Source: https://immigration.com/print/4874
Timestamp: 2019-12-07 14:50:24
Document Index: 304853186

Matched Legal Cases: ['§ 553', '§ 553', '§ 603', '§ 605', '§ 101', '§ 601', '§ 1532', '§ 804', 'art 41', 'ART 41', 'art 41', '§ 1104', '§ 41', '§ 101', '§ 101', '§ 101', '§ 212', '§ 101']

State Dept. Releases Pending Final Rule On L Visas Full Validity [1]
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:Lauren A. Prosnik, Legislation and Regulations Division, Visa Services, Department of State, 2401 E Street, N.W., Room L-603D, Washington, D.C. 20520-0106, (202) 663-1260.
Current Department regulations require that L visa duration be limited to the validity period of the petition, which, under Department of Homeland Security (DHS) regulations, cannot exceed three years. Petitioners may apply to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) for extension of petition validity in increments of up to two years, but the total period of stay may not exceed five years for aliens employed in a specialized knowledge capacity or seven years for aliens employed in a managerial or executive capacity. The Department is changing this regulation to delink visa and petition validity periods, as currently required by 22 CFR 41.54(c), “Validity of visa”. As a result, L visa validity will be governed by 22 CFR 41.112, which provides that, except as provided in paragraphs (c) and (d) of that section, a nonimmigrant visa shall have the validity prescribed in schedules provided to consular officers by the Department, which reflect the reciprocal treatment the applicant’s country accords U.S. nationals, U.S. permanent residents or aliens granted refugee status in the United States. The change would benefit beneficiaries of petitions for L status who are nationals of countries for which the reciprocity schedule prescribes visa validity for a longer period of time than the initial validity indicated in the petition approved by DHS and who have extended their L stay while in the United States. Subject to 22 CFR 41.112(c), such individuals generally would not need to again apply for an L visa at a U.S. Embassy or Consulate overseas if they were to travel outside the United States during the period indicated in the applicable reciprocity schedule, as is currently required when petition validity has been extended. Under 8 CFR 214.2(l)(11), an alien may apply for admission in L status only while the individual or blanket petition is valid.
This regulation involves a foreign affairs function of the United States and, therefore, in accordance with 5 U.S.C. § 553(a)(1), is not subject to the rule making procedures set forth at 5 U.S.C. 553.
Because this final rule is exempt from notice and comment rulemaking under 5 U.S.C. § 553, it is exempt from the regulatory flexibility analysis requirements set forth at sections 603 and 604 of the Regulatory Flexibility Act (5 U.S.C. §§ 603 and 604). Nonetheless, consistent with section 605(b) of the Regulatory Flexibility Act (5 U.S.C. § 605(b)), the Department certifies that this rule will not have a significant economic impact on a substantial number of small entities. This regulates individual aliens applying for visas under INA § 101(A)(15)(L) and does not affect any small entities, as defined in 5 U.S.C. § 601(6).
Section 202 of the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act of 1995, Pub. L. 104-4, 109 Stat. 48, 2 U.S.C. § 1532, generally requires agencies to prepare a statement before proposing any rule that may result in an annual expenditure of $100 million or more by State, local, or tribal governments, or by the private sector. This rule will not result in any such expenditure, nor will it significantly or uniquely affect small governments.
This rule is not a major rule as defined by 5 U.S.C. § 804, for purposes of congressional review of agency rulemaking under the Small Business Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act of 1996, Pub. L. 104-121. This rule will not result in an annual effect on the economy of $100 million or more; a major increase in costs or prices; or adverse effects on competition, employment, investment, productivity, innovation, or the ability of United States-based companies to compete with foreign-based companies in domestic and import markets.
The Department of State has reviewed this proposed rule to ensure its consistency with the regulatory philosophy and principles set forth in Executive Order 12866 and has determined that the benefits of this final regulation justify its costs. The Department does not consider this final rule to be an economically significant action within the scope of section 3(f)(1) of the Executive Order since it is not likely to have an annual effect on the economy of $100 million or more or to adversely affect in a material way the economy, a sector of the economy, competition, jobs, the environment, public health or safety, or State, local or tribal governments or communities.
This rule does not impose information collection requirements under the provisions of the Paperwork Reduction Act, 44 U.S.C. Chapter 35.
Documentation of Nonimmigrants.
For the reasons stated in the preamble, the Department of State amends 22 CFR
Part 41 to read as follows:
PART 41-[AMENDED]
1. The authority citation for Part 41 will continue to read as follows:
Authority: 8 U.S.C. § 1104.
2. Section 41.54 is amended to read as follows:
§ 41.54 Intra-company transferees (executives, managers, and specialized knowledge employees)
(a) Requirements for L classification. An alien shall be classifiable under the provisions of INA § 101(a)(15)(L) if:
(i) the alien has presented to the consular officer official evidence of the approval by DHS of a blanket petition listing only those intra-company relationships and positions found to qualify under INA § 101(a)(15)(L);
(c) Alien not entitled to L-1 classification under individual petition. The consular officer must suspend action on the alien's application and submit a report to the approving DHS office if the consular officer knows or has reason to believe that an alien applying for a visa as the beneficiary of an approved individual petition under INA § 101(a)(15)(L) is not entitled to such classification as approved.
(f) Former exchange visitor. Former exchange visitors who are subject to the two-year foreign residence requirement of INA § 212(e) are ineligible to apply for visas under INA § 101(a)(15)(L) until they have fulfilled the residence requirement or obtained a waiver of the requirement.
General Nonimmigrant Visa [2]
L Visa [3]
Source URL (retrieved on 7 Dec 2019 - 10:50): https://immigration.com/news/general-nonimmigrant-visa/state-dept-releases-pending-final-rule-l-visas-full-validity
[1] https://immigration.com/news/general-nonimmigrant-visa/state-dept-releases-pending-final-rule-l-visas-full-validity
[2] https://immigration.com/visa/nonimmigrant-visas/general-nonimmigrant-visa
[3] https://immigration.com/visa/nonimmigrant-visas/l-visa
[4] https://immigration.com/agencies/agency/dos