Extension of the Designation of Somalia for Temporary Protected Status, 4905-4911 [2016-31861]
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Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 10 / Tuesday, January 17, 2017 / Notices
diplomatic discussions between the
United States and Cuba with respect to
travel and migration between the two
countries. DHS, in consultation with the
Department of State, has determined
that eliminating the exception from
expedited removal proceedings for
Cuban nationals involves a foreign
affairs function of the United States, 5
U.S.C. 553(a)(1), and that this notice is
exempt from APA procedural
requirements on that basis.
Finally, and for the same reasons
described above, DHS finds that delay
caused by publication would adversely
affect the interests of the United States
and the effective enforcement of the
immigration laws, and therefore invokes
8 CFR 235.3(b)(1)(ii) to make this
designation effective immediately upon
placement on public inspection.
Although advance notice and
comment procedures are not in the
interests of the United States with
respect to this notice, DHS is interested
in receiving comments from the public
on the elimination of the categorical
exception for Cuban nationals. DHS
believes that by maintaining a dialogue
with interested parties, DHS may be
better positioned to ensure that the
program is even more effective in
combating and deterring illegal entry,
while at the same time protecting the
rights of the individuals affected.
sradovich on DSK3GMQ082PROD with NOTICES
Notice of Designation of Aliens Subject
to Expedited Removal Proceedings
Pursuant to section 235(b)(1)(A)(iii) of
the Immigration and Nationality Act (8
U.S.C. 1225(b)(1)(A)(iii)) and 8 CFR
235.3(b)(1)(ii), I order as follows:
(1) With respect to the abovereferenced Designation of November 13,
2002, 67 FR 68924, I hereby rescind the
provision at numbered paragraph (5),
specifying that ‘‘[e]xpedited removal
proceedings will not be initiated against
Cuban citizens or nationals who arrive
by sea,’’ and other language of the
Designation referencing or relating to
that exception for Cuban citizens or
nationals.
(2) With respect to the abovereferenced Designation of August 11,
2004, 69 FR 48877, I hereby rescind the
provision at numbered paragraph (6),
specifying that ‘‘[t]he expedited removal
proceedings contemplated by this notice
will not be initiated against Cuban
citizens or nationals,’’ and other
language of the Designation referencing
or relating to that exception for Cuban
citizens or nationals.
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Signed: at Washington, DC this 11th of
January, 2017.
Jeh Charles Johnson,
Secretary of Homeland Security.
[FR Doc. 2017–00914 Filed 1–13–17; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE P
DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND
SECURITY
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration
Services
[CIS No. 2593–16; DHS Docket No. USCIS–
2015–USCIS–2013–0006]
RIN 1615–ZB62
Extension of the Designation of
Somalia for Temporary Protected
Status
U.S. Citizenship and
Immigration Services, Department of
Homeland Security.
ACTION: Notice.
AGENCY:
The Department of Homeland
Security (DHS) announces that the
Secretary of Homeland Security
(Secretary) is extending the designation
of Somalia for Temporary Protected
Status (TPS) for a period of 18 months,
effective March 18, 2017 through
September 17, 2018. This extension
allows eligible Somali nationals (and
aliens having no nationality who last
habitually resided in Somalia) to retain
TPS through September 17, 2018, so
long as they otherwise continue to meet
the eligibility requirements for TPS. The
Secretary has determined that an
extension is warranted because
conditions in Somalia supporting its
designation for TPS continue to be met.
Through this Notice, DHS also sets forth
procedures necessary for nationals of
Somalia (or aliens having no nationality
who last habitually resided in Somalia)
to re-register for TPS and to apply for
renewal of their Employment
Authorization Documents (EAD) with
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration
Services (USCIS).
DATES: The 18-month extension of the
TPS designation of Somalia is effective
as of March 18, 2017, and will remain
in effect through September 17, 2018.
The 60-day re-registration period runs
from January 17, 2017 through March
20, 2017. Note: It is important for reregistrants 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
SUMMARY:
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4905
Web page at https://www.uscis.gov/tps.
You can find specific information about
the extension of Somalia’s designation
for TPS by selecting ‘‘Somalia’’ from the
menu on the left side of the TPS Web
page.
• You can also contact Guillermo
Roman-Riefkohl, TPS Program Manager,
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).
Service is available in English and
Spanish.
• 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
EAD—Employment Authorization Document
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 aliens 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.
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• TPS beneficiaries may be granted
travel authorization as a matter of
discretion.
• The granting of TPS does not result
in or lead to lawful permanent resident
status.
• When the Secretary terminates a
country’s TPS designation through a
separate Federal Register notice,
beneficiaries return to the same
immigration status they maintained
before TPS, if any (unless that status has
since expired or been terminated), or to
any other lawfully obtained immigration
status they received while registered for
TPS.
When and why was Somalia designated
for TPS?
On September 16, 1991, the Attorney
General designated Somalia for TPS
based on extraordinary and temporary
conditions. See 56 FR 46804 (Sept. 16,
1991). The initial designation was
extended nine times based on
determinations that the conditions
warranting the designation continued to
be met. On September 4, 2001, the
Attorney General extended Somalia’s
TPS designation for a tenth time and
redesignated Somalia for TPS. See 66 FR
46288 (Sept. 4, 2001). Under the 2001
redesignation, the Attorney General
revised the date from which applicants
had to show they had been
‘‘continuously residing’’ in and
‘‘continuously physically present’’ in
the United States to September 4, 2001.
Somalia’s TPS designation was
subsequently extended nine additional
times, including on May 1, 2012, when
the Secretary both extended and
redesignated Somalia for TPS and added
ongoing armed conflict as an additional
basis for Somalia’s TPS designation.
Under the 2012 redesignation, the
Secretary revised the ‘‘continuous
residence’’ date to May 1, 2012, and the
‘‘continuous physical presence’’ date to
September 18, 2012. See 77 FR 25723
(May 1, 2012). This announcement is
the third extension of the Somalia
designation for TPS since the 2012
extension and redesignation.
sradovich on DSK3GMQ082PROD with NOTICES
What is the effect of this extension of
Somalia’s designation for TPS?
This extension of Somalia’s
designation for TPS allows eligible
Somali nationals (and aliens having no
nationality who last habitually resided
in Somalia) who currently hold TPS to
retain it through September 17, 2018, so
long as they otherwise continue to meet
the eligibility requirements for TPS.
Current beneficiaries who wish to
maintain their TPS should file a reregistration application with USCIS.
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They may also apply for renewal of their
EADs.
Re-registration is limited to persons
who have previously registered for TPS
under the designation of Somalia and
whose applications have been granted.
Certain nationals of Somalia (or aliens
having no nationality who last
habitually resided in Somalia) 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 May 1, 2012,
and continuous physical presence in the
United States since September 18,
2012).
For individuals who have already
been granted TPS under Somalia’s
designation, the 60-day re-registration
period runs from January 17, 2017
through March 20, 2017. USCIS will
issue new EADs with a September 17,
2018 expiration date to eligible Somalia
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 March 17, 2017.
Accordingly, through this Notice, DHS
automatically extends the validity of
EADs issued under the TPS designation
of Somalia for 6 months, through
September 17, 2017, 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.
What authority does the Secretary have
to extend the designation of Somalia for
TPS?
Section 244(b)(1) of the INA, 8 U.S.C.
1254a(b)(1), authorizes the Secretary,
after consultation with appropriate U.S.
Government (Government) agencies, to
designate a foreign state (or part thereof)
for TPS if the Secretary finds that
certain country conditions exist.1
Following the designation of a foreign
state for TPS, the Secretary may then
grant TPS to eligible nationals of that
foreign state (or eligible aliens having no
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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nationality who last habitually resided
in that state). See INA section
244(a)(1)(A), 8 U.S.C. 1254a(a)(1)(A).
Applicants must demonstrate that they
satisfy all eligibility criteria, including
that they have been ‘‘continuously
physically present’’ in the United States
since the effective date of the
designation, which is either the date of
the Federal Register notice announcing
the designation or such later date as the
Secretary may determine, and that they
have ‘‘continuously resided’’ in the
United States since such date as the
Secretary may designate. See INA
sections 244(a)(1)(A), (b)(2)(A),
(c)(1)(A)(i–ii); 8 U.S.C. 1254a(a)(1)(A),
(b)(2)(A), (c)(1)(A)(i–ii).
Why is the Secretary extending the TPS
designation for Somalia through
September 17, 2018?
DHS, in consultation with the
Department of State, has conducted a
thorough review of conditions in
Somalia. Based on this review, the
Secretary has determined that an 18month extension of Somalia’s
designation for TPS is warranted
because the conditions that supported
its 2012 redesignation—(1) ongoing
armed conflict and (2) extraordinary and
temporary conditions that prevent
Somali nationals from returning to
Somalia in safety—continue to exist.
The Secretary has further determined
that permitting eligible Somali nationals
to remain temporarily in the United
States is not contrary to the national
interest of the United States.
The security situation in Somalia
remains fragile and volatile, with much
of Somalia in a state of ongoing armed
conflict between government forces,
clan militia, African Union troops, and
al-Shabaab. Al-Shabaab controls large
swaths of territory in southern Somalia
and conducts frequent asymmetric
attacks on military and civilian targets
in government-controlled areas.
Additionally, some parts of the country
not under al-Shabaab control experience
high levels of insecurity due to interand intra-clan conflict. Members of
minority clans are systematically
marginalized, abused, and sometimes
killed by members of larger clans.
Minority clan members have also been
largely displaced from their original
territories in Somalia, and members of
those clans who return to Somalia may
find themselves in displaced persons
camps. Individuals living in informal
camps for displaced persons have been
subjected to serious abuses, including
rape, physical attacks, restricted access
to humanitarian assistance, and clanbased discrimination.
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Somalia continues to experience a
complex protracted emergency that is
one of the worst humanitarian crises in
the world. Approximately 5 million
people (over 40 percent of the total
population of around 11 million) are in
need of humanitarian assistance, and
there are an estimated 1.1 million
internally displaced persons.
Malnutrition rates in Somalia are among
the highest in the world, with an
estimated one million people
experiencing acute food insecurity. The
˜
2015–2016 El Nino phenomenon has
intensified extensive flooding and
severe drought, with the drought
conditions contributing to deteriorating
food security in northern areas of the
country. Non-permanent water sources,
such as dams and streams are drying up,
driving up the price of water.
Vulnerable households are forced to
consume unsafe water because they are
unable to pay the high cost.
Approximately 3.2 million people in
Somalia lack sufficient access to
emergency health care services, and
about 1.9 million people are at risk of
dying of preventable diseases due to
lack of access to primary health care
services. The maternal mortality rate in
Somalia is among the highest in the
world. Due to the drought, health
facilities have seen an increase in
waterborne communicable diseases, as
the only available remaining water
sources are shared by humans and
livestock. Health facilities have also
recorded an increased incidence of
diseases associated with a lack of water
and poor hygiene, namely skin diseases,
respiratory infections, and febrile
illnesses.
Based upon DHS’s review of
conditions in Somalia and after
consultation with appropriate
Government agencies, the Secretary has
determined that:
• The conditions that prompted the
May 1, 2012 redesignation of Somalia
for TPS continue to be met. See INA
section 244(b)(1)(A) and (C), (b)(3)(A)
and (C); 8 U.S.C. 1254a(b)(1)(A) and (C),
(b)(3)(A) and (C).
• There continues to be an ongoing
armed conflict in Somalia and, due to
such conflict, requiring the return of
Somali nationals would pose a serious
threat to their safety. See INA section
244(b)(1)(A), 8 U.S.C. 1254a(b)(1)(A).
• There continue to be extraordinary
and temporary conditions in Somalia
that prevent Somali nationals from
returning to Somalia 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
Somalis (and persons who have no
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nationality who last habitually resided
in Somalia) 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 Somalia for TPS
should be extended for an additional 18month period from March 18, 2017
through September 17, 2018. See INA
section 244(b)(3)(C), 8 U.S.C.
1254a(b)(3)(C).
Based on data from the last reregistration period, DHS expects
approximately 250 beneficiaries under
Somalia’s TPS designation to file for reregistration under the extension.
Notice of Extension of the TPS
Designation of Somalia
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 the
conditions supporting the most recent
designation of Somalia for Temporary
Protected Status (TPS) on May 1, 2012
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 designation of Somalia for
TPS for 18 months from March 18, 2017
through September 17, 2018. See INA
section 244(b)(1)(A) and (C), (b)(2); 8
U.S.C. 1254a(b)(1)(A) and (C), (b)(2).
Jeh Charles Johnson,
Secretary.
I am currently a Somalia TPS
beneficiary. What should I do?
If you are a current TPS beneficiary,
then you need to file a re-registration
application under the extension if you
wish to maintain TPS benefits through
September 17, 2018. You must use the
Application for Temporary Protected
Status (Form I–821) to re-register for
TPS. The 60-day open re-registration
period will run from January 17, 2017
through March 20, 2017.
Required Application Forms and
Application Fees To Register or ReRegister for TPS
To register or re-register for TPS based
on the designation of Somalia, an
applicant must submit each of the
following two 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
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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. and
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.
No fee for the Application for
Employment Authorization (Form I–
765) is required if you are under the age
of 14 or are 66 and older and applying
for late initial registration.
• If you are applying for reregistration, you must pay the fee for the
Application for Employment
Authorization (Form I–765) only if you
want an EAD, regardless of age.
• 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 for the Application for
Employment Authorization (Form I–
765) and/or biometric services fee, you
may apply for a fee waiver by
completing a Request for Fee Waiver
(Form I–912) or submit a personal letter
requesting a fee waiver, and provide
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)(1)(i).
Biometric Services Fee
Biometrics (such as fingerprints) are
required for all applicants 14 years of
age or 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 apply for a fee waiver by
completing a Request for Fee Waiver
(Form I–912) or by submitting a
personal letter requesting a fee waiver,
and providing satisfactory supporting
documentation. For more information
on the biometric services fee, please
visit the USCIS Web site at https://
www.uscis.gov. If necessary, you may be
required to visit an Application Support
Center to have your biometrics
captured.
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Re-Filing a Re-Registration TPS
Application After Receiving a Denial of
a Fee Waiver Request
USCIS urges all re-registering
applicants to file as soon as possible
within the 60-day re-registration period
so that USCIS can process the
applications and issue EADs promptly.
Filing early will also allow those
applicants who may receive denials of
their fee waiver requests to have time to
re-file their applications before the reregistration deadline. If, however, an
applicant receives a denial of his or her
fee waiver request and is unable to refile by the re-registration deadline, the
applicant may still re-file his or her
application. This situation will be
reviewed to determine whether the
applicant has established good cause for
late re-registration. However, applicants
are urged to re-file within 45 days of the
date on their USCIS fee waiver denial
notice, if at all 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: As previously
stated, 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, the
applicant 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 the
individual’s TPS re-registration, if he or
she is eligible. If you choose to do this,
you would file the Application for
Temporary Protected Status (Form I–
821) with the 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 you:
Then mail your application to:
Would like to send your application by U.S. Postal Service ....................
Would like to send your application by non-U.S. Postal Service courier
USCIS Attn: TPS Somalia, P.O. Box 6943, Chicago, IL 60680–6943.
USCIS Attn: TPS Somalia, 131 S. Dearborn, 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, please mail
your application to the address in Table
1. After you submit your EAD
application and receive a USCIS receipt
number, please send an email to the
Service Center handling your
application. The email should include
the receipt number and state that you
submitted a 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 EAD application, as
USCIS may not have received records of
your grant of TPS by either the IJ or the
BIA. To obtain 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 packet. Please mail your
application packet to the mailing
address listed in Table 1.
sradovich on DSK3GMQ082PROD with NOTICES
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 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 ‘‘Somalia.’’
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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 6month extension of my current EAD
through September 17, 2017?
Provided that you currently have TPS
under the designation of Somalia, this
Notice automatically extends your EAD
by 6 months if you:
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• Are a national of Somalia (or an
alien having no nationality who last
habitually resided in Somalia);
• Have an EAD under the designation
of TPS for Somalia with a marked
expiration date of March 17, 2017,
bearing the notation ‘‘A–12’’ or ‘‘C–19’’
on the face of the card under
‘‘Category.’’
Although this Notice automatically
extends your EAD through September
17, 2017, 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 Form I–9, Employment
Eligibility Verification?
You can find a list of acceptable
document choices on the ‘‘Lists of
Acceptable Documents’’ for 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 Form I–9. Within 3 days of hire,
an employee must present proof of
identity and employment authorization
to his or her 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). Alternatively, you may
present an acceptable receipt for List A,
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List B, or List C documents as described
in the Form I–9 Instructions. An EAD is
an acceptable document under List A.
Employers may not reject a document
based on a future expiration date.
If your EAD has an expiration date of
March 17, 2017, 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 Form I–9 through September 17,
2017 (see the subsection titled, ‘‘How do
my employer and I complete 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 September 17, 2017. You may
also show your employer a copy of this
Federal Register Notice confirming the
automatic extension of employment
authorization through September 17,
2017. As an alternative to presenting
your automatically extended EAD, you
may choose to present any other
acceptable document from List A, a
combination of one selection from List
B and one selection from List C, or a
valid receipt.
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 March 17, 2017, 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 September 17, 2017,
is reached to meet its responsibilities for
Form I–9 compliance. Your employer
may need to reinspect your
automatically extended EAD to check
the expiration date and code to record
the updated expiration date on your
Form I–9 if he or she did not keep a
copy of this EAD when you initially
presented it. However, your employer
does not need a new document to
reverify your employment authorization
until September 17, 2017, the expiration
date of the automatic extension. Instead,
you and your employer must make
corrections to the employment
authorization expiration dates in
Sections 1 and 2 of Form I–9 (see the
subsection titled, ‘‘What corrections
should my current employer and I make
to Form I–9 if my EAD has been
automatically extended?’’ for further
information). In addition, you may also
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18:21 Jan 13, 2017
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show this Federal Register Notice to
your employer to explain what to do for
Form I–9.
By September 17, 2017, the expiration
date of the automatic extension, your
employer must reverify your
employment authorization. At that time,
you must present any document from
List A or any document from List C on
Form I–9 to reverify employment
authorization, or an acceptable List A or
List C receipt described in the Form I–
9 Instructions. Your employer should
complete either Section 3 of the Form I–
9 originally completed for you or, if this
Section has already been completed or
if the version of Form I–9 has expired
(check the date in the upper right-hand
corner of the form), complete Section 3
of the most current version of Form I–
9. Note that employers may not specify
which List A or List C document
employees must present and cannot
reject an acceptable receipt.
Can my employer require that I produce
any other documentation to prove my
status, such as proof of my Somali
citizenship?
No. When completing Form I–9,
including re-verifying employment
authorization, employers must accept
any documentation that appears on the
Lists of Acceptable Documents and 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
Somali citizenship or proof of reregistration for TPS when completing
Form I–9 for new hires, making
corrections, or reverifying the
employment authorization of current
employees. If presented with EADs that
have been automatically extended,
employers should accept such EADs as
valid List A documents so long as the
EADs reasonably appear to be genuine
and to relate to the employee. 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.
What happens after September 17, 2017,
for purposes of employment
authorization?
After September 17, 2017, employers
may no longer accept the EADs that this
Federal Register Notice automatically
extended. Before that time, however,
USCIS will endeavor to issue new EADs
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4909
to eligible TPS re-registrants who
request them. These new EADs will
have an expiration date of September
17, 2018 and can be presented to your
employer for completion of Form I–9.
Alternatively, you may choose to
present any other legally acceptable
document or combination of documents
listed on the Lists of Acceptable
Documents for Form I–9.
How do my employer and I complete
Form I–9 using an automatically
extended EAD for a new job?
When using an automatically
extended EAD to complete Form I–9 for
a new job prior to September 17, 2017,
you and your employer should do the
following:
1. For Section 1, you should:
a. Check ‘‘An alien authorized to
work;’’
b. Enter the automatically extended
EAD expiration date (September 17,
2017) in the first space; and
c. Enter 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
enter the:
a. Document title;
b. Issuing authority;
c. Document number; and
d. Automatically extended EAD
expiration date (September 17, 2017).
By September 17, 2017, employers
must reverify the employee’s
employment authorization in Section 3
of Form I–9.
What corrections should my current
employer and I make to 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 need to reinspect your
automatically extended EAD if your
employer does not have a copy of the
EAD on file, and you and your employer
should correct your previously
completed 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 ‘‘September 17, 2017,’’ 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;
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b. Write ‘‘September 17, 2017,’’ above
the previous date;
c. Write ‘‘TPS Ext.’’ in the Additional
Information field in Section 2; and
d. Initial and date the correction in
the Additional Information field in
Section 2.
By September 17, 2017, when the
automatic extension of EADs expires,
employers must reverify the employee’s
employment authorization in Section 3.
sradovich on DSK3GMQ082PROD 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?
E-Verify automated the verification
process for employees whose TPS status
was automatically extended in a Federal
Register notice. If 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 the autoextension period for this EAD is about
to expire. By September 17, 2017, you
must reverify employment authorization
in Section 3. Employers should not 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
USCIS at 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
(Form I–9 and E-Verify) 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, employees may call USCIS at
888–897–7781 (TTY 877–875–6028) or
email at I–9Central@dhs.gov. Calls are
accepted in English and many other
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18:21 Jan 13, 2017
Jkt 241001
languages. Employees or applicants 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, including
information regarding discrimination
related to 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 for Form
I–9 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
Form I–9 Instructions. Employers may
not require extra or additional
documentation beyond what is required
for Form I–9 completion. Further,
employers participating in E-Verify who
receive an E-Verify case result of
‘‘Tentative Nonconfirmation’’ (TNC)
must promptly and privately 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
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 an employee based on the
employee’s decision to contest a TNC or
because the case is still pending with EVerify. A Final Nonconfirmation (FNC)
case result is received when E-Verify
cannot verify an employee’s
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). An employee who
believes he or she was discriminated
against by an employer in the E-Verify
process based on citizenship or
immigration status, or based on national
origin, may contact OSC’s Worker
Information Hotline at 800–255–7688
(TTY 800–237–2515). Additional
information about proper
nondiscriminatory 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
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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 that has been
automatically extended or your EAD
that has not expired;
(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 Notice of Action (Form I–797), if
you received one from USCIS; or
(5) If there is an automatic extension
of work authorization, information from
the USCIS TPS Web site that provides
information about 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
confirm the current immigration status
of applicants for public benefits. In most
cases, SAVE provides an automated
electronic response to benefit granting
agencies within seconds but
occasionally verification can be delayed.
You can check the status of your SAVE
verification by using CaseCheck at the
following link: https://save.uscis.gov/
casecheck/, then click the ‘‘Check Your
Case’’ button. CaseCheck is a free and
fast service that lets you follow the
progress of your SAVE verification
using your date of birth and one
immigration identifier number. If a
benefit-granting 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,
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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 ‘‘For Benefit
Applicants’’ from the menu on the left
and selecting ‘‘Questions about your
Records?’’
[FR Doc. 2016–31861 Filed 1–13–17; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 9111–97–P
DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND
URBAN DEVELOPMENT
[Docket No. FR–5977–N–01]
Waiver of Requirements for the State
of New York: CDBG Disaster Recovery
Grants for Recovery of Lower
Manhattan
Office of the Assistant
Secretary for Community Planning and
Development, HUD.
ACTION: Notice.
AGENCY:
This notice advises the public
of an additional waiver applicable to the
Community Development Block Grant
Disaster Recovery (CDBG–DR) grants
provided to the State of New York for
the purpose of assisting in the recovery
from the September 11, 2001, terrorist
attacks on New York City. As described
in the ‘‘Background’’ section of this
notice, HUD is authorized by statute and
regulations to waive statutory and
regulatory requirements and specify
alternative requirements for this
purpose upon the request of the grantee.
DATES: Effective Date: January 23, 2017.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Stanley Gimont, Director, Office of
Block Grant Assistance, Department of
Housing and Urban Development, 451
7th Street SW., Room 7286, Washington,
DC 20410, telephone number 202–708–
3587. Persons with hearing or speech
impairments may access this number
via TTY by calling the Federal Relay
Service at 800–877–8339. Facsimile
inquiries may be sent to Mr. Gimont at
202–401–2044. (Except for the ‘‘800’’
number, these telephone numbers are
not toll-free.) Email inquiries may be
sent to disaster_recovery@hud.gov.
SUMMARY:
sradovich on DSK3GMQ082PROD with NOTICES
Table of Contents
I. Background
II. Applicable Rules, Statutes, Waivers, and
Alternative Requirements
III. Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance
IV. Finding of No Significant Impact
I. Background
Provisions of four public laws (the
Appropriation Acts) govern the
Community Development Block Grant
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18:21 Jan 13, 2017
Jkt 241001
Disaster Recovery (CDBG–DR) grants
covered by this Notice:
• The fifth proviso under the 2001
Emergency Supplemental
Appropriations Act for Recovery from
and Response to Terrorist Attacks on the
United States (Pub. L. 107–38, approved
September 18, 2001);
• Section 434 of title IV of the
Departments of Veterans Affairs and
Housing and Urban Development, and
Independent Agencies Appropriations
Act, 2002 (Pub. L. 107–73, approved
November 26, 2001);
• Chapter 13 of division B of the
Department of Defense and Emergency
Supplemental Appropriations for
Recovery from and Response to
Terrorist Attacks on the United States
Act, 2002 (Pub. L. 107–117, approved
January 10, 2002); and
• Chapter 13 of title II of the 2002
Supplemental Appropriations Act for
Further Recovery from and Response to
Terrorist Attacks on the United States
(Pub. L. 107–206, approved August 2,
2002).
These Appropriation Acts funded
three CDBG–DR grants: A single grant of
$700 million awarded to Empire State
Development Corporation (ESDC); and
two grants of $2.0 billion and $783
million, respectively, awarded to the
Lower Manhattan Development
Corporation (LMDC). ESDC is a political
subdivision and public benefit
corporation of the state of New York and
LMDC is a subsidiary of ESDC.
This Notice specifies waivers and
alternative requirements and modifies
previous requirements applicable to
LMDC’s grants under the Appropriation
Acts, which are described in Federal
Register Notices published by the
Department on January 28, 2002 (67 FR
4164), February 7, 2002 (67 FR 5845),
March 18, 2002 (67 FR 12042), May 22,
2002 (67 FR 36017), May 16, 2003 (68
FR 26640), April 12, 2004 (69 FR
19211), and August 22, 2011 (76 FR
52340) (referred to collectively in this
Notice as the ‘‘prior Notices.’’). The
requirements of the prior Notices
continue to apply, except as modified
by this Notice.1
LMDC administers CDBG–DR funds
allocated to the organization for
emergency expenses and economic
revitalization in response to the
September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks in
New York City. LMDC is charged with
assisting New York City in recovering
from the terrorist attacks on the World
1 Links to the prior notices, the text of the
Appropriations Act, and additional guidance
prepared by the Department for CDBG–DR grants
are available on the HUD Exchange Web site:
https://www.hudexchange.info/cdbg-dr/cdbgdrlaws-regulations-and-federal-register-notices/.
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Trade Center (WTC), in part by working
with the Port Authority of New York
and New Jersey (Port Authority). There
are two components to this effort. The
first is a ‘‘Memorial Program,’’ carried
out by LMDC, that includes the
construction of a Memorial and
Memorial Museum (completed), and the
planning and construction of other
Memorial-related improvements to
complement further redevelopment in
the immediate area. The second
component is a ‘‘Redevelopment
Program,’’ carried out by the Port
Authority, which includes commercial
and retail space, open space areas, and
other improvements. LMDC works
closely with the Port Authority to
effectuate the Redevelopment Program.
For additional information regarding the
roles and responsibilities of LMDC and
the Port Authority and the World Trade
Center Memorial and Cultural Program
General Project Plan (GPP), please refer
to the LDMC Web site at: https://
www.renewnyc.com/ThePlan/general_
project_plan.asp.
Consistent with its approved CDBG–
DR action plan and amendments, LMDC
used CDBG–DR funds to acquire and
clear real property identified in the GPP
as 130 Liberty Street and 140 Liberty
Street. In order to enable LDMC to fully
implement its Memorial Program and to
enable the Port Authority to pursue its
Redevelopment Program, LMDC
proposes an exchange of real property
interests with the Port Authority. The
Port Authority will provide LMDC or its
designee with a lease (up to 99 years)
and purchase option for Port Authorityowned property that will be used for
memorial and cultural facilities that are
part of LMDC’s Memorial Program, most
specifically a performing arts center.
This ownership structure will parallel a
prior plan governing the site of the
Memorial Museum, which was also part
of the larger exchange of memorial and
cultural properties dedicated for the
Memorial Program. In the first phase of
this exchange, the Port Authority will
obtain title to the portions of 130 and
140 Liberty Street parcels necessary to
finalize the below-grade WTC Vehicle
Security Center with a public park,
known as Liberty Park, at and above
street level, and the St. Nicholas
National Shrine at the World Trade
Center, all of which are part of the
Redevelopment Program. These portions
of 130 and 140 Liberty Street have
already been partially redeveloped by
the Port Authority pursuant to an access
agreement with LMDC. HUD must
waive certain regulations applicable to
the reuse of 130 and 140 Liberty Street
to facilitate the current exchange
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]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 10 (Tuesday, January 17, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Pages 4905-4911]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-31861]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services
[CIS No. 2593-16; DHS Docket No. USCIS-2015-USCIS-2013-0006]
RIN 1615-ZB62
Extension of the Designation of Somalia for Temporary Protected
Status
AGENCY: U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, Department of
Homeland Security.
ACTION: Notice.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announces that the
Secretary of Homeland Security (Secretary) is extending the designation
of Somalia for Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for a period of 18
months, effective March 18, 2017 through September 17, 2018. This
extension allows eligible Somali nationals (and aliens having no
nationality who last habitually resided in Somalia) to retain TPS
through September 17, 2018, so long as they otherwise continue to meet
the eligibility requirements for TPS. The Secretary has determined that
an extension is warranted because conditions in Somalia supporting its
designation for TPS continue to be met. Through this Notice, DHS also
sets forth procedures necessary for nationals of Somalia (or aliens
having no nationality who last habitually resided in Somalia) to re-
register for TPS and to apply for renewal of their Employment
Authorization Documents (EAD) with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration
Services (USCIS).
DATES: The 18-month extension of the TPS designation of Somalia is
effective as of March 18, 2017, and will remain in effect through
September 17, 2018. The 60-day re-registration period runs from January
17, 2017 through March 20, 2017. 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 the extension of Somalia's designation for
TPS by selecting ``Somalia'' from the menu on the left side of the TPS
Web page.
You can also contact Guillermo Roman-Riefkohl, TPS Program
Manager, 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). Service is available
in English and Spanish.
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
EAD--Employment Authorization Document
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 aliens 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.
[[Page 4906]]
TPS beneficiaries may be granted travel authorization as a
matter of discretion.
The granting of TPS does not result in or lead to lawful
permanent resident status.
When the Secretary terminates a country's TPS designation
through a separate Federal Register notice, beneficiaries return to the
same immigration status they maintained before TPS, if any (unless that
status has since expired or been terminated), or to any other lawfully
obtained immigration status they received while registered for TPS.
When and why was Somalia designated for TPS?
On September 16, 1991, the Attorney General designated Somalia for
TPS based on extraordinary and temporary conditions. See 56 FR 46804
(Sept. 16, 1991). The initial designation was extended nine times based
on determinations that the conditions warranting the designation
continued to be met. On September 4, 2001, the Attorney General
extended Somalia's TPS designation for a tenth time and redesignated
Somalia for TPS. See 66 FR 46288 (Sept. 4, 2001). Under the 2001
redesignation, the Attorney General revised the date from which
applicants had to show they had been ``continuously residing'' in and
``continuously physically present'' in the United States to September
4, 2001. Somalia's TPS designation was subsequently extended nine
additional times, including on May 1, 2012, when the Secretary both
extended and redesignated Somalia for TPS and added ongoing armed
conflict as an additional basis for Somalia's TPS designation. Under
the 2012 redesignation, the Secretary revised the ``continuous
residence'' date to May 1, 2012, and the ``continuous physical
presence'' date to September 18, 2012. See 77 FR 25723 (May 1, 2012).
This announcement is the third extension of the Somalia designation for
TPS since the 2012 extension and redesignation.
What is the effect of this extension of Somalia's designation for TPS?
This extension of Somalia's designation for TPS allows eligible
Somali nationals (and aliens having no nationality who last habitually
resided in Somalia) who currently hold TPS to retain it through
September 17, 2018, so long as they otherwise continue to meet the
eligibility requirements for TPS. Current beneficiaries who wish to
maintain their TPS should file a re-registration application with
USCIS. They may also apply for renewal of their EADs.
Re-registration is limited to persons who have previously
registered for TPS under the designation of Somalia and whose
applications have been granted. Certain nationals of Somalia (or aliens
having no nationality who last habitually resided in Somalia) 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 May 1, 2012,
and continuous physical presence in the United States since September
18, 2012).
For individuals who have already been granted TPS under Somalia's
designation, the 60-day re-registration period runs from January 17,
2017 through March 20, 2017. USCIS will issue new EADs with a September
17, 2018 expiration date to eligible Somalia TPS 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 March 17, 2017. Accordingly, through this
Notice, DHS automatically extends the validity of EADs issued under the
TPS designation of Somalia for 6 months, through September 17, 2017,
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.
What authority does the Secretary have to extend the designation of
Somalia for TPS?
Section 244(b)(1) of the INA, 8 U.S.C. 1254a(b)(1), authorizes the
Secretary, after consultation with appropriate U.S. Government
(Government) agencies, to designate a foreign state (or part thereof)
for TPS if the Secretary finds that certain country conditions
exist.\1\ Following the designation of a foreign state for TPS, the
Secretary may then grant TPS to eligible nationals of that foreign
state (or eligible aliens having no nationality who last habitually
resided in that state). See INA section 244(a)(1)(A), 8 U.S.C.
1254a(a)(1)(A). Applicants must demonstrate that they satisfy all
eligibility criteria, including that they have been ``continuously
physically present'' in the United States since the effective date of
the designation, which is either the date of the Federal Register
notice announcing the designation or such later date as the Secretary
may determine, and that they have ``continuously resided'' in the
United States since such date as the Secretary may designate. See INA
sections 244(a)(1)(A), (b)(2)(A), (c)(1)(A)(i-ii); 8 U.S.C.
1254a(a)(1)(A), (b)(2)(A), (c)(1)(A)(i-ii).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\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).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Why is the Secretary extending the TPS designation for Somalia through
September 17, 2018?
DHS, in consultation with the Department of State, has conducted a
thorough review of conditions in Somalia. Based on this review, the
Secretary has determined that an 18-month extension of Somalia's
designation for TPS is warranted because the conditions that supported
its 2012 redesignation--(1) ongoing armed conflict and (2)
extraordinary and temporary conditions that prevent Somali nationals
from returning to Somalia in safety--continue to exist. The Secretary
has further determined that permitting eligible Somali nationals to
remain temporarily in the United States is not contrary to the national
interest of the United States.
The security situation in Somalia remains fragile and volatile,
with much of Somalia in a state of ongoing armed conflict between
government forces, clan militia, African Union troops, and al-Shabaab.
Al-Shabaab controls large swaths of territory in southern Somalia and
conducts frequent asymmetric attacks on military and civilian targets
in government-controlled areas. Additionally, some parts of the country
not under al-Shabaab control experience high levels of insecurity due
to inter- and intra-clan conflict. Members of minority clans are
systematically marginalized, abused, and sometimes killed by members of
larger clans. Minority clan members have also been largely displaced
from their original territories in Somalia, and members of those clans
who return to Somalia may find themselves in displaced persons camps.
Individuals living in informal camps for displaced persons have been
subjected to serious abuses, including rape, physical attacks,
restricted access to humanitarian assistance, and clan-based
discrimination.
[[Page 4907]]
Somalia continues to experience a complex protracted emergency that
is one of the worst humanitarian crises in the world. Approximately 5
million people (over 40 percent of the total population of around 11
million) are in need of humanitarian assistance, and there are an
estimated 1.1 million internally displaced persons. Malnutrition rates
in Somalia are among the highest in the world, with an estimated one
million people experiencing acute food insecurity. The 2015-2016 El
Ni[ntilde]o phenomenon has intensified extensive flooding and severe
drought, with the drought conditions contributing to deteriorating food
security in northern areas of the country. Non-permanent water sources,
such as dams and streams are drying up, driving up the price of water.
Vulnerable households are forced to consume unsafe water because they
are unable to pay the high cost.
Approximately 3.2 million people in Somalia lack sufficient access
to emergency health care services, and about 1.9 million people are at
risk of dying of preventable diseases due to lack of access to primary
health care services. The maternal mortality rate in Somalia is among
the highest in the world. Due to the drought, health facilities have
seen an increase in waterborne communicable diseases, as the only
available remaining water sources are shared by humans and livestock.
Health facilities have also recorded an increased incidence of diseases
associated with a lack of water and poor hygiene, namely skin diseases,
respiratory infections, and febrile illnesses.
Based upon DHS's review of conditions in Somalia and after
consultation with appropriate Government agencies, the Secretary has
determined that:
The conditions that prompted the May 1, 2012 redesignation
of Somalia for TPS continue to be met. See INA section 244(b)(1)(A) and
(C), (b)(3)(A) and (C); 8 U.S.C. 1254a(b)(1)(A) and (C), (b)(3)(A) and
(C).
There continues to be an ongoing armed conflict in Somalia
and, due to such conflict, requiring the return of Somali nationals
would pose a serious threat to their safety. See INA section
244(b)(1)(A), 8 U.S.C. 1254a(b)(1)(A).
There continue to be extraordinary and temporary
conditions in Somalia that prevent Somali nationals from returning to
Somalia 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 Somalis (and persons who have no nationality who last
habitually resided in Somalia) 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 Somalia for TPS should be extended for
an additional 18-month period from March 18, 2017 through September 17,
2018. See INA section 244(b)(3)(C), 8 U.S.C. 1254a(b)(3)(C).
Based on data from the last re-registration period, DHS expects
approximately 250 beneficiaries under Somalia's TPS designation to file
for re-registration under the extension.
Notice of Extension of the TPS Designation of Somalia
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 the conditions supporting the
most recent designation of Somalia for Temporary Protected Status (TPS)
on May 1, 2012 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 designation of Somalia for TPS for 18 months from March
18, 2017 through September 17, 2018. See INA section 244(b)(1)(A) and
(C), (b)(2); 8 U.S.C. 1254a(b)(1)(A) and (C), (b)(2).
Jeh Charles Johnson,
Secretary.
I am currently a Somalia TPS beneficiary. What should I do?
If you are a current TPS beneficiary, then you need to file a re-
registration application under the extension if you wish to maintain
TPS benefits through September 17, 2018. You must use the Application
for Temporary Protected Status (Form I-821) to re-register for TPS. The
60-day open re-registration period will run from January 17, 2017
through March 20, 2017.
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
Somalia, an applicant must submit each of the following two
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. and
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. No fee
for the Application for Employment Authorization (Form I-765) is
required if you are under the age of 14 or are 66 and older and
applying for late initial registration.
If you are applying for re-registration, you must pay the
fee for the Application for Employment Authorization (Form I-765) only
if you want an EAD, regardless of age.
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 for the Application for Employment Authorization
(Form I-765) and/or biometric services fee, you may apply for a fee
waiver by completing a Request for Fee Waiver (Form I-912) or submit a
personal letter requesting a fee waiver, and provide 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)(1)(i).
Biometric Services Fee
Biometrics (such as fingerprints) are required for all applicants
14 years of age or 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 apply for a fee waiver by completing a
Request for Fee Waiver (Form I-912) or by submitting a personal letter
requesting a fee waiver, and providing satisfactory supporting
documentation. For more information on the biometric services fee,
please visit the USCIS Web site at https://www.uscis.gov. If necessary,
you may be required to visit an Application Support Center to have your
biometrics captured.
[[Page 4908]]
Re-Filing a Re-Registration TPS Application After Receiving a Denial of
a Fee Waiver Request
USCIS urges all re-registering applicants to file as soon as
possible within the 60-day re-registration period so that USCIS can
process the applications and issue EADs promptly. Filing early will
also allow those applicants who may receive denials of their fee waiver
requests to have time to re-file their applications before the re-
registration deadline. If, however, an applicant receives a denial of
his or her fee waiver request and is unable to re-file by the re-
registration deadline, the applicant may still re-file his or her
application. This situation will be reviewed to determine whether the
applicant has established good cause for late re-registration. However,
applicants are urged to re-file within 45 days of the date on their
USCIS fee waiver denial notice, if at all 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: As previously stated,
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, the applicant 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 the individual's TPS re-registration, if he or she is
eligible. If you choose to do this, you would file the Application for
Temporary Protected Status (Form I-821) with the 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 you: Then mail your application to:
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Would like to send your application by USCIS Attn: TPS Somalia, P.O.
U.S. Postal Service. Box 6943, Chicago, IL 60680-
6943.
Would like to send your application by USCIS Attn: TPS Somalia, 131 S.
non-U.S. Postal Service courier. Dearborn, 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, please
mail your application to the address in Table 1. After you submit your
EAD application and receive a USCIS receipt number, please send an
email to the Service Center handling your application. The email should
include the receipt number and state that you submitted a 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 EAD
application, as USCIS may not have received records of your grant of
TPS by either the IJ or the BIA. To obtain 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 packet. Please mail
your application packet 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 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 ``Somalia.''
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 September 17, 2017?
Provided that you currently have TPS under the designation of
Somalia, this Notice automatically extends your EAD by 6 months if you:
Are a national of Somalia (or an alien having no
nationality who last habitually resided in Somalia);
Have an EAD under the designation of TPS for Somalia with
a marked expiration date of March 17, 2017, bearing the notation ``A-
12'' or ``C-19'' on the face of the card under ``Category.''
Although this Notice automatically extends your EAD through
September 17, 2017, 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 Form I-9,
Employment Eligibility Verification?
You can find a list of acceptable document choices on the ``Lists
of Acceptable Documents'' for 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 Form I-9.
Within 3 days of hire, an employee must present proof of identity and
employment authorization to his or her 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). Alternatively, you may present
an acceptable receipt for List A,
[[Page 4909]]
List B, or List C documents as described in the Form I-9 Instructions.
An EAD is an acceptable document under List A. Employers may not reject
a document based on a future expiration date.
If your EAD has an expiration date of March 17, 2017, 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 Form I-9 through September
17, 2017 (see the subsection titled, ``How do my employer and I
complete 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 September 17, 2017. You may
also show your employer a copy of this Federal Register Notice
confirming the automatic extension of employment authorization through
September 17, 2017. As an alternative to presenting your automatically
extended EAD, you may choose to present any other acceptable document
from List A, a combination of one selection from List B and one
selection from List C, or a valid receipt.
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 March 17, 2017, 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
September 17, 2017, is reached to meet its responsibilities for Form I-
9 compliance. Your employer may need to reinspect your automatically
extended EAD to check the expiration date and code to record the
updated expiration date on your Form I-9 if he or she did not keep a
copy of this EAD when you initially presented it. However, your
employer does not need a new document to reverify your employment
authorization until September 17, 2017, the expiration date of the
automatic extension. Instead, you and your employer must make
corrections to the employment authorization expiration dates in
Sections 1 and 2 of Form I-9 (see the subsection titled, ``What
corrections should my current employer and I make to Form I-9 if my EAD
has been automatically extended?'' for further information). In
addition, you may also show this Federal Register Notice to your
employer to explain what to do for Form I-9.
By September 17, 2017, the expiration date of the automatic
extension, your employer must reverify your employment authorization.
At that time, you must present any document from List A or any document
from List C on Form I-9 to reverify employment authorization, or an
acceptable List A or List C receipt described in the Form I-9
Instructions. Your employer should complete either Section 3 of the
Form I-9 originally completed for you or, if this Section has already
been completed or if the version of Form I-9 has expired (check the
date in the upper right-hand corner of the form), complete Section 3 of
the most current version of Form I-9. Note that employers may not
specify which List A or List C document employees must present and
cannot reject an acceptable receipt.
Can my employer require that I produce any other documentation to prove
my status, such as proof of my Somali citizenship?
No. When completing Form I-9, including re-verifying employment
authorization, employers must accept any documentation that appears on
the Lists of Acceptable Documents and 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 Somali citizenship or proof of re-registration for
TPS when completing Form I-9 for new hires, making corrections, or
reverifying the employment authorization of current employees. If
presented with EADs that have been automatically extended, employers
should accept such EADs as valid List A documents so long as the EADs
reasonably appear to be genuine and to relate to the employee. 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.
What happens after September 17, 2017, for purposes of employment
authorization?
After September 17, 2017, employers may no longer accept the EADs
that this Federal Register Notice automatically extended. Before that
time, however, USCIS will endeavor to issue new EADs to eligible TPS
re-registrants who request them. These new EADs will have an expiration
date of September 17, 2018 and can be presented to your employer for
completion of Form I-9. Alternatively, you may choose to present any
other legally acceptable document or combination of documents listed on
the Lists of Acceptable Documents for Form I-9.
How do my employer and I complete Form I-9 using an automatically
extended EAD for a new job?
When using an automatically extended EAD to complete Form I-9 for a
new job prior to September 17, 2017, you and your employer should do
the following:
1. For Section 1, you should:
a. Check ``An alien authorized to work;''
b. Enter the automatically extended EAD expiration date (September
17, 2017) in the first space; and
c. Enter 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 enter the:
a. Document title;
b. Issuing authority;
c. Document number; and
d. Automatically extended EAD expiration date (September 17, 2017).
By September 17, 2017, employers must reverify the employee's
employment authorization in Section 3 of Form I-9.
What corrections should my current employer and I make to 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 need to reinspect your
automatically extended EAD if your employer does not have a copy of the
EAD on file, and you and your employer should correct your previously
completed 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 ``September 17, 2017,'' 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;
[[Page 4910]]
b. Write ``September 17, 2017,'' above the previous date;
c. Write ``TPS Ext.'' in the Additional Information field in
Section 2; and
d. Initial and date the correction in the Additional Information
field in Section 2.
By September 17, 2017, 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?
E-Verify automated the verification process for employees whose TPS
status was automatically extended in a Federal Register notice. If 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 the auto-
extension period for this EAD is about to expire. By September 17,
2017, you must reverify employment authorization in Section 3.
Employers should not 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 USCIS at 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
(Form I-9 and E-Verify) 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, employees may call USCIS at 888-897-7781 (TTY 877-875-6028) or
email at I-9Central@dhs.gov. Calls are accepted in English and many
other languages. Employees or applicants 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, including information regarding
discrimination related to 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 for
Form I-9 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 Form I-9 Instructions. Employers may not
require extra or additional documentation beyond what is required for
Form I-9 completion. Further, employers participating in E-Verify who
receive an E-Verify case result of ``Tentative Nonconfirmation'' (TNC)
must promptly and privately 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 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 an employee based on the
employee's 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 an employee's 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). An employee
who believes he or she was discriminated against by an employer in the
E-Verify process based on citizenship or immigration status, or based
on national origin, may contact OSC's Worker Information Hotline at
800-255-7688 (TTY 800-237-2515). Additional information about proper
nondiscriminatory 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 that has been automatically extended or your
EAD that has not expired;
(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 Notice of Action (Form I-797), if you received one
from USCIS; or
(5) If there is an automatic extension of work authorization,
information from the USCIS TPS Web site that provides information about
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 confirm the current
immigration status of applicants for public benefits. In most cases,
SAVE provides an automated electronic response to benefit granting
agencies within seconds but occasionally verification can be delayed.
You can check the status of your SAVE verification by using CaseCheck
at the following link: https://save.uscis.gov/casecheck/, then click
the ``Check Your Case'' button. CaseCheck is a free and fast service
that lets you follow the progress of your SAVE verification using your
date of birth and one immigration identifier number. If a benefit-
granting 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,
[[Page 4911]]
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 ``For Benefit Applicants'' from
the menu on the left and selecting ``Questions about your Records?''
[FR Doc. 2016-31861 Filed 1-13-17; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 9111-97-P
