In accordance with section 212(a)(7)(B) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1182(a)(7)(B)), a nonimmigrant alien who makes an application for a visa or for admission into the United States is required to possess a passport that:
(1) Is valid for a minimum of six months beyond the date of the expiration of the initial period of the alien's admission into the United States or contemplated initial period of stay and,
(2) Authorizes the alien to return to the country from which he or she came, or to proceed to and enter some other country during such period. Because of the foregoing requirement, the governments of certain countries (and other competent authorities) have agreed that their passports will be recognized as valid for the return of the bearer for a period of six months beyond the expiration date specified in the passport, thereby effectively extending the validity period of the foreign passport an additional six months beyond its expiration date, see 22 CFR 41.104(b).
This public notice adds Romania to the list of competent authorities that have provided the necessary assurances to the Government of the United States. This notice also adds Bosnia-Herzegovina, Croatia, Guatemala and Guyana to the list. These countries have had agreements in place for some time, but were inadvertently dropped from the list in previous notices. The updated list of competent authorities that have made the necessary assurances is shown below:
Table of Foreign Passports Recognized for Extended Validity
Algeria
Antigua & Barbuda
Argentina
Australia
Austria
Bahamas, the
Bangladesh
Barbados
Belgium
Bolivia
Bosnia-Herzegovina
Brazil
Canada
Chile
Colombia
Costa Rica
Cote D'ivoire
Croatia
Cuba
Cyprus
Czech Republic
Denmark
Dominica
Dominican Republic
Ecuador
Egypt
El Salvador
Ethiopia
Finland
France
Germany
Greece
Grenada
Guatemala
Guinea
Guyana
Hong Kong (Certificates of identity & passports)
Hungary
Iceland
India
Ireland
Israel
Italy
Jamaica
Sweden
Switzerland
Syria
Taiwan
Thailand
Togo
Trinidad & Tobago
Japan
Jordan
Korea
Kuwait
Laos
Latvia
Lebanon
Liechtenstein
Luxembourg
Macau
Madagascar
Malaysia
Malta
Mauritius
Mexico
Monaco
Netherlands
New Zealand
Nicaragua
Nigeria
Norway
Oman
Pakistan
Panama
Paraguay
Peru
Philippines
Poland
Portugal
Qatar
Romania
Russia
Senegal
Singapore
Slovak Republic
Slovenia
South Africa
Spain
Sri Lanka
St. Kitts & Nevis
St. Lucia
St. Vincent & the Grenadines
Sudan
Suriname
Tunisia
Turkey
United Arab Emirates
United Kingdom
Uruguay
Venezuela
Zimbabwe
Public Notice 4075 of August 6, 2002 published at 67 FR 50973 hereby superseded.
Dated: October 20, 2002.
George C. Lannon,
Acting Assistant Secretary for Consular Affairs, Department of State.
[FR Doc. 02-27232 Filed 10-24-02; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4710-06-U