19026 Federal Register / Vol. 77, No. 61 / Thursday, March 29, 2012 / Notices 

adopt and implement a security 

program. 

DATES: Send your comments by April 

30, 2012. A comment to OMB is most 

effective if OMB receives it within 30 

days of publication. 

ADDRESSES: Interested persons are 

invited to submit written comments on 

the proposed information collection to 

the Office of Information and Regulatory 

Affairs, Office of Management and 

Budget. Comments should be addressed 

to Desk Officer, Department of 

Homeland Security/TSA, and sent via 

electronic mail to oira_submission@

omb.eop.gov or faxed to (202) 395–6974. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Joanna Johnson, Office of Information 

Technology, TSA–11, Transportation 

Security Administration, 601 South 

12th Street, Arlington, VA 20598–0011; 

telephone (571) 227–3616; email 

joanna.johnson@dhs.gov. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Comments Invited 

In accordance with the Paperwork 

Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3501 

et seq.), an agency may not conduct or 

sponsor, and a person is not required to 

respond to, a collection of information 

unless it displays a valid OMB control 

number. The ICR documentation is 

available at www.reginfo.gov. Therefore, 

in preparation for OMB review and 

approval of the following information 

collection, TSA is soliciting comments 

to— 

(1) Evaluate whether the proposed 

information requirement is necessary for 

the proper performance of the functions 

of the agency, including whether the 

information will have practical utility; 

(2) Evaluate the accuracy of the 

agency’s estimate of the burden; 

(3) Enhance the quality, utility, and 

clarity of the information to be 

collected; and 

(4) Minimize the burden of the 

collection of information on those who 

are to respond, including using 

appropriate automated, electronic, 

mechanical, or other technological 

collection techniques or other forms of 

information technology. 

Information Collection Requirement 

Title: Aircraft Operator Security. 

Type of Request: Extension of a 

currently approved collection. 

OMB Control Number: 1652–0003. 

Forms(s): N/A. 

Affected Public: Aircraft Operators. 

Abstract: 49 CFR part 1544 requires 

aircraft operators to maintain, update, 

and comply with TSA-approved 

comprehensive security programs to 

ensure the safety of persons and 

property traveling on their flights 

against acts of criminal violence and air 

piracy, and the introduction of 

explosives, incendiaries, or weapons 

aboard an aircraft. These programs and 

related records are subject to TSA 

inspection. 

Number of Respondents: 801. 

Estimated Annual Burden Hours: An 

estimated 1,918,371 hours annually. 

Issued in Arlington, Virginia, March 27, 

2012. 

Joanna Johnson, 

Paperwork Reduction Act Officer, Office of 

Information Technology. 

[FR Doc. 2012–7671 Filed 3–28–12; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 9110–05–P 

DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND 

SECURITY 

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration 

Services 

[CIS No. 2522–12; DHS Docket No. USCIS 

2012–0007] 

RIN 1615–ZB12 

Designation of Syrian Arab Republic 

for Temporary Protected Status 

AGENCY: U.S. Citizenship and 

Immigration Services, DHS. 

ACTION: Notice. 

SUMMARY: Through this notice, the 

Department of Homeland Security 

(DHS) announces that the Secretary of 

Homeland Security (Secretary) has 

designated the Syrian Arab Republic 

(Syria) for Temporary Protected Status 

(TPS) for a period of 18 months, 

effective March 29, 2012 through 

September 30, 2013. Under section 

244(b)(1) of the Immigration and 

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

1254a(b)(1), the Secretary is authorized 

to grant TPS to eligible nationals of 

designated foreign states or parts of such 

states (or to eligible aliens having no 

nationality who last habitually resided 

in such states) upon finding that such 

states are experiencing an ongoing 

armed conflict, an environmental 

disaster, or extraordinary and temporary 

conditions that prevent nationals from 

returning in safety. 

This designation allows eligible 

Syrian nationals (and aliens having no 

nationality who last habitually resided 

in Syria) who have both continuously 

resided in and been continuously 

physically present in the United States 

since March 29, 2012 to be granted TPS. 

This notice also describes the other 

eligibility criteria applicants must meet. 

Individuals who believe they may 

qualify for TPS under this designation 

may apply within the 180-day 

registration period that begins on March 

29, 2012. They may also apply for 

Employment Authorization Documents 

(EADs) and for travel authorization. In 

this notice, DHS also sets forth the 

procedures for nationals of Syria (or 

aliens having no nationality who last 

habitually resided in Syria) to apply for 

TPS and EADs with U.S. Citizenship 

and Immigration Services (USCIS). 

DATES: This designation of Syria for TPS 

is effective on March 29, 2012 and will 

remain in effect through September 30, 

2013. The 180-day registration period 

for eligible individuals to submit TPS 

applications begins March 29, 2012, and 

will remain in effect through September 

30, 2013. 

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 http://www.uscis.gov/tps. 

You can find specific information about 

this designation of Syria for TPS by 

selecting ‘‘TPS Designated Country— 

Syria’’ from the menu on the left of the 

TPS Web page. 

• You can also contact the TPS 

Operations Program Manager at Status 

and Family 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 inquiries. 

• Applicants seeking information 

about the status of their individual cases 

can check Case Status Online available 

at the USCIS Web site at http://www.

uscis.gov, or call the USCIS National 

Customer Service Center at 1–800–375– 

5283 (TTY 1–800–767–1833). 

• Further information will also be 

available at local USCIS offices upon 

publication of this notice. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Abbreviations and Terms Used in This 

Document 

Act—Immigration and Nationality Act 

BIA—Board of Immigration Appeals 

COI—Independent International Commission 

of Inquiry, established pursuant to United 

Nations (UN) Human Rights Council 

resolution S–17/1 to investigate all alleged 

violations of international human rights 

law since March 2011 in the Syrian Arab 

Republic 

COI Report—‘‘Report of the Independent 

International Commission of Inquiry on the 

Syrian Arab Republic,’’ dated 22 February 

2012, UN Doc. A/HRC/19/69 

mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES

Federal Register / Vol. 77, No. 61 / Thursday, March 29, 2012 / Notices 19027 

1As of March 1, 2003, in accordance with section 

1517 of title XV of the Homeland Security Act of 

2002 (HSA), Public Law 107–296, 116 Stat. 2135, 

any reference to the Attorney General in a provision 

of the Act describing functions transferred from the 

Department of Justice to the DHS ‘‘shall be deemed 

to refer to the Secretary’’ of Homeland Security. See 

6 U.S.C. 557 (codifying HSA, tit. XV, sec. 1517). 

DHS—U.S. Department of Homeland 

Security 

DOJ—U.S. Department of Justice 

DOS—U.S. Department of State 

EAD—Employment Authorization Document 

FSA—Free Syrian Army 

Government—U.S. Government 

HRC—United Nations Human Rights Council 

IJ—Immigration Judge 

OSC—U.S. Department of Justice, Office of 

Special Counsel for Immigration-Related 

Unfair Employment Practices 

SARG—Syrian Arab Republic Government 

SAVE—Systematic Alien Verification for 

Entitlements 

Secretary—Secretary of Homeland Security 

Syria—Syrian Arab Republic 

TPS—Temporary Protected Status 

UN—United Nations 

UNHCR—Office of the United Nations High 

Commissioner for Refugees 

USCIS—U.S. Citizenship and Immigration 

Services 

What is Temporary Protected Status 

(TPS)? 

• TPS is an immigration status 

granted to eligible nationals of a country 

designated for TPS under the Act (or to 

persons without nationality who last 

habitually resided in the designated 

country). 

• During the TPS designation period, 

TPS beneficiaries are eligible to remain 

in the United States and obtain an EAD 

following a request and payment of the 

EAD fee, if required, so long as they 

continue to meet the requirements of 

TPS. 

• TPS beneficiaries may also be 

granted travel authorization as a matter 

of discretion. 

• The granting of TPS does not lead 

to permanent resident status. 

• When the Secretary terminates a 

country’s TPS designation, beneficiaries 

return to the same immigration status 

they maintained before TPS (unless that 

status has since expired or been 

terminated) or to any other lawfully 

obtained immigration status they 

received while registered for TPS. 

• TPS applicants are subject to 

thorough background and security 

checks. Applicants who have committed 

a felony or two misdemeanors in the 

United States and applicants who are 

subject to certain other mandatory bars, 

including those who pose a threat to 

U.S. national security, are not eligible. 

What authority does the Secretary have 

to designate Syria for TPS? 

Section 244(b)(1) of the Act, 8 U.S.C. 

1254a(b)(1), authorizes the Secretary, 

after consultation with appropriate 

Government agencies, to designate a 

foreign state (or part thereof) for TPS.1

The Secretary can designate a foreign 

state for TPS based on one of three 

circumstances. One circumstance is if 

‘‘there exist extraordinary and 

temporary conditions in the foreign 

state that prevent aliens who are 

nationals of the state from returning to 

the state in safety, unless the [Secretary] 

finds that permitting the aliens to 

remain temporarily in the United States 

is contrary to the national interest of the 

United States.’’ Section 244(b)(1)(C) of 

the Act, 8 U.S.C. 1254a(b)(1)(C). 

Following the designation of a foreign 

state for TPS, the Secretary may then 

grant TPS to eligible nationals of that 

foreign state (or aliens having no 

nationality who last habitually resided 

in that state). See section 244(a)(1)(A) of 

the Act, 8 U.S.C. 1254a(a)(1)(A). 

Applicants must demonstrate that they 

satisfy all eligibility criteria, including 

that they have been ‘‘continually 

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 sections 

244(a)(1)(A), (b)(2)(A), and (c)(1)(A)(i–ii) 

of the Act; 8 U.S.C. 1254a(a)(1)(A), 

(b)(2)(A), (c)(1)(A)(i–ii). 

Why is the Secretary designating Syria 

for TPS through September 30, 2013? 

The Secretary has determined, after 

consultation with the Department of 

State (DOS) and other appropriate 

Government agencies, that there exist 

extraordinary and temporary conditions 

in Syria that prevent Syrian nationals 

from returning in safety, and that 

permitting such aliens to remain 

temporarily in the United States would 

not be contrary to the national interest 

of the United States. 

Protest crowds began to gather in 

Damascus and Dar’a by mid to late 

March 2011, when citizens seeking 

greater political freedom rose up against 

the rule of President Bashar al-Assad. In 

response, President al-Assad used the 

military to suppress the movement, and 

the Syrian Arab Republic Government 

(SARG) launched a brutal crackdown, 

violently repressing and killing 

thousands of its own civilians. The 

SARG continues to use excessive force 

against civilians, arbitrary executions, 

killing and persecution of protestors and 

members of the media, arbitrary 

detention, disappearances, torture, and 

ill-treatment in an effort to retain 

control of the country. 

The Independent International 

Commission of Inquiry (COI), in its 

second report to the United Nations 

Human Rights Council (HRC) dated 

February 22, 2012 (A/HRC/19/69), 

reports that the SARG’s initial violent 

suppression of dissent was followed by 

military defections and the formation of 

anti-government armed groups. The 

main armed opposition group is the 

Free Syrian Army (FSA). Other antigovernment armed groups include the 

Higher Military Council and Al Faroukh 

Battalion, both of which are engaged in 

combat with the Syrian security forces 

in Homs. According to the COI report, 

while anti-government groups have also 

committed abuses, their actions are not 

comparable in scale or organization to 

those carried out by the Syrian state. 

The COI report states that army 

snipers and Shabbiha (mercenaries 

hired by the SARG) have terrorized the 

population, targeting and killing small 

children, women, and other unarmed 

civilians. Military defectors report that 

soldiers continue to receive ‘‘shoot to 

kill’’ orders. Individual officers in the 

Syrian military have also shot unarmed 

protestors, including children, medical 

doctors, ambulance drivers, and 

mourners at funerals in Da’ra, Rif 

Dimashq, and Almastoumah governates. 

Observers generally agree that the 

conflict has become increasingly violent 

and militarized. As of February 2012, 

the UN Under-Secretary-General for 

Political Affairs indicated that 

approximately 7,500 Syrians have been 

killed since the violence began, and new 

casualties are reported daily. The COI 

report pointed out that ‘‘casualties rose 

steeply as the violence intensified’’ in 

recent months. In fact, the UN’s 

February 2012 death toll estimate of 

7,500 exceeds its January 2012 estimate 

by 2,100 deaths. As of February 2012, 

public UN estimates indicated that 

between 100,000 and 200,000 Syrians 

are internally displaced, and as many as 

500,000 citizens may be trapped in 

affected areas within Syria. According 

to the Office of the UN High 

Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), 

approximately 35,000 Syrians have 

sought shelter in the neighboring 

countries of Turkey, Lebanon, and 

Jordan. 

The deteriorating security situation in 

Syria compelled the United States to 

suspend Embassy operations on 

February 6, 2012, and order the 

departure of all U.S. direct-hire 

personnel from the country. Several 

other diplomatic missions have also 

mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES

19028 Federal Register / Vol. 77, No. 61 / Thursday, March 29, 2012 / Notices 

suspended operations due to security 

concerns. On April 25, 2011, DOS 

advised all United States citizens to 

avoid travel to Syria and urged United 

States citizens in Syria to depart 

immediately. DOS has reiterated the 

travel warning several times, most 

recently on March 6, 2012. 

The international community has 

responded to the crisis in Syria by 

imposing economic sanctions. The 

regime’s economic mismanagement and 

economic sanctions have negatively 

affected the whole of the Syrian 

economy. According to the COI report, 

the prices of basic food items have 

increased by as much as 37 percent, and 

the unemployment rate is in the range 

of 22 to 30 percent. The economy is 

estimated to have shrunk by 2 to 4 

percent in 2011, and a higher drop is 

expected in 2012. Tourism, which 

accounted for 6 to 9 percent of Syria’s 

gross domestic product, has collapsed. 

Thousands of Syrians have been 

uprooted from their communities and 

sought shelter in Turkey, Lebanon, and 

Jordan. Many of those that remain in the 

country are trapped in danger zones and 

are experiencing the effects of the 

economic sanctions. As of June 2011, 

UNHCR reports an estimated 10,000 

Syrians are displaced in Turkey. 

Approximately 15,000 Syrians are 

displaced in Lebanon. Although in 

January 2012 Jordan reported that it 

formally hosts 2,500 to 3,000 Syrians 

displaced by violence, UNHCR 

estimates approximately 10,000 

displaced Syrians are in Jordan. In 

February 2012, Jordan government 

sources stated that approximately 

73,000 Syrians have entered Jordan 

through border crossings. 

Journalists and bloggers have been 

subject to harm, including arrest, 

prolonged detention, and death. Reports 

also indicate that medical doctors 

providing treatment to wounded 

members of the opposition have been 

arrested. The campaign group Avaaz, 

which has been monitoring attacks on 

medical workers, recorded more than 

250 arrests between March and October 

2011. This has led to the establishment 

of clandestine makeshift clinics in 

mosques and basements of homes. 

According to the UN General 

Assembly’s Conflict-related sexual 

violence: report of the SecretaryGeneral, published in January 2012, 

reports of conflict-related sexual 

violence from both Syrian security 

forces and anti-government armed 

groups also have surfaced. 

International humanitarian 

organizations face significant obstacles 

to gaining access to Syrian cities such as 

Homs and Hama that are crippled by the 

brutality and violence. As a result, they 

cannot assure humanitarian assistance 

to citizens in need of emergency relief, 

including medical care, food, and other 

supplies. 

Given extraordinary and temporary 

conditions on the ground in Syria, 

Syrian nationals in the United States 

would face serious danger and threats 

were they to return to Syria. 

Based upon this review, and after 

consultation with appropriate 

Government agencies, the Secretary 

finds that: 

• Syrian nationals cannot return to 

Syria in safety due to extraordinary and 

temporary conditions. See section 

244(b)(1)(C) of the Act, 8 U.S.C. 

1254a(b)(1)(C); 

• It is not contrary to the national 

interest of the United States to permit 

Syrian nationals (and persons without 

nationality who last habitually resided 

in Syria) who meet the eligibility 

requirements of TPS to remain in the 

United States temporarily. See section 

244(b)(1)(C), 8 U.S.C. 1254a(b)(1)(C); 

• The designation of Syria for TPS 

should be for an 18-month period from 

March 29, 2012 through September 30, 

2013. See section 244(b)(2) of the Act, 

8 U.S.C. 1254a(b)(2); 

• The date by which Syrian TPS 

applicants must demonstrate that they 

have continuously resided in the United 

States is established as March 29, 2012. 

See section 244(c)(1)(A)(ii) of the Act, 8 

U.S.C. 1254a(c)(1)(A)(ii); 

• The date by which Syrian TPS 

applicants must demonstrate that they 

have been continuously physically 

present in the United States is March 

29, 2012, the effective date of this TPS 

designation of Syria. See sections 

244(b)(2)(A) and (c)(1)(A)(i) of the Act; 

8 U.S.C. 1254a(b)(2)(A), (c)(1)(A)(i); and 

• An estimated 2,500 to 3,000 Syrian 

nationals (and persons without 

nationality who last habitually resided 

in Syria) may be eligible for TPS under 

this designation, based on the issuance 

of nonimmigrant visas to Syrian 

nationals. 

Notice of the Designation of Syria for 

TPS 

By the authority vested in me as 

Secretary under section 244 of the Act, 

8 U.S.C. 1254a, after consultation with 

the appropriate Government agencies, I 

designate Syria for TPS under section 

244(b)(1)(C) of the Act, 8 U.S.C. 

1254a(b)(1)(C), for a period of 18 months 

from March 29, 2012 through September 

30, 2013. 

Janet Napolitano, 

Secretary. 

Required Application Forms and 

Application Fees To Register for TPS 

To register for TPS for Syria, an 

applicant must submit: 

1. Application for Temporary 

Protected Status (Form I–821) with the 

form fee; and 

2. Application for Employment 

Authorization (Form I–765). 

• If you want an EAD you must pay 

the Application for Employment 

Authorization (Form I–765) fee only if 

you are age 14 through 65. 

• No Application for Employment 

Authorization (Form I–765) fee is 

required for an EAD with an initial TPS 

application if you are under the age of 

14 or over the age of 65. 

You must submit both completed 

application forms together. If you are 

unable to pay the required fees, you may 

apply for a waiver for these application 

fees and/or the biometrics services fee 

described below by completing a 

Request for Fee Waiver (Form I–912), or 

submitting a personal letter requesting a 

fee waiver, and providing satisfactory 

supporting documentation. For more 

information on the application forms 

and fees for TPS, please visit the USCIS 

TPS Web page at http://www.uscis.gov/ 

tps. Fees for Application for Temporary 

Protected Status (Form I–821), 

Application for Employment 

Authorization (Form I–765), and 

biometric services are also described in 

8 CFR 103.7(b). 

Biometric Services Fee 

Biometrics (such as fingerprints) are 

required for all applicants 14 years of 

age or older. Such applicants must 

submit a biometric services fee. As 

previously stated, if you are unable to 

pay the required fees, you may apply for 

a biometrics 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 http://www.uscis.gov/feewaiver. If 

your biometrics are required, you will 

be mailed a notice scheduling you for an 

appointment at an Application Support 

Center to have your biometrics 

collected. 

Re-Filing a TPS Application After 

Receiving a Denial of a Fee Waiver 

Request 

If you request a fee waiver when filing 

your TPS and EAD application forms 

mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES

Federal Register / Vol. 77, No. 61 / Thursday, March 29, 2012 / Notices 19029 

and your request is denied, you may refile your application packet with the 

correct fees before the filing deadline of 

September 30, 2013. If you attempt to 

submit your application with a fee 

waiver request before the initial filing 

deadline, but you receive your 

application back with the USCIS fee 

waiver denial, and there are fewer than 

45 days before the filing deadline (or the 

deadline has passed), you may still refile your application within the 45-day 

period after the date on the USCIS fee 

waiver denial notice. You must include 

the correct fees, or file a new fee waiver 

request. Your application will not be 

rejected even if the deadline has passed, 

provided it is mailed within those 45 

days and all other required information 

for the application is included. Please 

be aware that if you re-file your TPS 

application with a new fee waiver 

request after the deadline based on this 

guidance and that new fee waiver 

request is denied, you cannot re-file 

again. Note: Alternatively, you may pay 

the TPS application fee and biometrics 

fee (if age 14 or older) but wait to 

request an EAD and pay the EAD 

application fee after USCIS grants your 

TPS application. 

Mailing Information 

Mail your application for TPS to the 

proper address in Table 1: 

TABLE 1—MAILING ADDRESS

If . . . Mail to . . . 

You are applying through the U.S. Postal Service .................................. USCIS, P.O. Box 6943, Chicago, IL 60680–6943.

You are using a Non-U.S. Postal Service delivery service ..................... USCIS, Attn: Syria TPS, 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. Upon receiving a Receipt Notice from 

USCIS, please send an email to 

TPSijgrant.vsc@uscis.dhs.gov with the 

receipt number stating that you 

submitted a request for an EAD based on 

an IJ/BIA grant of TPS. You can find 

detailed information on what further 

information you need to email, and 

email addresses on the USCIS TPS Web 

page at http://www.uscis.gov/tps. 

E-Filing 

You cannot electronically file your 

application when applying for initial 

registration for TPS. Please mail your 

application to the mailing address listed 

in Table 1. 

Supporting Documents 

What type of basic supporting 

documentation must I submit? 

To meet the basic eligibility 

requirements for TPS, you must submit 

evidence that you: 

• Are a national of Syria or an alien 

of no nationality who last habitually 

resided in Syria. Such documents may 

include a copy of your passport if 

available, other documentation issued 

by the SARG showing your nationality 

(e.g., national identity card, official 

travel documentation issued by the 

SARG), and/or your birth certificate 

with English translation accompanied 

by photo identification. USCIS will also 

consider certain forms of secondary 

evidence supporting your Syrian 

nationality. If the evidence presented is 

insufficient for USCIS to make a 

determination as to your nationality, 

USCIS may request additional evidence. 

If you cannot provide a passport, birth 

certificate with photo identification, or 

a national identity document with your 

photo or fingerprint, you must submit 

an affidavit showing proof of your 

unsuccessful efforts to obtain such 

documents and affirming that you are a 

national of Syria. However, please be 

aware that an interview with an 

immigration officer will be required if 

you do not present any documentary 

proof of identity or nationality or if 

USCIS otherwise requests a personal 

appearance. See 8 CFR 103.2(b)(9), 

244.9(a)(1); 

• Have continually resided in the 

United States since March 29, 2012. See 

8 CFR 244.9(a)(2); 

• Have been continually physically 

present in the United States since March 

29, 2012, the effective date of the 

designation of Syria. See sections 

244(b)(2)(A) and (c)(1)(A)(i) of the Act; 

8 U.S.C. 1254a(b)(2)(A), (c)(1)(A)(i); and 

• Present two color passport-style 

photographs of yourself. 

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 see 

information on the acceptable 

documentation and other requirements 

for applying for TPS on the USCIS Web 

site at www.uscis.gov/tps under ‘‘TPS 

Designated Country—Syria.’’ 

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. Depending on the 

nature of the question(s) you are 

addressing, additional documentation 

alone may suffice, but usually a written 

explanation will also be needed. 

Employment Authorization Document 

(EAD) 

May I request an interim EAD at my 

local USCIS office? 

No. USCIS will not issue interim 

EADs to TPS applicants at local offices. 

When hired, what documentation may I 

show to my employer as proof of 

employment authorization and identity 

when completing Employment 

Eligibility Verification (Form I–9)? 

You can find a list of acceptable 

document choices on page 5 of the 

Employment Eligibility Verification 

(Form I–9). Employers are required to 

verify the identity and employment 

authorization of all new employees by 

using the Employment Eligibility 

Verification (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). An EAD is an acceptable 

document under ‘‘List A.’’ 

Can my employer require that I produce 

any other documentation to prove my 

status, such as proof of my Syrian 

citizenship? 

No. When completing the 

Employment Eligibility Verification 

(Form I–9), employers must accept any 

documentation that appears on the lists 

of acceptable documentation, and that 

reasonably appears to be genuine and 

that relates to you. Employers may not 

request documentation that does not 

mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES

19030 Federal Register / Vol. 77, No. 61 / Thursday, March 29, 2012 / Notices 

appear on the Employment Eligibility 

Verification (Form I–9). Therefore, 

employers may not request proof of 

Syrian citizenship when completing the 

Employment Eligibility Verification 

(Form I–9). If presented with EADs that 

are unexpired on their face, 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 All Employees’’ section for 

important information about your rights 

if your employer rejects lawful 

documentation, requires additional 

documentation, or otherwise 

discriminates against you because of 

your citizenship or immigration status, 

or national origin. 

Note to All Employers 

Employers are reminded that the laws 

requiring 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 

questions, employers may call the 

USCIS Customer Assistance Office at 1– 

800–357–2099. The USCIS Customer 

Assistance Office accepts calls in 

English and Spanish only. Employers 

may also call the Department of Justice 

(DOJ), Office of Special Counsel for 

Immigration-Related Unfair 

Employment Practices (OSC), Employer 

Hotline at 1–800–255–8155. 

Note to Employees 

Employees or applicants may call the 

DOJ OSC Worker Information Hotline at 

1–800–255–7688 for information 

regarding employment discrimination 

based upon citizenship or immigration 

status and national origin, unfair 

documentary practices related to the 

Employment Eligibility Verification 

(Form I–9), and discriminatory practices 

related to E-Verify. Employers must 

accept any document or combination of 

documents acceptable for the 

Employment Eligibility Verification 

(Form I–9) completion if the 

documentation reasonably appears to be 

genuine and to relate to the employee. 

Employers may not require extra or 

additional documentation beyond what 

is required for the Employment 

Eligibility Verification (Form I–9) 

completion. Further, employees who 

receive an initial mismatch via E-Verify 

must be given an opportunity to 

challenge the mismatch, and employers 

are prohibited from taking adverse 

action against such employees based on 

the initial mismatch unless and until EVerify returns a final non-confirmation. 

The Hotline accepts calls in multiple 

languages. Additional information is 

available on the OSC Web site at http:// 

www.justice.gov/crt/about/osc/. 

Note Regarding Federal, State and 

Local Government Agencies (Such as 

Departments of Motor Vehicles) 

State and local government agencies 

are permitted to create their own 

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. If you are applying for a state 

or local government benefit, you may 

need to provide the state or local 

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 EAD that has a valid 

expiration date; and/or 

(2) A copy of your Application for 

Temporary Protected Status Approval 

Notice (Form I–797), if you receive one 

from USCIS. 

Check with the state or local agency 

regarding which document(s) the agency 

will accept. You may also provide the 

agency with a copy of this notice. 

Some benefit-granting agencies use 

the Systematic Alien Verification for 

Entitlements (SAVE) Program to verify 

the current immigration status of 

applicants for public benefits. If such an 

agency has denied your application 

based solely or in part on a SAVE 

response following completion of all 

required SAVE verification steps, the 

agency must offer you the opportunity 

to appeal the decision in accordance 

with the agency’s procedures. If the 

agency has completed all SAVE 

verification and you do not believe the 

response is correct, you may make an 

InfoPass appointment for an in-person 

interview at a local USCIS office. 

Detailed information on how to make 

corrections, make an appointment, or 

submit a written request can be found 

at the SAVE Web site at www.uscis.gov/ 

save, then by choosing ‘‘How to Correct 

Your Records’’ from the menu on the 

right. 

[FR Doc. 2012–7498 Filed 3–28–12; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 9111–97–P 

DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND 

SECURITY 

U.S. Customs and Border Protection 

[CBP Dec. No. 12–06] 

Automated Commercial Environment 

Required for the Transmission of 

Advance Ocean and Rail Cargo 

Information 

AGENCY: U.S. Customs and Border 

Protection, DHS. 

ACTION: Notice. 

SUMMARY: Various U.S. Customs and 

Border Protection (CBP) regulations 

require the transmission of advance 

cargo information to CBP through a 

CBP-approved electronic data 

interchange (EDI) system. CBP recently 

completed the testing of the Automated 

Commercial Environment (ACE) for the 

transmission of advance ocean and rail 

cargo information. This notice 

announces that, after a six month 

transition period, ACE will be the only 

CBP-approved EDI for submitting 

required advance information for ocean 

and rail cargo. 

DATES: On September 29, 2012, ACE 

will be the only CBP-approved EDI for 

transmitting to CBP required advance 

information for ocean and rail cargo. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Susan Maskell, Office of International 

Trade, Susan.Maskell@dhs.gov. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Background 

Section 343(a) of the Trade Act of 

2002, as amended by the Maritime 

Transportation Security Act of 2002 (19 

U.S.C. 2071 note) (referred to in this 

notice as the Trade Act), directed U.S. 

Customs and Border Protection (CBP) to 

promulgate regulations providing for the 

mandatory transmission of electronic 

cargo information by way of a CBPapproved electronic data interchange 

(EDI) system before the cargo is brought 

into or departs the United States by any 

mode of commercial transportation 

(ocean, air, rail or truck). The required 

cargo information is that which is 

reasonably necessary to enable high-risk 

shipments to be identified for purposes 

of ensuring cargo safety and security 

and preventing smuggling pursuant to 

the laws enforced and administered by 

CBP. To effectuate the provisions of the 

Trade Act, CBP published a final rule in 

the Federal Register in 2003, requiring 

the advance electronic transmission of 

information pertaining to cargo prior to 

its being brought into, or sent from, the 

United States by sea, air, rail or truck. 

See Required Advance Electronic 

mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES