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    <RIN_INFO>
        <RIN>1615-AC16</RIN>
        <PUBLICATION>
            <PUBLICATION_ID>201710</PUBLICATION_ID>
            <PUBLICATION_TITLE>The Regulatory Plan and the 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>Updated English Language Proficiency Requirements for Certain Foreign Health Workers</RULE_TITLE>
        <ABSTRACT><![CDATA[<!DOCTYPE html>
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<p>The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is amending its regulations at 8 CFR 212.15 governing certificates for foreign health care workers to update the English language requirements applicable to certain foreign nationals seeking admission to the United States for the purposes of performing labor as health care workers in one of seven covered non-physician health care professions. The Secretary of Health and Human Services in consultation with the Secretary of Education is tasked with setting standards for the English language requirements for foreign healthcare workers under the authority of section 343 of the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996 (IIRIRA), 8 U.S.C. 1182(a)(5)(C) and 1182(r), and 8 CFR 212.15(g), including identifying appropriate standardized tests and minimum scores. Updated DHS regulations for English language competency are important for ensuring transparency so that that those seeking to enter the United States as health care workers are competent to communicate with an interdisciplinary team of providers and the patients and families they serve. Consistent with the statute and governing regulations, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has notified DHS of additions and deletions to the approved list of testing agencies, tests and minimum scores. Therefore, this rule updates DHS regulations to reflect updated English language proficiency requirements set by HHS.</p>
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        <PRIORITY_CATEGORY>Other Significant</PRIORITY_CATEGORY>
        <RIN_STATUS>First Time Published in The Unified Agenda</RIN_STATUS>
        <RULE_STAGE>Final Rule Stage</RULE_STAGE>
        <MAJOR>No</MAJOR>
        <UNFUNDED_MANDATE_LIST>
            <UNFUNDED_MANDATE>No</UNFUNDED_MANDATE>
        </UNFUNDED_MANDATE_LIST>
        <EO_13771_DESIGNATION>Other</EO_13771_DESIGNATION>
        <CFR_LIST>
            <CFR>8 CFR 212.15</CFR>
        </CFR_LIST>
        <LEGAL_AUTHORITY_LIST>
            <LEGAL_AUTHORITY>Pub. L. 104-208, sec. 343</LEGAL_AUTHORITY>
            <LEGAL_AUTHORITY>8 U.S.C. 1182(a)(5)(C) and 1182(r)</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>05/00/2018</TTBL_DATE>
            </TIMETABLE>
        </TIMETABLE_LIST>
        <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>Brian</FIRST_NAME>
                <LAST_NAME>Hunt</LAST_NAME>
                <TITLE>Acting Chief, Business and Foreign Workers Division, Office of Policy and Strategy</TITLE>
                <AGENCY>
                    <CODE>1615</CODE>
                    <NAME>U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services</NAME>
                    <ACRONYM>USCIS</ACRONYM>
                </AGENCY>
                <PHONE>202 272-8377</PHONE>
                <FAX>202 272-1480</FAX>
                <EMAIL>brian.j.hunt@uscis.dhs.gov</EMAIL>
                <MAILING_ADDRESS>
                    <STREET_ADDRESS>20 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Suite 1200,</STREET_ADDRESS>
                    <CITY>Washington</CITY>
                    <STATE>DC</STATE>
                    <ZIP>20529-2200</ZIP>
                </MAILING_ADDRESS>
            </CONTACT>
        </AGENCY_CONTACT_LIST>
    </RIN_INFO>
</REGINFO_RIN_DATA>
