64088 Federal Register / Vol. 69, No. 212 / Wednesday, November 3, 2004 / Notices 

granted TPS and who are eligible for reregistration. 

(3) To maintain TPS, a national of 

Honduras (or an alien having no 

nationality who last habitually resided 

in Honduras) who was granted TPS 

during the initial designation period 

and the subsequent extensions of this 

designation, or who was granted TPS 

during late initial registration, must reregister for TPS during the 60-day reregistration period from November 3, 

2004 until January 3, 2005. 

(4) To re-register, the applicant must 

file the following: (1) Form I–821, 

Application for Temporary Protected 

Status; (2) Form I–765, Application for 

Employment Authorization; and (3) a 

biometric services fee of seventy dollars 

($70) if applicant is age 14 or older, or 

if applicant is under age 14 and 

requesting an employment authorization 

document. Applications submitted 

without the required fees will be 

returned to the applicant. If the 

applicant requests employment 

authorization, he or she must submit 

one hundred and seventy-five dollars 

($175) or a properly documented fee 

waiver request, pursuant to 8 CFR 

244.20, with Form I–765. An applicant 

who does not request employment 

authorization must still file Form I–765 

along with Form I–821, but is not 

required to submit the fee for filing 

Form I–765. Failure to re-register 

without good cause will result in the 

withdrawal of TPS. 8 U.S.C. 

1254a(c)(3)(C). Some persons who had 

not previously applied for TPS may be 

eligible for late initial registration under 

8 CFR 244.2. 

(5) At least 60 days before this 

extension ends on July 5, 2006, the 

Secretary of DHS, after consultation 

with appropriate agencies of the 

Government, will review the 

designation Honduras for TPS and 

determine whether the conditions for 

designation continue to be met. 8 U.S.C. 

1254a(b)(3)(A). Notice of that 

determination, including the basis for 

the determination, will be published in 

the Federal Register. Id.

(6) Information concerning the 

extension of designation of Honduras 

for TPS will be available at local USCIS 

offices upon publication of this notice 

and on the USCIS Web site at http://

uscis.gov.

Dated: October 28, 2004. 

Tom Ridge, 

Secretary of Homeland Security.

[FR Doc. 04–24608 Filed 11–1–04; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4410–10–M

DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND 

SECURITY 

Citizenship and Immigration Services 

[CIS No. 2332–04] 

RIN 1615–ZA09

Extension of the Designation of 

Temporary Protected Status for 

Nicaragua; Automatic Extension of 

Employment Authorization 

Documentation for Nicaragua TPS 

Beneficiaries

AGENCY: U.S. Citizenship and 

Immigration Services, DHS.

ACTION: Notice.

SUMMARY: The Temporary Protected 

Status (TPS) designation for Nicaragua 

will expire on January 5, 2005. This 

notice extends the designation of 

Nicaragua for 18 months, until July 5, 

2006, and sets forth procedures 

necessary for nationals of Nicaragua (or 

aliens having no nationality who last 

habitually resided in Nicaragua) with 

TPS to re-register and to apply for an 

extension of their employment 

authorization documents (EADs) for the 

additional 18-month period. Reregistration is limited to persons who 

registered under the initial designation 

(which was announced on January 5, 

1999) and also timely re-registered 

under each subsequent extension of the 

designation. Eligible aliens must also 

have maintained continuous physical 

presence in the United States since 

January 5, 1999, and continuous 

residence in the United States since 

December 30, 1998. Certain nationals of 

Nicaragua (or aliens having no 

nationality who last habitually resided 

in Nicaragua) who have not previously 

applied for TPS may be eligible to apply 

under the late initial registration 

provisions. 

Given the large number of 

Nicaraguans affected by this notice, the 

Department of Homeland Security 

(DHS) recognizes that many reregistrants may not receive their new 

EADs until after their current EADs 

expire on January 5, 2005. Accordingly, 

this notice automatically extends the 

validity of EADs issued under Nicaragua 

TPS for six months until July 5, 2005, 

and explains how TPS beneficiaries and 

their employers may determine which 

EADs are automatically extended.

DATES: Effective Dates: The extension of 

TPS for Nicaragua is effective January 5, 

2005, and will remain in effect until 

July 5, 2006. The 60-day re-registration 

period begins November 3, 2004 and 

will remain in effect until January 3, 

2005.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Colleen Cook, Residence and Status 

Services, Office of Programs and 

Regulations Development, U.S. 

Citizenship and Immigration Services, 

Department of Homeland Security, 425 

I Street, NW., ULLICO Building, 3rd 

Floor, Washington, DC 20529, telephone 

(202) 514–4754.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

What Authority Does the Secretary of 

DHS Have To Extend the Designation of 

TPS for Nicaragua 

On March 1, 2003, the functions of 

the Immigration and Naturalization 

Service (INS) transferred from the 

Department of Justice (DOJ) to DHS 

pursuant to the Homeland Security Act 

of 2002, Public Law 107–296. The 

responsibilities for administering TPS 

held by INS were transferred to U.S. 

Citizenship and Immigration Services 

(USCIS). 

Under section 244 of the Immigration 

and Nationality Act (Act), 8 U.S.C. 

1254a, the Secretary of DHS, after 

consultation with appropriate agencies 

of the Government, is authorized to 

designate a foreign state (or part thereof) 

for TPS. 8 U.S.C. 1254a(b)(1). The 

Secretary of DHS may then grant TPS to 

eligible nationals of that foreign state (or 

aliens having no nationality who last 

habitually resided in that state). 8 U.S.C. 

1254a(a)(1). 

Section 244(b)(3)(A) of the Act 

requires the Secretary of DHS to review, 

at least 60 days before the expiration of 

the TPS designation or any extension 

thereof, the conditions in a foreign state 

designated for TPS to determine 

whether the conditions for a TPS 

designation continue to be met and, if 

so, the length of an extension of the TPS 

designation. 8 U.S.C. 1254a(b)(3)(A). If 

the Secretary of DHS determines that 

the foreign state no longer meets the 

conditions for TPS designation, he shall 

terminate the designation, as provided 

in section 244(b)(3)(B) of the Act. 8 

U.S.C. 1254a(b)(3)(B). Finally, if the 

Secretary of DHS does not determine 

that a foreign state (or part thereof) no 

longer meets the conditions for 

designation at least 60 days before the 

designation is due to end, section 

244(b)(3)(C) of the Act provides for an 

automatic extension of TPS for an 

additional period of 6 months (or, in the 

discretion of the Secretary of DHS, a 

period of 12 or 18 months). 8 U.S.C. 

1254a(b)(3)(C). 

Why Did the Secretary of DHS Decide 

To Extend the TPS Designation for 

Nicaragua? 

On January 5, 1999, notice was 

published in the Federal Register at 64 

Federal Register / Vol. 69, No. 212 / Wednesday, November 3, 2004 / Notices 64089

FR 524, designating Nicaragua for TPS 

due to the devastation resulting from 

Hurricane Mitch. The designation of 

Nicaragua for TPS subsequently has 

been subsequently extended four times, 

with notice of such determinations 

published in the Federal Register (65 

FR 30440; 66 FR 23271; 67 FR 2245; 68 

FR 23748). The most recent notice was 

published in the Federal Register on 

May 5, 2003, and it is due to end on 

January 5, 2005. 

Since the date of the most recent 

extension, DHS and the Department of 

State (DOS) have continued to review 

conditions in Nicaragua. Due to 

continued reconstruction of 

infrastructure damaged by Hurricane 

Mitch, the Secretary of DHS has 

determined that an 18-month extension 

of the TPS designation is warranted 

because Nicaragua remains unable, 

temporarily, to handle adequately the 

return of its nations. 8 U.S.C. 

1254a(b)(1)(B). 

DOS notes that ‘‘the conditions that 

initially gave rise to the designation 

continue to exist.’’ (DOS 

Recommendation (August 31, 2004)). 

The USCIS Resource Information Center 

(RIC) reports that the Spanish 

organization Infancia sin Fronteras 

continues to provide food, medical care, 

and educational training to 12,000 

children affected by Hurricane Mitch. 

(RIC Report (August 2004)). 

Reconstruction of infrastructure 

damaged by Hurricane Mitch continues. 

There is a shortage of potable water in 

the northwestern department of 

Chinandega, one of the areas hardest hit 

by Hurricane Mitch. Id. The 

Government of Canada has promised 

funding to build wells in three 

communities to address the lack of 

potable water. Id. Also in Chinandega, 

continued erosion related to Hurricane 

Mitch resulted in damage to 60% and 

loss of 4–7% of arable land. Id. There 

are continued efforts to lessen the risk 

of floods and mudslides in forty 

communities still vulnerable in the 

wake of Hurricane Mitch via efforts 

such as emergency drilling. Id.

Nationwide, reconstruction of roads 

damaged by Mitch has been 

concentrated in urban areas. Id.

However, roads in the Central Rural and 

Atlantic Rural regions have deteriorated. 

Id.

Based upon this review, the Secretary 

of DHS, after consultation with 

appropriate Government agencies, finds 

that the conditions that prompted 

designation of Nicaragua for TPS 

continue to be met. 8 U.S.C. 

1254a(b)(3)(A). There continues to be a 

substantial, but temporary, disruption in 

living conditions in Nicaragua as the 

result of an environmental disaster, and 

Nicaragua continues to be unable, 

temporarily to handle adequately the 

return of its nationals. 8 U.S.C. 

1254a(b)(1)(B). On the basis of these 

findings, the Secretary of DHS 

concludes that the TPS designation for 

Nicaragua should be extended for an 

additional 18-month period. 8 U.S.C. 

1254a(b)(3)(C). 

If I Currently Have TPS Through the 

Designation of Nicaragua for TPS, Do I 

Still Register for TPS? 

Yes. If you already have received TPS 

benefits through the designation of 

Nicaragua for TPS, your benefits will 

expire on January 5, 2005. Accordingly, 

individual TPS beneficiaries must 

comply with the re-registration 

requirements described below in order 

to maintain TPS benefits through July 5, 

2006. TPS benefits include temporary 

protection against removal from the 

United States, as well as employment 

authorization, during the TPS 

designation period. 8 U.S.C. 1254a(a)(1). 

If I Am Currently Registered for TPS, 

How Do I Re-Register for an Extension? 

All persons previously granted TPS 

under the designation of Nicaragua who 

wish to maintain such status must apply 

for an extension by filing the following: 

(1) Form I–821, Application for 

Temporary Protected Status; (2) Form I–

765, Application for Employment 

Authorization (see the chart below to 

determine whether you must submit the 

one hundred and seventy-five dollar 

($175) filing fee with Form I 765); and 

(3) a biometric services fee of seventy 

dollars ($70) if you are 14 or older, or 

if you are under 14 and requesting an 

EAD. The biometric services fee cannot 

be waived. 8 CFR. 103.2(e)(i), (iii). 

Unlike previous registration periods, 

TPS applicants need not submit 

photographs with the TPS application 

because a photograph will be taken 

when the alien appears at an 

Application Support Center (ASC) for 

collection of biometrics. 

An application submitted without the 

required fees will be returned to the 

applicant. Please note that Form I–821 

has been revised and only the new form 

with Revision Date 7/30/04 will be 

accepted. Submissions of older versions 

of Form I–821 will be rejected. Submit 

the completed forms and applicable fee, 

if any, to the USCIS Chicago, IL Lockbox 

during the 60-day re-registration period 

that begins November 3, 2004 and ends 

January 3, 2005. An interim EAD will 

not be issued unless the Form I–765, as 

part of the TPS registration package, has 

been pending with USCIS more than 90 

days after all requested initial evidence 

has been received, including collection 

of the applicant’s fingerprints at an 

ASC. See 8 CFR 103.2(b)(10)(ii) and 8 

CFR 274a.13(d).

If Then 

You are applying for an EAD valid until July 5, 2006, regardless of your 

age.

You must complete and file the Form I–765, Application for Employment Authorization, with the $175 fee. 

You are not requesting an EAD, or are applying under late initial registration provisions and are under age 14 or over age 65.You must complete and file Form I–765 (for data-gathering purposes 

only) with no fee.1

You are applying for an EAD and are requesting a fee waiver ............... You must complete and file: (1) Form I–765 and (2) a fee waiver request and affidavit (and any other supporting information) in accordance with 8 CFR 244.20. 

1An applicant who does not want an employment authorization document does not need to submit the $175 fee, but must still complete and 

submit Form I–765 for data gathering purposes. 

Where Should an Applicant Submit His 

or Her Application to Re-Register or 

Late Initial Register for TPS?

The Form I–821, Form I–765, fees, 

and all supporting documentation 

should be filed at the USCIS Chicago 

Lockbox at: U.S. Citizenship and 

Immigration Services, P.O. Box 87583, 

Chicago, IL 60680–0583. Or, for nonUnited States Postal Service (USPS) 

deliveries: U.S. Citizenship and 

Immigration Services, 427 S. LaSalle—

3rd Floor, Chicago, IL 60605. 

Please note that this address is not the 

location where you have submitted your 

forms during previous re-registration 

periods. Aliens re-registering or late 

initial registering for TPS under the 

designation of Nicaragua should not 

sent their TPS forms and fees directly to 

64090 Federal Register / Vol. 69, No. 212 / Wednesday, November 3, 2004 / Notices 

a USCIS Service Center or district office. 

Failure to follow these instructions may 

delay processing of your TPS reregistration application. 

Who Must Submit the $175 Filing Fee 

for the Form I–765? 

Although all re-registrants must 

submit the Form I–765, only those 

applicants who are requesting an EAD, 

regardless of age, must submit the $175 

filing fee or a fee waiver request 

pursuant to 8 CFR 244.20. Late initial 

registrants between the ages of 14 and 

65, inclusive, who are requesting an 

EAD, must submit the $175 fee or a fee 

waiver request pursuant to 8 CFR 

244.20. This requirement includes any 

individuals who do not need an EAD for 

employment or alien registration 

document purposes, but nevertheless 

choose to apply for an EAD for use 

solely as an identity document. 

Applicants who are submitting form I–

765 only for data-gathering purposes are 

not required to submit a $175 filing fee, 

nor are they required to submit a fee 

waiver request. 

Who Must Submit the $175 Biometric 

Services Fee? 

All re-registrants and late initial 

registrants 14 years of age and older 

must submit the $70 biometric services 

fee. In addition, any applicant under the 

age of 14 choosing to apply for an EAD 

must submit the $70 biometric services 

fee, as a photograph, signature, and 

fingerprint are required to produce the 

card. This fee will not be waived. 8 CFR 

103.2(e)(4)(i), (iii). 

Who Is Eligible To Receive an 

Automatic Extension of His or Her 

EAD? 

To receive an automatic extension of 

his or her EAD, an individual must be 

a national of Nicaragua (or an alien 

having no nationality who last 

habitually resided in Nicaragua) who 

has applied for and received an EAD 

under the TPS designation of Nicaragua. 

This automatic extension is limited to 

EADs bearing an expiration date of 

January 5, 2005, that were issued on 

either Form I–766, Employment 

Authorization Document, or Form I–

688B, Employment Authorization Card. 

The EAD must also be either (1) a Form 

I–766 bearing the notation ‘‘A–12’’ or 

‘‘C–19’’ on the face of the card under 

‘‘Category,’’ or (2) a Form I–688B 

bearing the notation ‘‘274a.12(a)(12)’’ or 

‘‘274a.12(c)(19)’’ on the face of the card 

under ‘‘Provision of Law.’’

What Documents May a Qualified 

Individual Show to His or Her 

Employer as Proof of Employment 

Authorization and Identity When 

Completing Form I–9, Employment 

Eligibility Verification? 

For completion of the Form I–9 at the 

time of hire or re-verification, qualified 

individuals who have received a sixmonth extension of their EADs by virtue 

of this Federal Register notice may 

present to their employer a TPS-based 

EAD as proof of identity and 

employment authorization until July 5, 

2005. To minimize confusion over this 

extension at the time of hire or reverification, qualified individuals may 

also present to their employer a copy of 

this Federal Register notice regarding 

the automatic extension of employment 

authorization documentation to July 5, 

2005. In the alternative, any legally 

acceptable document or combination of 

documents listed in List A, List B, or 

List C of the Form I–9 may be presented 

as proof of identity and employment 

eligibility; it is the choice of the 

employee. 

How May Employers Determine 

Whether an EAD Has Been 

Automatically Extended Through July 

5, 2005 and Is Therefore Acceptable for 

Completion of the Form I–9? 

For purposes of verifying identity and 

employment eligibility or re-verifying 

employment eligibility on the Form I–9 

until July 5, 2005, employers of 

Nicaraguan TPS beneficiaries whose 

EADs have been automatically extended 

by this notice must accept such EAD if 

presented. An EAD that has been 

automatically extended by this notice to 

July 5, 2005 will actually contain an 

expiration date of January 5, 2005, and 

must be either (1) a Form I–766 bearing 

the notation ‘‘A–12’’ or ‘‘C–19’’ on the 

face of the card under ‘‘Category,’’ or (2) 

a Form I–688B bearing the notation 

‘‘274a.12(a)(12)’’ or ‘‘274a.12(c)(19)’’ on 

the face of the card under ‘‘Provision of 

Law.’’ New EADs or extension stickers 

showing the July 5, 2005 expiration date 

will not be issued. 

Employers should not request proof of 

Nicaraguan citizenship. Employers 

presented with an EAD that has been 

extended pursuant to this Federal 

Register notice, if it appears to be 

genuine and appears to relate to the 

employee, should accept the EAD as a 

valid ‘‘List A’’ document and should not 

ask for additional Form I–9 

documentation. This action by the 

Secretary of DHS through this Federal 

Register notice does not affect the right 

of an employee to present any legally 

acceptable document as proof of 

identity and eligibility for employment.

Employers are reminded that the laws 

prohibiting unfair immigration-related 

employment practices remain in full 

force. For questions, employers may call 

the USCIS Office of Business Liaison 

Employer Hotline at 1–800–357–2099 to 

speak to a USCIS representative. Also, 

employers may call the U.S. Department 

of Justice Office of Special Counsel for 

Immigration Related Unfair 

Employment Practices (OSC) Employer 

Hotline at 1–800–255–8155 or 1–800–

362–2735 (TDD). Employees or 

applicants may call the OSC Employee 

Hotline at 1–800–255–7688 or 1–800–

237–2515 (TDD) for information 

regarding the automatic extension. 

Additional information is available on 

the OSC Web site at http://

www.usdoj.gov/crt/osc/index.html.

May I Apply for Another Immigration 

Benefit While Registered for TPS? 

Yes. Registration for TPS does not 

prevent you from applying for another 

non-immigrant status, from filing for 

adjustment of status based on an 

immigrant petition, or from applying for 

any other immigration benefit or 

protection. 8 U.S.C. 1254a(a)(5). TPS 

alone, however, does not lead to lawful 

permanent residence. 8 U.S.C. 1254a(e), 

(f)(1), (h). For the purposes of change of 

nonimmigrant status and adjustment of 

status, an alien is considered as being 

in, and maintaining, lawful status as a 

nonimmigrant during the period in 

which the alien is granted TPS. 8 U.S.C. 

1254a(f)(4). 

How Does an Application for TPS 

Affect My Application for Asylum or 

Other Immigration Benefits? 

An application for TPS does not affect 

an application for asylum or any other 

immigration benefit. Denial of an 

application for asylum or any other 

immigration benefit does not affect an 

applicant’s TPS eligibility, although the 

grounds for denying one form of relief 

may also be grounds for denying TPS. 

For example, a person who has been 

convicted of a particularly serious crime 

is not eligible for asylum or TPS. 8 

U.S.C. 1158(b)(2)(A)(ii); 8 U.S.C. 

1254a(c)(2)(B)(ii). 

Does This Extension Allow Nationals of 

Nicaragua (or Aliens Having No 

Nationality Who Last Habitually 

Resided in Nicaragua) Who Entered the 

United States After December 30, 1998, 

To File for TPS? 

No. This is a notice of an extension of 

the TPS designation of Nicaragua, not a 

notice re-designating Nicaragua for TPS. 

An extension of a TPS designation does 

Federal Register / Vol. 69, No. 212 / Wednesday, November 3, 2004 / Notices 64091

not change the required dates of 

continuous residence and continuous 

physical presence in the United States. 

This extension does not expand TPS 

availability to those beyond the current 

TPS eligibility requirements for 

Nicaragua. To be eligible for benefits 

under this extension, nationals of 

Nicaragua (or aliens having no 

nationality who last habitually resided 

in Nicaragua) must have continuously 

resided in the United States since 

December 30, 1998 and been 

continuously physically present in the 

United States since January 5, 1999, the 

date of the initial designation of TPS for 

Nicaragua. 

Are Certain Aliens Ineligible for TPS? 

Yes. There are certain criminal and 

terrorism-related inadmissibility 

grounds that render an alien ineligible 

for TPS. 8 U.S.C. 1254a(c)(2)(A)(iii). 

Further, aliens who have been convicted 

of any felony or two or more 

misdemeanors committed in the United 

States are ineligible for TPS under 

section 244(c)(2)(B) of the Act, 8 U.S.C. 

254a(c)(2)(B), as are aliens described in 

the bars to asylum in section 

208(b)(2)(A) of the Act, 8 U.S.C. 

1158(b)(2)(A). 

What Is Late Initial Registration? 

Some persons may be eligible for late 

initial registration under 8 U.S.C. 

1254a(c)(1)(A)(iv) and 8 CFR 244.2(f)(2) 

and (g). To apply for late initial 

registration an applicant must: 

(1) Be a national of Nicaragua (or alien 

who has no nationality and who last 

habitually resided in Nicaragua); 

(2) Have continuously resided in the 

United States since December 30, 1998; 

(3) Have been continuously physically 

present in the United States since 

January 5, 1999; and 

(4) Be both admissible as an 

immigrant, except as provided under 

section 244(c)(2)(A) of the Act, and not 

ineligible under section 244(c)(2)(B) of 

the Act. 

Additionally, the applicant must be 

able to demonstrate that during the 

initial registration period (from January 

5, 1999 to August 20, 1999), he or she: 

(1) Was a nonimmigrant or had been 

granted voluntary departure status or 

any relief from removal; 

(2) Had an application for change of 

status, adjustment of status, asylum, 

voluntary departure, or any relief from 

removal or change of status pending or 

subject to further review or appeal; 

(3) Was a parolee or had a pending 

request for reparole; or 

(4) Is the spouse or child of an alien 

currently eligible to be a TPS registrant. 

An applicant for late initial 

registration must file an application for 

late registration no later than 60 days 

after the expiration or termination of the 

conditions described above. 8 CFR 

244.2(g). All late initial registration 

applications for TPS pursuant to the 

TPS designation of Nicaragua should be 

submitted to the Lockbox address in 

Chicago, Illinois.

What Happens When This Extension of 

TPS Expires on July 5, 2006? 

At least 60 days before this extension 

of TPS designation of Nicaragua expires 

on July 5, 2006, the Secretary of DHS, 

after consultation with appropriate 

agencies of the Government, will review 

conditions in Nicaragua and determine 

whether the conditions for TPS 

designation continue to be met at that 

time, or whether the TPS designation 

should be terminated. 8 U.S.C. 

1254a(b)(3). Notice of that 

determination, including the basis for 

the determination, will be published in 

the Federal Register.

Notice of Extension of Designation of 

TPS for Nicaragua 

By the authority vested in DHS under 

section 244(b)(1)(B), (b)(3)(A), and 

(b)(3)(C) of the Act, DHS has 

determined, after consultation with the 

appropriate Government agencies, that 

the conditions that prompted 

designation of Nicaragua for TPS 

continue to be met. Accordingly, DHS 

orders as follows: 

(1) The designation of Nicaragua 

under section 244(b)(1)(B) of the Act is 

extended for an additional 18-month 

period from January 5, 2005, to July 5, 

2006. 8 U.S.C. 1254a(b)(3)(C). 

(2) There are approximately 4,309 

nationals of Nicaragua (or aliens having 

no nationality who last habitually 

resided in Nicaragua) who have been 

granted TPS and who are eligible for reregistration. 

(3) To maintain TPS, a national of 

Nicaragua (or an alien having no 

nationality who last habitually resided 

in Nicaragua) who was granted TPS 

during the initial designation period 

and the subsequent extensions of this 

designation, or who was granted TPS 

during late initial registration, must reregister for TPS during the 60-day reregistration period from November 3, 

2004 until January 3, 2005. 

(4) To re-register, the applicant must 

file the following: (1) Form I–821, 

Application for Temporary Protected 

Status; (2) Form I–765, Application for 

Employment Authorization; and (3) a 

biometric services fee of seventy dollars 

($70) if applicant is age 14 or older, or 

if applicant is under age 14, and 

(5) At least 60 days before this 

extension ends on July 5, 2006, the 

Secretary of DHS, after consultation 

with appropriate agencies of the 

Government, will review the 

designation of Nicaragua for TPS and 

determine whether the conditions for 

designation continue to be met. 8 U.S.C. 

1254a(b)(3)(A). Notice of that 

determination, including the basis for 

the determination, will be published in 

the Federal Register. Id.

(6) Information concerning the 

extension of designation of Nicaragua 

for TPS will be available at local USCIS 

offices upon publication of this notice 

and on the USCIS Web site at http://

uscis.gov.

Dated: October 28, 2004. 

Tom Ridge, 

Secretary of Homeland Security.

[FR Doc. 04–24607 Filed 11–1–04; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4410–10–M

DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND 

SECURITY 

National Communications System 

Telecommunications Service Priority 

System Oversight Committee

AGENCY: National Communications 

System (NCS).

ACTION: Notice of meeting cancellation.

The November 9, 2004 meeting of the 

Telecommunications Service Priority 

(TSP) System Oversight Committee has 

been cancelled and will be rescheduled 

at a later date to be determined.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Susan Flint, Office of Priority 

Telecommunications, (703) 607–4932. 

Media or press must contact Mr. Steve 

Barrett at (703) 607–6211.

Peter M. Fonash, 

Certifying Officer.

[FR Doc. 04–24505 Filed 11–2–04; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4410–10–M

DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND 

URBAN DEVELOPMENT 

[Docket No. FR–4903–N–90] 

Notice of Submission of Proposed 

Information Collection to OMB; 

Materials and Equipment 

Specifications

AGENCY: Office of the Chief Information 

Officer, HUD.

ACTION: Notice.

SUMMARY: The proposed information 

collection requirement described below