4394 Federal Register / Vol. 63, No. 19 /Thursday, January 29, 1998 /Rules and Regulations

(2) Provided:

(i) The alien pays anew the statutory

application and issuance fees; and

(ii) The consular officer ascertains

whether the original issuing office

knows of any reason why a new visa

should not be issued.

(b) Replacement immigrant visa for an

immediate relative or for an alien

subject to numerical limitation.

(1) A consular officer may issue a

replacement visa under the original

number of a qualified alien entitled to

status under INA 201(b)(2)(A)(i), INA

203(a), (b), or (c), or under INA 124, if—

(i) The alien is unable to use the visa

during the period of its validity due to

reasons beyond the alien’s control;

(ii) The visa is issued during the same

fiscal year in which the original visa

was issued;

(iii) The number has not be returned

to the Department as a ‘‘recaptured visa

number’’;

(iv) The alien pays anew the statutory

application and issuance fees; and

(v) The consular officer ascertain

whether the original issuing office of

knows of any reason why a new visa

should not be issued.

(2) In issuing a visa under this

paragraph (b), the consular officer shall

insert the word ‘‘REPLACE’’ on Form

OF–155A, Immigrant Visa and Alien

Registration, before the word

‘‘IMMIGRANT’’ in the title of the visa.

* * * * *

Dated: December 17, 1997.

Mary A. Ryan,

Assistant Secretary for Consular Affairs.

[FR Doc. 98–1780 Filed 1–28–98; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4710–06–M

DEPARTMENT OF STATE

Bureau of Consular Affairs

22 CFR Part 42

[Public Notice 2715]

Visas: Immigrant Religious Workers

AGENCY: Bureau of Consular Affairs,

DOS.

ACTION: Final rule.

SUMMARY: The Immigration Act of 1990

created a new special immigrant visa

classification for religious workers who

have 2 years of membership in a

religious denomination; two years of

experience in a religious occupation or

vocation and who intend to continue to

work in such occupation or vocation.

The legislation, as originally enacted,

required religious workers (other than

ministers) to seek entry into the United

States before October 1, 1994.

On October 25, 1994 in the

Immigration and Nationality Technical

Corrections Act of 1994 the deadline

was extended to allow religious workers

to enter the United States ‘‘before

October 1, 1997’’.

The Religious Workers Act of 1997

enacted on October 6, 1997 further

extended the deadline to ‘‘before

October 1, 2000’’. Thus, this final rule

amends the previously published

regulation and extends the allowable

validity date of immigration visas for

aliens seeking to enter the United States

as special immigrant religious workers

to not later than September 30, 2000.

EFFECTIVE DATE: January 29, 1998.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Pam Chavez, Legislation and

Regulations Division, Visa Services,

(202) 663–1206.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Immigration Act of 1990

Section 151 of the Immigration Act of

1990 (IMMACT 90), Public Law 101–

649, amended INA 101(a)(27)(C) by

adding a new category of special

immigrant visas for aliens who will

work in a religious occupation or

vocation for a religious organization in

a professional or other capacity. Unlike

the provision for special immigrant

ministers of religion, which does not

contain a sunset provision, the

provisions for religious workers (as

defined under INA 101(a)(27)(C)(ii)(II)

and (III)), as originally enacted, required

religious workers to seek to enter the

United States before October 1, 1994.

Immigration and Nationality Technical

Corrections Act of 1994

On October 25, 1994, sec. 214 of the

Immigration and Nationality Technical

Corrections Act of 1994 (Pub. L. 103–

416) amended INA 101(a)(27)(C)(ii) to

extend the sunset date to before October

1, 1997.

Religious Workers Act of 1997

Sec. 1 of the Religious Workers Act of

1997, Public Law 105–54, enacted

October 6, 1997 further extended the

deadline for special immigrant religious

workers to enter the United States until

before October 1, 2000. This final rule

implements this section by revising

42.32(d)(1)(ii) to extend the visa validity

date to not later than September 30,

2000.

Final Rule

This rule is not expected to have a

significant impact on a substantial

number of small entities under the

criteria of the Regulatory Flexibility Act.

This rule imposes no reporting or

recordkeeping action from the public

requiring the approval of the Office of

Management and Budget under the

Paperwork Reduction Act requirements.

This rule has been reviewed as required

by E.O. 12778 and certified to be in

compliance therewith. This rule is

exempted from E.O. 12866 but has been

coordinated with INS and reviewed to

ensure consistency therewith.

List of Subjects in 22 CFR Part 42

Aliens, Immigration, Passports and

visas.

In view of the foregoing 22 CFR

Chapter I is amended as follows:

PART 42—[AMENDED]

1. The authority citation for Part 42 is

revised to read:

Authority: 8 U.S.C. 1104.

2. Section 42.32 is amended by

revising paragraph (d)(1)(ii) to read as

follows:

§ 42.32 Employment based preference

immigrants.

* * * * *

(d) Fourth preference—Special

immigrants—(1) Religious workers.

* * *

(ii) Timeliness of application. An

immigrant visa issued under INA

203(b)(4) to an alien described in INA

101(a)(27)(C), other than a minister of

religion, who qualifies as a ‘‘religious

worker’’ as defined in 8 CFR 204.5 shall

bear the usual validity except that in no

case shall it be valid later than

September 30, 2000.

* * * * *

Dated: January 12, 1998.

Mary A. Ryan,

Assistant Secretary for Consular Affairs.

[FR Doc. 98–1779 Filed 1–28–98; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4710–06–M

DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY

Internal Revenue Service

26 CFR Part 1

[TD 8763]

RIN 1545–AU06

Modifications of Bad Debts and Dealer

Assignments of Notional Principal

Contracts

AGENCY: Internal Revenue Service (IRS),

Treasury.

ACTION: Final and temporary

regulations.

SUMMARY: This document contains

regulations that deem a charge-off and