IIB 
108TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 2655
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 
OCTOBER 14, 2003
Received; read twice and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations 
AN ACT 
To amend and extend the Irish Peace Process Cultural and 
Training Program Act of 1998.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
HR 2655 RFS 
(2) EXTENSION OF PROGRAM.—Section 2 of the 
Irish Peace Process Cultural and Training Program 
Act of 1998 (8 U.S.C. 1101 note) is amended—
(A) in subsection (a)(3), by striking ‘‘the 
third program year and for the 4 subsequent 
years,’’ and inserting ‘‘each program year,’’; 
(B) by amending subsection (d)(1) to read 
as follows: 
‘‘(1) Effective October 1, 2008, this Act is re-
pealed, except for subsection (a)(3), which is re-
pealed effective October 1, 2009.’’; and 
(C) in subsection (d)(2), by striking 
‘‘2006,’’ and inserting ‘‘2008,’’. 
(3) 
TECHNICAL
AMENDMENTS.—The 
Irish 
Peace Process Cultural and Training Program Act 
of 1998 (8 U.S.C. 1101 note) is amended—
(A) by striking ‘‘Attorney General’’ each 
place such term appears and inserting ‘‘Sec-
retary of Homeland Security’’; and 
(B) by striking ‘‘Immigration and Natu-
ralization Service’’ each place such term ap-
pears and inserting ‘‘Department of Homeland 
Security’’. 
(b) IMMIGRATION AND NATIONALITY ACT.—
HR 2655 RFS 
(1) REQUIREMENTS FOR NONIMMIGRANT STA-
TUS.—Section 101(a)(15)(Q) of the Immigration 
and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1101(a)(15)(Q)) is 
amended—
(A) by striking ‘‘Attorney General’’ each 
place such term appears and inserting ‘‘Sec-
retary of Homeland Security’’; and 
(B) in clause (ii)(I)—
(i) by striking ‘‘35 years of age or 
younger having a residence’’ and inserting 
‘‘citizen of the United Kingdom or the Re-
public of Ireland, 21 to 35 years of age, 
unemployed for not less than 6 months, 
and having a residence for not less than 6 
months’’; and 
(ii) by striking ‘‘36 months)’’ and in-
serting ‘‘24 months)’’. 
(2) FOREIGN RESIDENCE REQUIREMENT.—Sec-
tion 212 of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 
U.S.C. 1182) is amended—
(A) by redesignating the subsection (p) as 
added by section 1505(f) of Public Law 106–
386 (114 Stat. 1526) as subsection (s); and 
(B) by adding at the end the following:
HR 2655 RFS 
‘‘(t)(1) Except as provided in paragraph (2), no per-
son admitted under section 101(a)(15)(Q)(ii)(I), or ac-
quiring such status after admission, shall be eligible to 
apply for nonimmigrant status, an immigrant visa, or per-
manent residence under this Act until it is established that 
such person has resided and been physically present in the 
person’s country of nationality or last residence for an ag-
gregate of at least 2 years following departure from the 
United States. 
‘‘(2) The Secretary of Homeland Security may waive 
the requirement of such 2-year foreign residence abroad 
if the Secretary determines that—
‘‘(A) departure from the United States would 
impose exceptional hardship upon the alien’s spouse 
or child (if such spouse or child is a citizen of the 
United States or an alien lawfully admitted for per-
manent residence); or 
‘‘(B) the admission of the alien is in the public 
interest or the national interest of the United 
States.’’.
Passed the House of Representatives October 7, 
2003. 
Attest: 
JEFF TRANDAHL, 
Clerk.