DOS Final Rule on Olympic Games Visas
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 1521-1523]
DEPARTMENT OF STATE
Bureau of Consular Affairs
22 CFR Part 41
[Public Notice 2318]
Visas Documentation of Nonimmigrants Under the Immigration and Nationality Act, as Amended; Application for Nonimmigrant Visa
AGENCY: Bureau of Consular Affairs, State.
ACTION: Final rule.
SUMMARY: The United States is hosting the Summer Olympic Games in Atlanta in 1996. The processing of visas for the [[Page 1522]] great number of participants requires some temporary changes in established procedures to accommodate the increased workload. These changes include: granting the Deputy Assistant Secretary for the Visa Office authority to designate consular posts for processing of NIVs regardless of the applicant's place of residence or physical presence, a waiver of the passport requirement at the time of visa application, and a waiver of the photograph requirement at the time of NIV application and issuance.
EFFECTIVE DATE: January 22, 1996.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Stephen K. Fischel, Chief, Legislation and Regulations Division, 202 663-1204.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background
The Games of the XXVI Olympiad will be held in Atlanta, Georgia, from July 19 to August 4, 1996. These games will be the largest in history with 10,000 athletes and at least 45,000 in the entire Olympic Family. ``Olympic Family Members'' include: athletes, coaches, trainers, support personnel, senior officials of the International Olympic Committee, International Federations, National Olympic Committees, and Other Olympic Games Organizing Committees, as well as official guests, rightsholding broadcasters, accredited international media and international judges and juries. The vast majority of ``Olympic Family Members'' are aliens and must be processed for admission into the United States for the Games. These great numbers require the Department of State and other agencies engaged in the process to devise means to accommodate ``Olympic Family Members'' in the most efficient fashion. Visa processing procedures for the Games have been specifically designed to minimize the burden on the currently heavily taxed resources at U.S. consular posts abroad and to facilitate visa processing for ``Olympic Family Members.''
Place of Application
The general rule at 22 CFR 41.101 requires an alien to apply for a nonimmigrant visa in the consular district in which he or she resides, whether or not physically present there at that time, or where the alien is physically present regardless of place of residence. The change in the regulation grants the Deputy Assistant Secretary the authority to designate a consular post or consular posts for acceptance of visa applications from certain ``Olympic Family Members'' regardless of the residence or physical presence of the applicants. This permits the Department of State to best utilize available resources in efficiently fulfilling its visa responsibilities under the Immigration and Nationality Act.
Presentation of Passport
The regulations at 22 CFR 41.104(b) require visa applicants to present passports at the time of application for visas. Although ``Olympic Family Members'' will still need to present passports at the time of admission to the United States, they will not be required to do so at the time of visa application. The regulation is modified accordingly.
Passport Photograph
Pursuant to 22 CFR 41.105(a)(3), the nonimmigrant visa applicant generally must provide a personal photograph or photographs at the time of the visa application. This regulation does, however, provide for several exceptions to this requirement. Again, to facilitate processing, an exception to this general rule is extended to ``Olympic Family Members''.
Visa Format
The specific visa format is set forth in 22 CFR 41.113(d). Subsection (k) of that regulation provides for an exception to the general visa format to address the specific needs of processing visas for Olympic or regional games. The procedures for the Atlanta Games will differ from the subsection (k) provision in that the visa will be placed on the individual ``Olympic Family Member's'' official identity card. The regulations at subsection (k) are amended accordingly.
Final Rule
This final rule provides for temporary changes in the established procedures for processing nonimmigrant visas for temporary visitor visas to the United States for purposes of the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta.
This rule is not expected to have a significant impact on a substantial number of small entities under the Regulatory Flexibility Act. In addition, this rule amends and reduces the burden for information collection requirements approved under the Paperwork Reduction Act, OMB No. 1405-0018. This rule has been reviewed as required under E.O. 12778 and certified to be in compliance therewith. This rule is exempt from review under E.O. 12866, but has been reviewed internally by the Department to ensure consistency with the objectives thereof.
List of Subjects in 22 CFR Part 41
Aliens, Documentation, Nonimmigrants, Passports and visas.
In order to facilitate the processing of visa applicants in the most timely fashion, Part 41 of Title 22 is amended by adding a new paragraph (c) to 41.101; by adding a new paragraph (e) to 41.104; by adding a new subparagraph (iv) to 41.105(a)(3); and by adding a new subparagraph (3) to 41.113(k).
PART 41--[AMENDED]
1. The authority citation for Part 41 continues to read:
Authority: 8 U.S.C. 1101 and 1104; 19 U.S.C. 3401.
2. Part 41, Subpart J--Application for Nonimmigrant Visa, is amended by adding paragraph (c) to Sec. 41.101 to read as follows:
Sec. 41.101 Place of application.
* * * * *
(c) 1996 Games of the XXVI Olympiad, Atlanta, Georgia. Notwithstanding paragraph (a) of this section, consular officers at consular posts designated by the Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for the Visa Office shall accept visa applications for certain aliens accredited by the Atlanta Committee for the Olympic Games as ``Olympic Family Members.'' Such applications must be received at post no earlier than January 1, 1996 and not later than August 4, 1996.
3. By adding a new paragraph (e) to Sec. 41.104 to read as follows:
Sec. 41.104 Passport requirements.
* * * * *
(e) 1996 Games of the XXVI Olympiad, Atlanta, Georgia. Notwithstanding paragraph (b) of this section, consular officers shall process visa applications submitted on behalf of ``Olympic Family Members'' accredited by the Atlanta Committee for the Olympic Games. Passports need not be presented on behalf of such applicants at the time of visa application. These applications must be received no earlier than January 1, 1996 and not later than August 4, 1996.
4. By revising paragraph (a)(3)(iii) and adding a new paragraph (a)(3)(iv) to Sec. 41.105 to read as follows:
Sec. 41.105 Supporting documents and fingerprinting.
(a) * * *
(3) * * *
(iii) Under 16 years of age; or
(iv) For the period January 1, 1996 through August 4, 1996, a foreign national accredited by the Atlanta
[[Page 1523]]
Committee for the Olympic Games as an ``Olympic Family Member.''.
* * * * *
5. By removing the period at the end of paragraph (k)(2)(ii) and inserting a semicolon and the word ``or'' in its place; and adding a new paragraph (k)(3) to Sec. 41.113 to read as follows:
Sec. 41.113 Procedures in issuing visas.
* * * * *
(k) * * *
(3) Is the holder of an official identity card which has been issued for participation in the 1996 Games of the XXVI Olympiad, Atlanta, Georgia under the Olympic Rules Bylaws upon which a visa stamp is affixed and which includes the following information:
(i) The name, date and place of birth of the alien;
(ii) The nationality of the alien;
(iii) The alien's passport number; and
(iv) The signature of the head of the sponsoring National Olympic Committee or other responsible organization.
Dated: December 21, 1995.Mary A. Ryan,
Assistant Secretary for Consular Affairs.
[FR Doc. 96-729 Filed 1-19-96; 8:45 am]
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