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<REGINFO_RIN_DATA xmlns:xsi="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance" RUN_DATE="2026-04-28-04:00" xsi:noNamespaceSchemaLocation="https://www.reginfo.gov/public/xml/REGINFO_XML_Ver10262011.xsd">
    <RIN_INFO>
        <RIN>1615-AA86</RIN>
        <PUBLICATION>
            <PUBLICATION_ID>200904</PUBLICATION_ID>
            <PUBLICATION_TITLE>Unified Agenda of Federal Regulatory and Deregulatory Actions</PUBLICATION_TITLE>
        </PUBLICATION>
        <AGENCY>
            <CODE>1615</CODE>
            <NAME>U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services</NAME>
            <ACRONYM>USCIS</ACRONYM>
        </AGENCY>
        <PARENT_AGENCY>
            <CODE>1600</CODE>
            <NAME>Department of Homeland Security</NAME>
            <ACRONYM>DHS</ACRONYM>
        </PARENT_AGENCY>
        <RULE_TITLE>Withholding of Adjudication</RULE_TITLE>
        <ABSTRACT><![CDATA[This interim rule codifies the Secretary of Homeland Security's current discretionary authority, as delegated to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) directors, to manage the caseload of pending requests for immigration benefits in districts or regions over which the directors have jurisdiction.  A component of this case management authority is the ability to withhold adjudication of any pending application or petition, particularly when an investigation is ongoing and background and security checks are still pending completion.  This interim rule expands the circumstances under which DHS may withhold adjudication or toll any applicable regulatory deadline for completion of adjudication of an application or petition.  This interim rule also modifies the regulations governing processing of naturalization applications to define when a naturalization examination will be deemed "conducted" for purposes of seeking administrative or judicial review under section 336 of the Immigration and Nationality Act (Act).  The interim rule also requires that background and security checks be completed to the satisfaction of the Secretary before an alien may be found to have "good moral character" for naturalization and before the alien may be naturalized in accordance with title III of the Act.  These changes will aid DHS in its efforts to improve case adjudication overall while simultaneously ensuring that no immigration or naturalization benefit is granted until any pending investigation or required background and security check is completed to the satisfaction of the Secretary.  These changes also will ensure that no immigration benefit is provided to an ineligible individual or person who may pose a threat to public safety or national security.]]></ABSTRACT>
        <PRIORITY_CATEGORY>Other Significant</PRIORITY_CATEGORY>
        <RIN_STATUS>Previously Published in The Unified Agenda</RIN_STATUS>
        <RULE_STAGE>Long-Term Actions</RULE_STAGE>
        <MAJOR>No</MAJOR>
        <UNFUNDED_MANDATE_LIST>
            <UNFUNDED_MANDATE>No</UNFUNDED_MANDATE>
        </UNFUNDED_MANDATE_LIST>
        <CFR_LIST>
            <CFR>8 CFR 103</CFR>
            <CFR>8 CFR 208</CFR>
            <CFR>8 CFR 310</CFR>
            <CFR>8 CFR 335 and 336</CFR>
        </CFR_LIST>
        <LEGAL_AUTHORITY_LIST>
            <LEGAL_AUTHORITY>8 USC 552 to 552a</LEGAL_AUTHORITY>
            <LEGAL_AUTHORITY>8 USC 1101</LEGAL_AUTHORITY>
            <LEGAL_AUTHORITY>8 USC 1103</LEGAL_AUTHORITY>
            <LEGAL_AUTHORITY>8 USC 1304</LEGAL_AUTHORITY>
            <LEGAL_AUTHORITY>8 USC 1356</LEGAL_AUTHORITY>
            <LEGAL_AUTHORITY>8 USC 1421</LEGAL_AUTHORITY>
            <LEGAL_AUTHORITY>8 USC 1443</LEGAL_AUTHORITY>
            <LEGAL_AUTHORITY>8 USC 1447</LEGAL_AUTHORITY>
            <LEGAL_AUTHORITY>...</LEGAL_AUTHORITY>
        </LEGAL_AUTHORITY_LIST>
        <LEGAL_DLINE_LIST/>
        <RPLAN_ENTRY>No</RPLAN_ENTRY>
        <TIMETABLE_LIST>
            <TIMETABLE>
                <TTBL_ACTION>Interim Final Rule</TTBL_ACTION>
                <TTBL_DATE>05/17/2001</TTBL_DATE>
                <FR_CITATION>66 FR 27445</FR_CITATION>
            </TIMETABLE>
            <TIMETABLE>
                <TTBL_ACTION>Interim Final Rule Effective</TTBL_ACTION>
                <TTBL_DATE>05/17/2001</TTBL_DATE>
            </TIMETABLE>
            <TIMETABLE>
                <TTBL_ACTION>Interim Final Rule Comment Period End</TTBL_ACTION>
                <TTBL_DATE>07/17/2001</TTBL_DATE>
            </TIMETABLE>
            <TIMETABLE>
                <TTBL_ACTION>Next Action Undetermined</TTBL_ACTION>
                <TTBL_DATE>To Be Determined</TTBL_DATE>
            </TIMETABLE>
        </TIMETABLE_LIST>
        <ADDITIONAL_INFO>CIS No. 2234-02

Transferred from RIN 1115-AG86</ADDITIONAL_INFO>
        <RFA_REQUIRED>No</RFA_REQUIRED>
        <SMALL_ENTITY_LIST>
            <SMALL_ENTITY>No</SMALL_ENTITY>
        </SMALL_ENTITY_LIST>
        <GOVT_LEVEL_LIST>
            <GOVT_LEVEL>None</GOVT_LEVEL>
        </GOVT_LEVEL_LIST>
        <FEDERALISM>No</FEDERALISM>
        <PRINT_PAPER>No</PRINT_PAPER>
        <INTERNATIONAL_INTEREST>No</INTERNATIONAL_INTEREST>
        <AGENCY_CONTACT_LIST>
            <CONTACT>
                <FIRST_NAME>Mark</FIRST_NAME>
                <LAST_NAME>Phillips</LAST_NAME>
                <TITLE>Residence and Naturalization Division Chief</TITLE>
                <AGENCY>
                    <CODE>1615</CODE>
                    <NAME>U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services</NAME>
                    <ACRONYM>USCIS</ACRONYM>
                </AGENCY>
                <PHONE>240 721-3000</PHONE>
                <MAILING_ADDRESS>
                    <STREET_ADDRESS>Office of Policy and Strategy, 5900 Capital Gateway Drive, Suite 4S190,</STREET_ADDRESS>
                    <CITY>Camp Springs</CITY>
                    <STATE>MD</STATE>
                    <ZIP>20588-0009</ZIP>
                </MAILING_ADDRESS>
            </CONTACT>
        </AGENCY_CONTACT_LIST>
    </RIN_INFO>
</REGINFO_RIN_DATA>
