS in accordance with the procedures
described in this Notice if you would
like to maintain your TPS.
When hired, what documentation may I
show to my employer as proof of
employment authorization and identity
when completing Employment
Eligibility Verification (Form I–9)?
You can find a list of acceptable
document choices on the ‘‘Lists of
Acceptable Documents’’ for
Employment Eligibility Verification
(Form I–9). You can find additional
detailed information on the USCIS I–9
Central Web page at https://
www.uscis.gov/I–9Central. Employers
are required to verify the identity and
employment authorization of all new
employees by using Employment
Eligibility Verification (Form I–9).
Within 3 days of being hired, you must
present proof of identity and
employment authorization to your
employer.
You may present any document from
List A (reflecting both your identity and
employment authorization) or one
document from List B (reflecting
identity) together with one document
from List C (reflecting employment
authorization). An EAD is an acceptable
document under ‘‘List A.’’ You may
present an acceptable receipt for a List
A, List B, or List C document as
described in the Employment Eligibility
Verification (Form I–9) Instructions. An
acceptable receipt is one that shows an
employee has applied to replace a
document that was lost, stolen or
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damaged. If you present an acceptable
receipt, you must present your employer
with the actual document within 90
days. Employers may not reject a
document based on a future expiration
date.
If your EAD has an expiration date of
May 21, 2016, and states ‘‘A–12’’ or ‘‘C–
19’’ under ‘‘Category,’’ it has been
extended automatically for 6 months by
virtue of this Federal Register Notice,
and you may choose to present your
EAD to your employer as proof of
identity and employment authorization
for Employment Eligibility Verification
(Form I–9) through November 21, 2016
(see the subsection titled ‘‘How do my
employer and I complete the
Employment Eligibility Verification
(Form I–9) using an automatically
extended EAD for a new job?’’ for
further information). To minimize
confusion over this extension at the
time of hire, you should explain to your
employer that USCIS has automatically
extended your EAD through November
21, 2016, based on your Temporary
Protected Status. You are also strongly
encouraged, although not required, to
show your employer a copy of this
Federal Register Notice confirming the
automatic extension of employment
authorization through November 21,
2016. As an alternative to presenting
your automatically extended EAD, you
may choose to present any other
acceptable document from List A, or a
combination of one selection from List
B and one selection from List C.
What documentation may I show my
employer if I am already employed but
my current TPS-related EAD is set to
expire?
Even though EADs with an expiration
date of May 21, 2016, that state ‘‘A–12’’
or ‘‘C–19’’ under ‘‘Category’’ have been
automatically extended for 6 months by
this Federal Register Notice, your
employer will need to ask you about
your continued employment
authorization once May 21, 2016, is
reached to meet its responsibilities for
Employment Eligibility Verification
(Form I–9). Your employer does not
need to complete a new Employment
Eligibility Verification (Form I–9) to
reverify your employment authorization
until November 21, 2016, the expiration
date of the automatic extension, but may
need to reinspect your automatically
extended EAD to check the expiration
date and code to record the updated
expiration date on your Employment
Eligibility Verification (Form I–9) if
your employer did not keep a copy of
this EAD at the time you initially
presented it. You and your employer
must make corrections to the
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17:34 Mar 21, 2016
Jkt 238001
employment authorization expiration
dates in Section 1 and Section 2 of
Employment Eligibility Verification
(Form I–9) (see the subsection titled
‘‘What corrections should my current
employer and I make to Employment
Eligibility Verification (Form I–9) if my
EAD has been automatically extended?’’
for further information). You are also
strongly encouraged, although not
required, to show this Federal Register
Notice to your employer to explain what
to do for Employment Eligibility
Verification (Form I–9).
By November 21, 2016, the expiration
date of the automatic extension, your
employer must reverify your
employment authorization. At that time,
you must present any unexpired
document from List A or any unexpired
document from List C on Employment
Eligibility Verification (Form I–9) to
reverify employment authorization, or
an acceptable List A or List C receipt
described in the Employment Eligibility
Verification (Form I–9) instructions.
Your employer is required to reverify on
Employment Eligibility Verification
(Form I–9) the employment
authorization of current employees
upon the automatically extended
expiration date of a TPS-related EAD,
which is November 21, 2016, in this
case. Your employer should use either
Section 3 of the Employment Eligibility
Verification (Form I–9) originally
completed for the employee or, if this
section has already been completed or if
the version of Employment Eligibility
Verification (Form I–9) is no longer
valid, complete Section 3 of a new
Employment Eligibility Verification
(Form I–9) using the most current
version. Note that your employer may
not specify which List A or List C
document employees must present, and
cannot reject an acceptable receipt. An
acceptable receipt is one that shows an
employee has applied to replace a
document that was lost, stolen or
damaged.
Can my employer require that I produce
any other documentation to prove my
current TPS status, such as proof of my
Liberian citizenship or proof that I have
re-registered for TPS?
No. When completing Employment
Eligibility Verification (Form I–9),
including reverifying employment
authorization, employers must accept
any documentation that appears on the
‘‘Lists of Acceptable Documents’’ for
Employment Eligibility Verification
(Form I–9) that reasonably appears to be
genuine and that relates to you or an
acceptable List A, List B, or List C
receipt. Employers may not request
documentation that does not appear on
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Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
the ‘‘Lists of Acceptable Documents.’’
Therefore, employers may not request
proof of Liberian citizenship or proof of
re-registration for TPS when completing
Employment Eligibility Verification
(Form I–9) for new hires or reverifying
the employment authorization of
current employees. Refer to the ‘‘Note to
Employees’’ section of this Notice for
important information about your rights
if your employer rejects lawful
documentation, requires additional
documentation, or otherwise
discriminates against you based on your
citizenship or immigration status, or
your national origin. Note that although
you are not required to provide your
employer with a copy of this Federal
Register Notice, you are strongly
encouraged to do so to help avoid
confusion.
What happens after November 21, 2016,
for purposes of employment
authorization?
After November 21, 2016, employers
may no longer accept the EADs that this
Federal Register Notice automatically
extended. New EADs requested and
issued under this TPS extension will
also expire on November 21, 2016,
unless automatically extended by a
subsequent Federal Register Notice.
How do my employer and I complete
Employment Eligibility Verification
(Form I–9) using an automatically
extended EAD for a new job?
When using an automatically
extended EAD to complete Employment
Eligibility Verification (Form I–9) for a
new job before November 21, 2016, you
and your employer should do the
following:
1. For Section 1, you should:
a. Check ‘‘An alien authorized to
work;’’
b. Write the automatically extended
EAD expiration date (November 21,
2016) in the first space; and
c. Write your alien number (USCIS
number or A-number) in the second
space (your EAD or other document
from DHS will have your USCIS number
or A-number printed on it; the USCIS
number is the same as your A-number
without the A prefix).
2. For Section 2, employers should
record the:
a. Document title;
b. Issuing authority;
c. Document number; and
d. Automatically extended EAD
expiration date (November 21, 2016).
By November 21, 2016, employers
must reverify the employee’s
employment authorization in Section 3
of the Employment Eligibility
Verification (Form I–9).
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What corrections should my current
employer and I make to Employment
Eligibility Verification (Form I–9) if my
EAD has been automatically extended?
If you are an existing employee who
presented a TPS-related EAD that was
valid when you first started your job but
that EAD has now been automatically
extended, your employer may reinspect
your automatically extended EAD if the
employer does not have a photocopy of
the EAD on file, and you and your
employer should correct your
previously completed Employment
Eligibility Verification (Form I–9) as
follows:
1. For Section 1, you should:
a. Draw a line through the expiration
date in the first space;
b. Write ‘‘November 21, 2016’’ above
the previous date;
c. Write ‘‘TPS Ext.’’ in the margin of
Section 1; and
d. Initial and date the correction in
the margin of Section 1.
2. For Section 2, employers should:
a. Draw a line through the expiration
date written in Section 2;
b. Write ‘‘November 21, 2016’’ above
the previous date;
c. Write ‘‘EAD Ext.’’ in the margin of
Section 2; and
d. Initial and date the correction in
the margin of Section 2.
By November 21, 2016, when the
automatic extension of EADs expires,
employers must reverify the employee’s
employment authorization in Section 3.
asabaliauskas on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with NOTICES
If I am an employer enrolled in E-Verify,
what do I do when I receive a ‘‘Work
Authorization Documents Expiration’’
alert for an automatically extended
EAD?
If you are an employer who
participates in E-Verify and you have an
employee who is a TPS beneficiary who
provided a TPS-related EAD when he or
she first started working for you, you
will receive a ‘‘Work Authorization
Documents Expiring’’ case alert when
this EAD is about to expire. Usually,
this message is an alert to complete
Section 3 of the Employment Eligibility
Verification (Form I–9) to reverify an
employee’s employment authorization.
For existing employees with TPS-related
EADs that have been automatically
extended, employers should dismiss
this alert by clicking the red ‘‘X’’ in the
‘‘dismiss alert’’ column and follow the
instructions above explaining how to
correct the Employment Eligibility
Verification (Form I–9). By November
21, 2016, employment authorization
must be reverified in Section 3.
Employers should never use E-Verify for
reverification.
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17:34 Mar 21, 2016
Jkt 238001
Note to All Employers
Employers are reminded that the laws
requiring proper employment eligibility
verification and prohibiting unfair
immigration-related employment
practices remain in full force. This
Notice does not supersede or in any way
limit applicable employment
verification rules and policy guidance,
including those rules setting forth
reverification requirements. For general
questions about the employment
eligibility verification process,
employers may call USCIS at 888–464–
4218 (TTY 877–875–6028) or email I9Central@dhs.gov. Calls and emails are
accepted in English and many other
languages. For questions about avoiding
discrimination during the employment
eligibility verification process,
employers may also call the U.S.
Department of Justice, Office of Special
Counsel for Immigration-Related Unfair
Employment Practices (OSC) Employer
Hotline, at 800–255–8155 (TTY 800–
237–2515), which offers language
interpretation in numerous languages,
or email OSC at osccrt@usdoj.gov.
Note to Employees
For general questions about the
employment eligibility verification
process, you may call USCIS at 888–
897–7781 (TTY 877–875–6028) or email
I-9Central@dhs.gov. Calls are accepted
in English and many other languages.
You may also call the OSC Worker
Information Hotline at 800–255–7688
(TTY 800–237–2515) for information
regarding employment discrimination
based upon citizenship status,
immigration status, or national origin, or
for information regarding discrimination
related to Employment Eligibility
Verification (Form I–9) and E-Verify.
The OSC Worker Information Hotline
provides language interpretation in
numerous languages.
To comply with the law, employers
must accept any document or
combination of documents from the
Lists of Acceptable Documents if the
documentation reasonably appears to be
genuine and to relate to the employee,
or an acceptable List A, List B, or List
C receipt described in the Employment
Eligibility Verification (Form I–9)
Instructions. Employers may not require
extra or additional documentation
beyond what is required for
Employment Eligibility Verification
(Form I–9) completion. Further,
employers participating in E-Verify who
receive an E-Verify case result of
‘‘Tentative Nonconfirmation’’ (TNC)
must promptly inform employees of the
TNC and give such employees an
opportunity to contest the TNC. A TNC
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Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
15333
case result means that the information
entered into E-Verify from Employment
Eligibility Verification (Form I–9) differs
from Federal or state government
records.
Employers may not terminate,
suspend, delay training, withhold pay,
lower pay, or take any adverse action
against you based on your decision to
contest a TNC or because the case is still
pending with E-Verify. A Final
Nonconfirmation (FNC) case result is
received when E-Verify cannot verify
your employment eligibility. An
employer may terminate employment
based on a case result of FNC. Workauthorized employees who receive an
FNC may call USCIS for assistance at
888–897–7781 (TTY 877–875–6028). If
you believe you were discriminated
against by an employer in the E-Verify
process based on citizenship or
immigration status or based on national
origin, you may contact OSC’s Worker
Information Hotline at 800–255–7688
(TTY 800–237–2515). Additional
information about proper
nondiscriminatory Employment
Eligibility Verification (Form I–9) and EVerify procedures is available on the
OSC Web site at https://www.justice.gov/
crt/about/osc/ and the USCIS Web site
at https://www.dhs.gov/E-verify.
Note Regarding Federal, State, and
Local Government Agencies (Such as
Departments of Motor Vehicles)
While Federal Government agencies
must follow the guidelines laid out by
the Federal Government, State and local
government agencies establish their own
rules and guidelines when granting
certain benefits. Each State may have
different laws, requirements, and
determinations about what documents
you need to provide to prove eligibility
for certain benefits. Whether you are
applying for a Federal, State, or local
government benefit, you may need to
provide the government agency with
documents that show you are a TPS
beneficiary and/or show you are
authorized to work based on TPS.
Examples are:
(1) Your unexpired EAD;
(2) A copy of this Federal Register
Notice if your EAD is automatically
extended under this Notice;
(3) A copy of your Application for
Temporary Protected Status Notice of
Action (Form I–797) for this reregistration;
(4) A copy of your past or current
Application for Temporary Protected
Status Approval Notice (Form I–797), if
you received one from USCIS; and/or
(5) If there is an automatic extension
of work authorization, a copy of the fact
sheet from the USCIS TPS Web site that
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provides information on the automatic
extension.
Check with the government agency
regarding which document(s) the agency
will accept. You may also provide the
agency with a copy of this Federal
Register Notice.
Some benefit-granting agencies use
the USCIS Systematic Alien Verification
for Entitlements Program (SAVE) to
verify the current immigration status of
applicants for public benefits. If such an
agency has denied your application
based solely or in part on a SAVE
response, the agency must offer you the
opportunity to appeal the decision in
accordance with the agency’s
procedures. If the agency has received
and acted upon or will act upon a SAVE
verification and you do not believe the
response is correct, you may make an
InfoPass appointment for an in-person
interview at a local USCIS office.
Detailed information on how to make
corrections, make an appointment, or
submit a written request to correct
records under the Freedom of
Information Act can be found at the
SAVE Web site at https://www.uscis.gov/
save, then by choosing ‘‘How to Correct
Your Records’’ from the menu on the
right.
[FR Doc. 2016–06328 Filed 3–21–16; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 9111–97–P
DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND
SECURITY
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration
Services
[CIS No. 2580–15; DHS Docket No. USCIS–
2014–0009]
RIN 1615–ZB48
Extension of the Designation of Sierra
Leone for Temporary Protected Status
U.S. Citizenship and
Immigration Services, Department of
Homeland Security.
ACTION: Notice.
AGENCY:
Through this Notice, the
Department of Homeland Security
(DHS) announces that the Secretary of
Homeland Security (Secretary) is
extending the designation of Sierra
Leone for Temporary Protected Status
(TPS) for 6 months, from May 22, 2016,
through November 21, 2016.
The extension allows currently
eligible TPS beneficiaries to retain TPS
through November 21, 2016, so long as
they otherwise continue to meet the
eligibility requirements for TPS. The
Secretary has determined that an
extension is warranted because,
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SUMMARY:
VerDate Sep<11>2014
17:34 Mar 21, 2016
Jkt 238001
although there have been significant
improvements, conditions in Sierra
Leone supporting its November 2014
designation for TPS continue to be met.
Through this Notice, DHS also sets
forth procedures necessary for eligible
nationals of Sierra Leone (or aliens
having no nationality who last
habitually resided in Sierra Leone) to reregister for TPS and to apply for renewal
of their Employment Authorization
Documents (EADs) with U.S.
Citizenship and Immigration Services
(USCIS). Re-registration is limited to
persons who have previously registered
for TPS under the designation of Sierra
Leone and whose applications have
been granted. Certain nationals of Sierra
Leone (or aliens having no nationality
who last habitually resided in Sierra
Leone) who have not previously applied
for TPS may be eligible to apply under
the late initial registration provisions if
they meet (1) at least one of the late
initial filing criteria, and (2) all TPS
eligibility criteria (including continuous
residence in the United States since
November 20, 2014, and continuous
physical presence in the United States
since November 21, 2014).
For individuals who have already
been granted TPS under Sierra Leone’s
designation, the 60-day re-registration
period runs from March 22, 2016
through May 23, 2016. USCIS will issue
new EADs with a November 21, 2016,
expiration date to eligible Sierra Leone
TPS beneficiaries who timely re-register
and apply for EADs under this
extension. Given the timeframes
involved with processing TPS reregistration applications, DHS
recognizes that not all re-registrants will
receive new EADs before their current
EADs expire on May 21, 2016.
Accordingly, through this Notice, DHS
automatically extends the validity of
EADs issued under the TPS designation
of Sierra Leone for 6 months, through
November 21, 2016, and explains how
TPS beneficiaries and their employers
may determine which EADs are
automatically extended and their impact
on the Employment Eligibility
Verification (Form I–9) and E-Verify
processes.
The 6-month extension of the
TPS designation of Sierra Leone is
effective May 22, 2016, and will remain
in effect through November 21, 2016.
The 60-day re-registration period runs
from March 22, 2016 through May 23,
2016. (Note: It is important for reregistrants to timely re-register during
this 60-day period and not to wait until
their EADs expire.)
DATES:
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
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Frm 00115
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
• For further information on TPS,
including guidance on the application
process and additional information on
eligibility, please visit the USCIS TPS
Web page at https://www.uscis.gov/tps.
You can find specific information about
Sierra Leone’s TPS extension by
selecting ‘‘Sierra Leone’’ from the menu
on the left side of the TPS Web page.
• For questions concerning this FRN,
you can also contact Jerry Rigdon, Chief
of the Waivers and Temporary Services
Branch, Service Center Operations
Directorate, U.S. Citizenship and
Immigration Services, Department of
Homeland Security, 20 Massachusetts
Avenue NW., Washington, DC 20529–
2060; or by phone at (202) 272–1533
(this is not a toll-free number). Note:
The phone number provided here is
solely for questions regarding this TPS
Notice. It is not for individual case
status inquires.
• Applicants seeking information
about the status of their individual cases
can check Case Status Online, available
at the USCIS Web site at https://
www.uscis.gov, or call the USCIS
National Customer Service Center at
800–375–5283 (TTY 800–767–1833).
• Further information will also be
available at local USCIS offices upon
publication of this Notice.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Table of Abbreviations
BIA—Board of Immigration Appeals
DHS—Department of Homeland Security
DOS—Department of State
EAD—Employment Authorization Document
EVD—Ebola Virus Disease
FNC—Final Nonconfirmation
Government—U.S. Government
IJ—Immigration Judge
INA—Immigration and Nationality Act
OSC—U.S. Department of Justice, Office of
Special Counsel for Immigration-Related
Unfair Employment Practices
SAVE—USCIS Systematic Alien Verification
for Entitlements Program
Secretary—Secretary of Homeland Security
TNC—Tentative Nonconfirmation
TPS—Temporary Protected Status
TTY—Text Telephone
USCIS—U.S. Citizenship and Immigration
Services
What is temporary protected status
(TPS)?
• TPS is a temporary immigration
status granted to eligible nationals of a
country designated for TPS under the
Immigration and Nationality Act (INA),
or to eligible persons without
nationality who last habitually resided
in the designated country.
• During the TPS designation period,
TPS beneficiaries are eligible to remain
in the United States, may not be
removed, and are authorized to work
and obtain EADs so long as they
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]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 55 (Tuesday, March 22, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 15328-15334]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-06328]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services
[CIS No. 2579-15; DHS Docket No. USCIS-2014-0011]
RIN 1615-ZB47
Extension of the Designation of Liberia for Temporary Protected
Status
AGENCY: U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, Department of
Homeland Security.
ACTION: Notice.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: Through this Notice, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS)
announces that the Secretary of Homeland Security (Secretary) is
extending the designation of Liberia for Temporary Protected Status
(TPS) for 6 months, from May 22, 2016, through November 21, 2016.
The extension allows currently eligible TPS beneficiaries to retain
TPS through November 21, 2016, so long as they otherwise continue to
meet the eligibility requirements for TPS. The Secretary has determined
that an extension is warranted because, although there have been
significant improvements, conditions in Liberia supporting its November
2014 designation for TPS continue to be met.
Through this Notice, DHS also sets forth procedures necessary for
eligible nationals of Liberia (or aliens having no nationality who last
habitually resided in Liberia) to re-register for TPS and to apply for
renewal of their Employment Authorization Documents (EADs) with U.S.
Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). Re-registration is
limited to persons who have previously registered for TPS under the
designation of Liberia and whose applications have been granted.
Certain nationals of Liberia (or aliens having no nationality who last
habitually resided in Liberia) who have not previously applied for TPS
may be eligible to apply under the late initial registration provisions
if they meet (1) at least one of the late initial filing criteria, and
(2) all TPS eligibility criteria (including continuous residence in the
United States since November 20, 2014, and continuous physical presence
in the United States since November 21, 2014).
For individuals who have already been granted TPS under Liberia's
designation, the 60-day re-registration period runs from March 22, 2016
through May 23, 2016. USCIS will issue new EADs with a November 21,
2016, expiration date to eligible Liberia TPS
[[Page 15329]]
beneficiaries who timely re-register and apply for EADs under this
extension. Given the timeframes involved with processing TPS re-
registration applications, DHS recognizes that not all re-registrants
will receive new EADs before their current EADs expire on May 21, 2016.
Accordingly, through this Notice, DHS automatically extends the
validity of EADs issued under the TPS designation of Liberia for 6
months, through November 21, 2016, and explains how TPS beneficiaries
and their employers may determine which EADs are automatically extended
and their impact on the Employment Eligibility Verification (Form I-9)
and E-Verify processes.
DATES: The 6-month extension of the TPS designation of Liberia is
effective May 22, 2016, and will remain in effect through November 21,
2016. The 60-day re-registration period runs from March 22, 2016
through May 23, 2016. (Note: It is important for re-registrants to
timely re-register during this 60-day period and not to wait until
their EADs expire.)
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
For further information on TPS, including guidance on the
application process and additional information on eligibility, please
visit the USCIS TPS Web page at https://www.uscis.gov/tps. You can find
specific information about Liberia's TPS extension by selecting
``Liberia'' from the menu on the left side of the TPS Web page.
For questions concerning this FRN, you can also contact
Jerry Rigdon, Chief of the Waivers and Temporary Services Branch,
Service Center Operations Directorate, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration
Services, Department of Homeland Security, 20 Massachusetts Avenue NW.,
Washington, DC 20529-2060; or by phone at (202) 272-1533 (this is not a
toll-free number). Note: The phone number provided here is solely for
questions regarding this TPS Notice. It is not for individual case
status inquires.
Applicants seeking information about the status of their
individual cases can check Case Status Online, available at the USCIS
Web site at https://www.uscis.gov, or call the USCIS National Customer
Service Center at 800-375-5283 (TTY 800-767-1833).
Further information will also be available at local USCIS
offices upon publication of this Notice.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Table of Abbreviations
BIA--Board of Immigration Appeals
DHS--Department of Homeland Security
DOS--Department of State
EAD--Employment Authorization Document
EVD--Ebola Virus Disease
FNC--Final Nonconfirmation
Government--U.S. Government
IJ--Immigration Judge
INA--Immigration and Nationality Act
OSC--U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Special Counsel for
Immigration-Related Unfair Employment Practices
SAVE--USCIS Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlements Program
Secretary--Secretary of Homeland Security
TNC--Tentative Nonconfirmation
TPS--Temporary Protected Status
TTY--Text Telephone
USCIS--U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services
What is temporary protected status (TPS)?
TPS is a temporary immigration status granted to eligible
nationals of a country designated for TPS under the Immigration and
Nationality Act (INA), or to eligible persons without nationality who
last habitually resided in the designated country.
During the TPS designation period, TPS beneficiaries are
eligible to remain in the United States, may not be removed, and are
authorized to work and obtain EADs so long as they continue to meet the
requirements of TPS.
TPS beneficiaries may also be granted travel authorization
as a matter of discretion.
The granting of TPS does not result in or lead to
permanent resident status.
To qualify for TPS, beneficiaries must meet the
eligibility requirements at INA section 244(c)(2), 8 U.S.C.
1254a(c)(2).
When the Secretary terminates a country's TPS designation,
although TPS benefits end, former TPS beneficiaries continue to hold
any lawful immigration status that they maintained or obtained while
holding TPS.
When and why was Liberia designated for TPS?
On November 21, 2014, the Secretary designated Liberia for TPS for
a period of 18 months due to the extraordinary and temporary conditions
caused by an epidemic of Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) in West Africa that
prevented nationals of Liberia from returning to Liberia in safety. The
extraordinary and temporary conditions included high EVD transmission
rates in widespread geographic areas, overwhelmed health care systems
unable to handle the large number of EVD patients or to provide
treatment for normally preventable or treatable conditions, and
containment measures that were causing significant disruptions to
Liberia's economy and individuals' ability to access food and earn a
livelihood. See Designation of Liberia for Temporary Protected Status,
79 FR 69502 (Nov. 21, 2014).
What authority does the Secretary have to extend the designation of
Liberia for TPS?
Section 244(b)(1) of the INA, 8 U.S.C. 1254a(b)(1), authorizes the
Secretary, after consultation with appropriate agencies of the U.S.
Government (Government), to designate a foreign state (or part thereof)
for TPS if the Secretary determines that certain country conditions
exist.\1\ The Secretary may then grant TPS to eligible nationals of
that foreign state (or eligible aliens having no nationality who last
habitually resided in the designated country). See INA section
244(a)(1)(A), 8 U.S.C. 1254a(a)(1)(A).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ As of March 1, 2003, in accordance with section 1517 of
title XV of the Homeland Security Act of 2002, Public Law 107-296,
116 Stat. 2135, any reference to the Attorney General in a provision
of the INA describing functions transferred from the Department of
Justice to DHS ``shall be deemed to refer to the Secretary'' of
Homeland Security. See 6 U.S.C. 557 (codifying the Homeland Security
Act of 2002, tit. XV, section 1517).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
At least 60 days before the expiration of a country's TPS
designation or extension, the Secretary, after consultation with
appropriate Government agencies, must review the conditions in a
foreign state designated for TPS to determine whether the conditions
for the TPS designation continue to be met. See INA section
244(b)(3)(A), 8 U.S.C. 1254a(b)(3)(A). If the Secretary determines that
a foreign state continues to meet the conditions for TPS designation,
the designation may be extended for an additional period of 6, 12, or
18 months. See INA section 244(b)(3)(C), 8 U.S.C. 1254a(b)(3)(C). If
the Secretary determines that the foreign state no longer meets the
conditions for TPS designation, the Secretary must terminate the
designation. See INA section 244(b)(3)(B), 8 U.S.C. 1254a(b)(3)(B).
Why is the Secretary extending the TPS designation for Liberia through
November 21, 2016?
DHS and the Department of State (DOS) have reviewed conditions in
Liberia. Based on the reviews and after consulting with DOS, the
Secretary has determined that a 6-month extension is warranted because,
although there have been significant improvements, conditions in
Liberia supporting its November 2014 designation for TPS persist.
Guinea, Liberia, and Sierra Leone were designated for TPS in the
midst of the largest EVD outbreak in history.
[[Page 15330]]
From March 2014 through November 2015, these three countries suffered
over 11,000 deaths among their more than 28,500 cases of EVD. At the
height of the outbreak in late 2014, hundreds of new cases were being
reported each week, the health care systems were overwhelmed, and
containment measures were causing significant disruptions to
individuals' ability to access food and earn a livelihood. A robust
response by the international community and the governments of Guinea,
Liberia, and Sierra Leone has now brought EVD transmission in West
Africa substantially under control. The World Health Organization
declared Liberia free of EVD transmission on January 14, 2016.
Despite the absence of current widespread EVD transmission, Guinea,
Liberia, and Sierra Leone still face containment and recovery
challenges, and the risk of flare-ups of EVD remains, as demonstrated
by the two cases reported in Sierra Leone in January 2016 after the
country had previously been declared free of EVD transmission. All
three countries continue to experience consequences of the epidemic,
including the ongoing medical issues and mental trauma experienced by
EVD survivors; challenges in rebuilding fragile healthcare systems; and
lingering food insecurity due to the epidemic's impact on economic
activity, productivity, and livelihoods. The World Health Organization
continues to consider the EVD outbreak a Public Health Emergency of
International Concern.
Although the countries continue to struggle with the effects of the
epidemic, in light of the absence of widespread transmission of EVD,
the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention has removed warnings for travel to Guinea,
Liberia, and Sierra Leone. Accordingly, the restrictions placed on
grants of advance parole for travel to Guinea, Liberia, and Sierra
Leone in conjunction with these countries' designations for TPS in
November 2014 are removed. Beneficiaries of TPS Liberia who wish to
travel abroad must still comply with the requirements for obtaining
advance parole stated in the Instructions to Form I-131, Application
for Travel Document. They should also be aware that travel abroad may
cause a break in their continuous residence and continuous physical
presence in the United States, making them ineligible for TPS, unless
the absence from the United States is considered by USCIS to be
``brief, casual and innocent'' under 8 CFR 244.1.
Based upon this review and after consultation with appropriate
Government agencies, the Secretary has determined that:
Conditions supporting the November 2014 designation of
Liberia for TPS continue to be met. See INA section 244(b)(3)(A) and
(C), 8 U.S.C. 1254a(b)(3)(A) and (C).
There continue to be extraordinary and temporary
conditions in Liberia that prevent Liberian nationals (or aliens having
no nationality who last habitually resided in Liberia) from returning
to Liberia in safety. See INA section 244(b)(1)(C), 8 U.S.C.
1254a(b)(1)(C).
It is not contrary to the national interest of the United
States to permit Liberian nationals (or aliens having no nationality
who last habitually resided in Liberia) who meet the eligibility
requirements of TPS to remain in the United States temporarily. See INA
section 244(b)(1)(C), 8 U.S.C. 1254a(b)(1)(C).
The designation of Liberia for TPS should be extended for
a 6-month period from May 22, 2016, through November 21, 2016. See INA
section 244(b)(3)(C), 8 U.S.C. 1254a(b)(3)(C).
Requests for advance travel authorization (``advance
parole'') for travel to Guinea, Liberia, or Sierra Leone no longer
require demonstration of extraordinary circumstances in order to be
approvable.
There are approximately 2,085 current Liberia TPS
beneficiaries who are expected to file for re-registration under the
extension.
Notice of Extension of the TPS Designation of Liberia
By the authority vested in me as Secretary under INA section 244, 8
U.S.C. 1254a, I have determined, after consultation with the
appropriate Government agencies, that conditions supporting Liberia's
November 2014 designation for TPS continue to be met. See INA section
244(b)(3)(A), 8 U.S.C. 1254a(b)(3)(A). On the basis of this
determination, I am extending the existing designation of Liberia for
TPS for 6 months, from May 22, 2016, through November 21, 2016. See INA
section 244(b)(3)(C), 8 U.S.C. 1254a(b)(3)(C).
Jeh Charles Johnson,
Secretary.
Required Application Forms and Application Fees To Register or Re-
register for TPS
To register or re-register for TPS based on the designation of
Liberia, you must submit each of the following applications:
1. Application for Temporary Protected Status (Form I-821)
If you are filing an application for late initial
registration, you must pay the fee for the Application for Temporary
Protected Status (Form I-821). See 8 CFR 244.2(f)(2) and 244.6 and
information on late initial filing on the USCIS TPS Web page at https://www.uscis.gov/tps.
If you are filing an application for re-registration, you
do not need to pay the fee for the Application for Temporary Protected
Status (Form I-821). See 8 CFR 244.17.
2. Application for Employment Authorization (Form I-765)
If you are applying for late initial registration and want
an EAD, you must pay the fee for the Application for Employment
Authorization (Form I-765) only if you are age 14 through 65. You do
not need to pay this fee if you are under the age of 14 or are 66 or
older.
If you are applying for re-registration, you must pay the
fee for the Application for Employment Authorization (Form I-765),
regardless of your age, if you want an EAD.
You do not pay the fee for the Application for Employment
Authorization (Form I-765) if you are not requesting an EAD, regardless
of whether you are applying for late initial registration or re-
registration.
You must submit both completed application forms together. If you
are unable to pay the application fee and/or biometrics fee, you may
complete a Request for Fee Waiver (Form I-912) or submit a personal
letter requesting a fee waiver with satisfactory supporting
documentation. For more information on the application forms and fees
for TPS, please visit the USCIS TPS Web page at https://www.uscis.gov/tps. Fees for the Application for Temporary Protected Status (Form I-
821), the Application for Employment Authorization (Form I-765), and
biometric services are also described in 8 CFR 103.7(b).
Biometric Services Fee
Biometrics (such as fingerprints) are required for all applicants
14 years and older. Those applicants must submit a biometric services
fee. As previously stated, if you are unable to pay for the biometric
services fee, you may complete a Request for Fee Waiver (Form I-912) or
submit a personal letter requesting a fee waiver with satisfactory
supporting documentation. For more information on the biometric
services fee, please visit the USCIS Web site at
[[Page 15331]]
https://www.uscis.gov. If necessary, you may be required to visit an
Application Support Center to have your biometrics captured.
Re-filing a Re-registration TPS Application After Receiving a Denial of
a Fee Waiver Request
You should file as soon as possible within the 60-day re-
registration period so USCIS can process your application and issue any
EAD promptly. Filing early will also allow you to have time to re-file
your application before the deadline, should USCIS deny your fee waiver
request. If, however, you receive a denial of your fee waiver request
and are unable to re-file by the re-registration deadline, you may
still re-file your application. This situation will be reviewed to
determine whether you established good cause for late re-registration.
However, you are urged to re-file within 45 days of the date on any
USCIS fee waiver denial notice, if possible. See INA section
244(c)(3)(C); 8 U.S.C. 1254a(c)(3)(C); 8 CFR 244.17(c). For more
information on good cause for late re-registration, visit the USCIS TPS
Web page at https://www.uscis.gov/tps.
Note: Although a re-registering TPS beneficiary age 14 and older
must pay the biometric services fee (but not the initial TPS
application fee) when filing a TPS re-registration application, you may
decide to wait to request an EAD, and therefore not pay the Application
for Employment Authorization (Form I-765) fee until after USCIS has
approved your TPS re-registration, if you are eligible. If you choose
to do this, you would file the Application for Temporary Protected
Status (Form I-821) with the biometrics fee and the Application for
Employment Authorization (Form I-765) without the fee and without
requesting an EAD.
Mailing Information
Mail your application for TPS to the proper address in Table 1.
Table 1--Mailing Addresses
------------------------------------------------------------------------
If . . . Mail to . . .
------------------------------------------------------------------------
You are applying through the U.S. Postal USCIS, Attn: TPS Liberia,
Service. P.O. Box 6943, Chicago, IL
60680-6943.
You are using a non-U.S. Postal Service USCIS, Attn: TPS Liberia,
delivery service. 131 S. Dearborn Street, 3rd
Floor, Chicago, IL 60603-
5517.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
If you were granted TPS by an Immigration Judge (IJ) or the Board
of Immigration Appeals (BIA) and you wish to request an EAD or are re-
registering for the first time following a grant of TPS by an IJ or the
BIA, please mail your application to the appropriate mailing address in
Table 1. After you submit your application and receive a USCIS receipt
number, please send an email to the appropriate USCIS Service Center
handling your application, providing the receipt number and stating
that you submitted a re-registration and/or request for an EAD based on
an IJ/BIA grant of TPS. This will aid in the verification of your grant
of TPS and processing of your application, as USCIS may not have
received records of your grant of TPS by either the IJ or the BIA. To
get additional information, including the email address of the
appropriate Service Center, you may go to the USCIS TPS Web page at
https://www.uscis.gov/tps.
E-Filing
You cannot electronically file your application when re-registering
or submitting an initial registration for Liberia TPS. Please mail your
application to the mailing address listed in Table 1.
Supporting Documents
The filing instructions on the Application for Temporary Protected
Status (Form I-821) list all the documents needed to establish basic
eligibility for TPS. You must also submit two color passport-style
photographs of yourself. You may also find information on the
acceptable documentation and other requirements for applying or
registering for TPS on the USCIS Web site at www.uscis.gov/tps under
``Liberia.''
Do I need to submit additional supporting documentation?
If one or more of the questions listed in Part 4, Question 2 of the
Application for Temporary Protected Status (Form I-821) applies to you,
then you must submit an explanation on a separate sheet(s) of paper
and/or additional documentation.
Employment Authorization Document (EAD)
How can I obtain information on the status of my EAD request?
To get case status information about your TPS application,
including the status of a request for an EAD, you can check Case Status
Online at https://www.uscis.gov, or call the USCIS National Customer
Service Center at 800-375-5283 (TTY 800-767-1833). If your Application
for Employment Authorization (Form I-765) has been pending for more
than 90 days, and you still need assistance, you may request an EAD
inquiry appointment with USCIS by using the InfoPass system at https://infopass.uscis.gov. However, we strongly encourage you first to check
Case Status Online or call the USCIS National Customer Service Center
for assistance before making an InfoPass appointment.
Am I eligible to receive an automatic 6-month extension of my current
EAD through November 21, 2016?
Provided that you currently have TPS under the designation of
Liberia, this Notice automatically extends your EAD by 6 months if you:
Are a national of Liberia (or an alien having no
nationality who last habitually resided in Liberia);
Received an EAD under the November 2014 designation of
Liberia for TPS; and
Have an EAD with a marked expiration date of May 21, 2016,
bearing the notation ``A-12'' or ``C-19'' on the face of the card under
``Category.''
Although this Notice automatically extends your EAD through
November 21, 2016, you must re-register timely for TPS in accordance
with the procedures described in this Notice if you would like to
maintain your TPS.
When hired, what documentation may I show to my employer as proof of
employment authorization and identity when completing Employment
Eligibility Verification (Form I-9)?
You can find a list of acceptable document choices on the ``Lists
of Acceptable Documents'' for Employment Eligibility Verification (Form
I-9). You can find additional detailed information on the USCIS I-9
Central Web page at https://www.uscis.gov/I-9Central. Employers are
required to verify the identity and employment authorization of all new
employees by using Employment Eligibility Verification (Form I-9).
Within 3 days of being hired, you must present proof of identity and
employment authorization to your employer.
You may present any document from List A (reflecting both your
identity and employment authorization) or one document from List B
(reflecting identity) together with one document from List C
(reflecting employment authorization). An EAD is an acceptable document
under ``List A.'' You may present an acceptable receipt for a List A,
List B, or List C document as described in the Employment Eligibility
Verification (Form I-9) Instructions. An acceptable receipt is one that
shows an employee has applied to replace a document that was lost,
stolen or
[[Page 15332]]
damaged. If you present an acceptable receipt, you must present your
employer with the actual document within 90 days. Employers may not
reject a document based on a future expiration date.
If your EAD has an expiration date of May 21, 2016, and states ``A-
12'' or ``C-19'' under ``Category,'' it has been extended automatically
for 6 months by virtue of this Federal Register Notice, and you may
choose to present your EAD to your employer as proof of identity and
employment authorization for Employment Eligibility Verification (Form
I-9) through November 21, 2016 (see the subsection titled ``How do my
employer and I complete the Employment Eligibility Verification (Form
I-9) using an automatically extended EAD for a new job?'' for further
information). To minimize confusion over this extension at the time of
hire, you should explain to your employer that USCIS has automatically
extended your EAD through November 21, 2016, based on your Temporary
Protected Status. You are also strongly encouraged, although not
required, to show your employer a copy of this Federal Register Notice
confirming the automatic extension of employment authorization through
November 21, 2016. As an alternative to presenting your automatically
extended EAD, you may choose to present any other acceptable document
from List A, or a combination of one selection from List B and one
selection from List C.
What documentation may I show my employer if I am already employed but
my current TPS-related EAD is set to expire?
Even though EADs with an expiration date of May 21, 2016, that
state ``A-12'' or ``C-19'' under ``Category'' have been automatically
extended for 6 months by this Federal Register Notice, your employer
will need to ask you about your continued employment authorization once
May 21, 2016, is reached to meet its responsibilities for Employment
Eligibility Verification (Form I-9). Your employer does not need to
complete a new Employment Eligibility Verification (Form I-9) to
reverify your employment authorization until November 21, 2016, the
expiration date of the automatic extension, but may need to reinspect
your automatically extended EAD to check the expiration date and code
to record the updated expiration date on your Employment Eligibility
Verification (Form I-9) if your employer did not keep a copy of this
EAD at the time you initially presented it. You and your employer must
make corrections to the employment authorization expiration dates in
Section 1 and Section 2 of Employment Eligibility Verification (Form I-
9) (see the subsection titled ``What corrections should my current
employer and I make to Employment Eligibility Verification (Form I-9)
if my EAD has been automatically extended?'' for further information).
You are also strongly encouraged, although not required, to show this
Federal Register Notice to your employer to explain what to do for
Employment Eligibility Verification (Form I-9).
By November 21, 2016, the expiration date of the automatic
extension, your employer must reverify your employment authorization.
At that time, you must present any unexpired document from List A or
any unexpired document from List C on Employment Eligibility
Verification (Form I-9) to reverify employment authorization, or an
acceptable List A or List C receipt described in the Employment
Eligibility Verification (Form I-9) instructions. Your employer is
required to reverify on Employment Eligibility Verification (Form I-9)
the employment authorization of current employees upon the
automatically extended expiration date of a TPS-related EAD, which is
November 21, 2016, in this case. Your employer should use either
Section 3 of the Employment Eligibility Verification (Form I-9)
originally completed for the employee or, if this section has already
been completed or if the version of Employment Eligibility Verification
(Form I-9) is no longer valid, complete Section 3 of a new Employment
Eligibility Verification (Form I-9) using the most current version.
Note that your employer may not specify which List A or List C document
employees must present, and cannot reject an acceptable receipt. An
acceptable receipt is one that shows an employee has applied to replace
a document that was lost, stolen or damaged.
Can my employer require that I produce any other documentation to prove
my current TPS status, such as proof of my Liberian citizenship or
proof that I have re-registered for TPS?
No. When completing Employment Eligibility Verification (Form I-9),
including reverifying employment authorization, employers must accept
any documentation that appears on the ``Lists of Acceptable Documents''
for Employment Eligibility Verification (Form I-9) that reasonably
appears to be genuine and that relates to you or an acceptable List A,
List B, or List C receipt. Employers may not request documentation that
does not appear on the ``Lists of Acceptable Documents.'' Therefore,
employers may not request proof of Liberian citizenship or proof of re-
registration for TPS when completing Employment Eligibility
Verification (Form I-9) for new hires or reverifying the employment
authorization of current employees. Refer to the ``Note to Employees''
section of this Notice for important information about your rights if
your employer rejects lawful documentation, requires additional
documentation, or otherwise discriminates against you based on your
citizenship or immigration status, or your national origin. Note that
although you are not required to provide your employer with a copy of
this Federal Register Notice, you are strongly encouraged to do so to
help avoid confusion.
What happens after November 21, 2016, for purposes of employment
authorization?
After November 21, 2016, employers may no longer accept the EADs
that this Federal Register Notice automatically extended. New EADs
requested and issued under this TPS extension will also expire on
November 21, 2016, unless automatically extended by a subsequent
Federal Register Notice.
How do my employer and I complete Employment Eligibility Verification
(Form I-9) using an automatically extended EAD for a new job?
When using an automatically extended EAD to complete Employment
Eligibility Verification (Form I-9) for a new job before November 21,
2016, you and your employer should do the following:
1. For Section 1, you should:
a. Check ``An alien authorized to work;''
b. Write the automatically extended EAD expiration date (November
21, 2016) in the first space; and
c. Write your alien number (USCIS number or A-number) in the second
space (your EAD or other document from DHS will have your USCIS number
or A-number printed on it; the USCIS number is the same as your A-
number without the A prefix).
2. For Section 2, employers should record the:
a. Document title;
b. Issuing authority;
c. Document number; and
d. Automatically extended EAD expiration date (November 21, 2016).
By November 21, 2016, employers must reverify the employee's
employment authorization in Section 3 of the Employment Eligibility
Verification (Form I-9).
[[Page 15333]]
What corrections should my current employer and I make to Employment
Eligibility Verification (Form I-9) if my EAD has been automatically
extended?
If you are an existing employee who presented a TPS-related EAD
that was valid when you first started your job but that EAD has now
been automatically extended, your employer may reinspect your
automatically extended EAD if the employer does not have a photocopy of
the EAD on file, and you and your employer should correct your
previously completed Employment Eligibility Verification (Form I-9) as
follows:
1. For Section 1, you should:
a. Draw a line through the expiration date in the first space;
b. Write ``November 21, 2016'' above the previous date;
c. Write ``TPS Ext.'' in the margin of Section 1; and
d. Initial and date the correction in the margin of Section 1.
2. For Section 2, employers should:
a. Draw a line through the expiration date written in Section 2;
b. Write ``November 21, 2016'' above the previous date;
c. Write ``EAD Ext.'' in the margin of Section 2; and
d. Initial and date the correction in the margin of Section 2.
By November 21, 2016, when the automatic extension of EADs expires,
employers must reverify the employee's employment authorization in
Section 3.
If I am an employer enrolled in E-Verify, what do I do when I receive a
``Work Authorization Documents Expiration'' alert for an automatically
extended EAD?
If you are an employer who participates in E-Verify and you have an
employee who is a TPS beneficiary who provided a TPS-related EAD when
he or she first started working for you, you will receive a ``Work
Authorization Documents Expiring'' case alert when this EAD is about to
expire. Usually, this message is an alert to complete Section 3 of the
Employment Eligibility Verification (Form I-9) to reverify an
employee's employment authorization. For existing employees with TPS-
related EADs that have been automatically extended, employers should
dismiss this alert by clicking the red ``X'' in the ``dismiss alert''
column and follow the instructions above explaining how to correct the
Employment Eligibility Verification (Form I-9). By November 21, 2016,
employment authorization must be reverified in Section 3. Employers
should never use E-Verify for reverification.
Note to All Employers
Employers are reminded that the laws requiring proper employment
eligibility verification and prohibiting unfair immigration-related
employment practices remain in full force. This Notice does not
supersede or in any way limit applicable employment verification rules
and policy guidance, including those rules setting forth reverification
requirements. For general questions about the employment eligibility
verification process, employers may call USCIS at 888-464-4218 (TTY
877-875-6028) or email I-9Central@dhs.gov. Calls and emails are
accepted in English and many other languages. For questions about
avoiding discrimination during the employment eligibility verification
process, employers may also call the U.S. Department of Justice, Office
of Special Counsel for Immigration-Related Unfair Employment Practices
(OSC) Employer Hotline, at 800-255-8155 (TTY 800-237-2515), which
offers language interpretation in numerous languages, or email OSC at
osccrt@usdoj.gov.
Note to Employees
For general questions about the employment eligibility verification
process, you may call USCIS at 888-897-7781 (TTY 877-875-6028) or email
I-9Central@dhs.gov. Calls are accepted in English and many other
languages. You may also call the OSC Worker Information Hotline at 800-
255-7688 (TTY 800-237-2515) for information regarding employment
discrimination based upon citizenship status, immigration status, or
national origin, or for information regarding discrimination related to
Employment Eligibility Verification (Form I-9) and E-Verify. The OSC
Worker Information Hotline provides language interpretation in numerous
languages.
To comply with the law, employers must accept any document or
combination of documents from the Lists of Acceptable Documents if the
documentation reasonably appears to be genuine and to relate to the
employee, or an acceptable List A, List B, or List C receipt described
in the Employment Eligibility Verification (Form I-9) Instructions.
Employers may not require extra or additional documentation beyond what
is required for Employment Eligibility Verification (Form I-9)
completion. Further, employers participating in E-Verify who receive an
E-Verify case result of ``Tentative Nonconfirmation'' (TNC) must
promptly inform employees of the TNC and give such employees an
opportunity to contest the TNC. A TNC case result means that the
information entered into E-Verify from Employment Eligibility
Verification (Form I-9) differs from Federal or state government
records.
Employers may not terminate, suspend, delay training, withhold pay,
lower pay, or take any adverse action against you based on your
decision to contest a TNC or because the case is still pending with E-
Verify. A Final Nonconfirmation (FNC) case result is received when E-
Verify cannot verify your employment eligibility. An employer may
terminate employment based on a case result of FNC. Work-authorized
employees who receive an FNC may call USCIS for assistance at 888-897-
7781 (TTY 877-875-6028). If you believe you were discriminated against
by an employer in the E-Verify process based on citizenship or
immigration status or based on national origin, you may contact OSC's
Worker Information Hotline at 800-255-7688 (TTY 800-237-2515).
Additional information about proper nondiscriminatory Employment
Eligibility Verification (Form I-9) and E-Verify procedures is
available on the OSC Web site at https://www.justice.gov/crt/about/osc/
and the USCIS Web site at https://www.dhs.gov/E-verify.
Note Regarding Federal, State, and Local Government Agencies (Such as
Departments of Motor Vehicles)
While Federal Government agencies must follow the guidelines laid
out by the Federal Government, State and local government agencies
establish their own rules and guidelines when granting certain
benefits. Each State may have different laws, requirements, and
determinations about what documents you need to provide to prove
eligibility for certain benefits. Whether you are applying for a
Federal, State, or local government benefit, you may need to provide
the government agency with documents that show you are a TPS
beneficiary and/or show you are authorized to work based on TPS.
Examples are:
(1) Your unexpired EAD;
(2) A copy of this Federal Register Notice if your EAD is
automatically extended under this Notice;
(3) A copy of your Application for Temporary Protected Status
Notice of Action (Form I-797) for this re-registration;
(4) A copy of your past or current Application for Temporary
Protected Status Approval Notice (Form I-797), if you received one from
USCIS; and/or
(5) If there is an automatic extension of work authorization, a
copy of the fact sheet from the USCIS TPS Web site that
[[Page 15334]]
provides information on the automatic extension.
Check with the government agency regarding which document(s) the
agency will accept. You may also provide the agency with a copy of this
Federal Register Notice.
Some benefit-granting agencies use the USCIS Systematic Alien
Verification for Entitlements Program (SAVE) to verify the current
immigration status of applicants for public benefits. If such an agency
has denied your application based solely or in part on a SAVE response,
the agency must offer you the opportunity to appeal the decision in
accordance with the agency's procedures. If the agency has received and
acted upon or will act upon a SAVE verification and you do not believe
the response is correct, you may make an InfoPass appointment for an
in-person interview at a local USCIS office. Detailed information on
how to make corrections, make an appointment, or submit a written
request to correct records under the Freedom of Information Act can be
found at the SAVE Web site at https://www.uscis.gov/save, then by
choosing ``How to Correct Your Records'' from the menu on the right.
[FR Doc. 2016-06328 Filed 3-21-16; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 9111-97-P
