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    <RIN_INFO>
        <RIN>1615-AB65</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>Changes to Requirements Affecting H-2A Nonimmigrants </RULE_TITLE>
        <ABSTRACT><![CDATA[U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services is amending the regulations affecting temporary and seasonal agricultural workers within the H-2A nonimmigrant category and their U.S. employers.  The rule relaxes the current limitations on the ability of U.S. employers to petition unnamed agricultural workers to come to the United States and makes related changes to the evidentiary requirements for such petitions.  In addition, the rule revises the current limitations on agricultural workers length of stay, including redefining temporary employment, lengthening the amount of time an agricultural worker may remain in the United States after their H-2A nonimmigrant status has expired, and shortening the time period that an agricultural worker whose H-2A nonimmigrant status has expired must wait before he or she is eligible to obtain H-2A nonimmigrant status again.  Finally, this rule provides for temporary employment authorization to agricultural workers seeking an extension of their H-2A nonimmigrant status through a different U.S. employer.  These changes are necessary to encourage and facilitate the lawful employment of foreign agricultural workers.]]></ABSTRACT>
        <PRIORITY_CATEGORY>Other Significant</PRIORITY_CATEGORY>
        <RIN_STATUS>Previously Published in The Unified Agenda</RIN_STATUS>
        <RULE_STAGE>Completed Actions</RULE_STAGE>
        <MAJOR>No</MAJOR>
        <UNFUNDED_MANDATE_LIST>
            <UNFUNDED_MANDATE>No</UNFUNDED_MANDATE>
        </UNFUNDED_MANDATE_LIST>
        <CFR_LIST>
            <CFR>8 CFR 214</CFR>
            <CFR>8 CFR 274a</CFR>
        </CFR_LIST>
        <LEGAL_AUTHORITY_LIST>
            <LEGAL_AUTHORITY>8 USC 1101 and 1102</LEGAL_AUTHORITY>
        </LEGAL_AUTHORITY_LIST>
        <LEGAL_DLINE_LIST/>
        <RPLAN_ENTRY>Yes</RPLAN_ENTRY>
        <TIMETABLE_LIST>
            <TIMETABLE>
                <TTBL_ACTION>NPRM</TTBL_ACTION>
                <TTBL_DATE>02/13/2008</TTBL_DATE>
                <FR_CITATION>73 FR 8230</FR_CITATION>
            </TIMETABLE>
            <TIMETABLE>
                <TTBL_ACTION>NPRM Comment Period End</TTBL_ACTION>
                <TTBL_DATE>04/14/2008</TTBL_DATE>
            </TIMETABLE>
            <TIMETABLE>
                <TTBL_ACTION>Final Action</TTBL_ACTION>
                <TTBL_DATE>12/18/2008</TTBL_DATE>
                <FR_CITATION>73 FR 76891</FR_CITATION>
            </TIMETABLE>
        </TIMETABLE_LIST>
        <ADDITIONAL_INFO>CIS 2428-07</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>
        <ENERGY_AFFECTED>No</ENERGY_AFFECTED>
        <FURTHER_INFO_URL>www.regulations.gov</FURTHER_INFO_URL>
        <PUBLIC_COMMENT_URL>www.regulations.gov</PUBLIC_COMMENT_URL>
        <PRINT_PAPER>No</PRINT_PAPER>
        <INTERNATIONAL_INTEREST>No</INTERNATIONAL_INTEREST>
        <AGENCY_CONTACT_LIST>
            <CONTACT>
                <FIRST_NAME>Sophia</FIRST_NAME>
                <LAST_NAME>Cox</LAST_NAME>
                <AGENCY>
                    <CODE>1615</CODE>
                    <NAME>U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services</NAME>
                    <ACRONYM>USCIS</ACRONYM>
                </AGENCY>
                <PHONE>202 272-1522</PHONE>
                <EMAIL>sophia.cox@dhs.gov</EMAIL>
                <MAILING_ADDRESS>
                    <STREET_ADDRESS>20 Massachusetts Avenue NW., 2nd Floor,</STREET_ADDRESS>
                    <CITY>Washington</CITY>
                    <STATE>DC</STATE>
                    <ZIP>20529</ZIP>
                </MAILING_ADDRESS>
            </CONTACT>
        </AGENCY_CONTACT_LIST>
    </RIN_INFO>
</REGINFO_RIN_DATA>
