Opinion ID: 2446
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Finnair: The Post-1996 Tourist Regulation

Text: Finnair challenged the INS's 1996 amendment of the regulation governing visa waivers for tourists who were able to show an unforeseen emergency. Prior to 1996, the relevant regulation stated that [a] visa and a passport are not required of a nonimmigrant who could show an emergency. 8 C.F.R. § 212.1(g) (1995). The regulation, which formed the basis of United's defense in its separate lawsuit, had been interpreted as not permitting the INS to impose a fine when the alien was later granted a waiver. The pre-1996 version of the regulation was consistent with a parallel State Department regulation, 22 C.F.R. § 41.2(j), which included a similar statement. In 1996, the INS amended the regulation to state that [a] nonimmigrant seeking admission to the United States must present an unexpired visa and that the district director could waive that requirement if the nonimmigrant showed an emergency. 8 C.F.R. § 212.1(g) (1997). This language modified the regulation so that the visa requirement was preserved even when the alien later received a waiver. The State Department did not amend its own parallel regulation to reflect these changes until 1999, and it did not seek notice and comment in connection with that amendment. Finnair was fined under the regulatory scheme in effect between 1996 and 1999. It argued that the INS's 1996 amendment was void because it was not jointly promulgated with the State Department, as required by statute. Finnair further claimed that the 1996 INS version conflicted with the pre-1999 parallel State Department regulation. The BIA upheld the fine, finding that the 1996 amendment satisfied the joint action requirement because the State Department had delegated its rulemaking authority with respect to tourist visa waivers to the Attorney General. The BIA further held that if the INS regulation conflicted with the State Department regulation, the INS regulation controlled. Without delving into the BIA's reasoning, the district court granted summary judgment to the INS on December 27, 2006, based upon its United Airlines decision. See Finnair OY v. Brien, No. 02-CV-0900, slip op. at 1 (E.D.N.Y. Dec. 27, 2006).