Interim procedures for certain health care workers--INS. Interim rule with request for comments

This interim rule, which has been drafted in consultation with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), amends regulations of the Immigration and Naturalization Service (Service or INS) in order to implement, on a temporary basis, certain portions of section 343 of the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility act of 1996 (IIRIRA) as they relate to prospective immigrants. Section 343, which was codified at section 212(a)(5)(C) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (Act or INA), provides that aliens coming to the United States to perform labor in covered health care occupations (other than as a physician) are inadmissible unless they present a certificate relating to their education, qualifications, and English language proficiency. This requirement is intended to ensure that aliens possess proficiency in the skills that affect the provision of health care services in the United States. This rule establishes a temporary mechanism to allow applicants for immigrant visas or adjustment of status in the fields of nursing and occupational therapy of satisfy the requirements of section 343 on a provisional basis. The Service expects to publish a proposed rule in the near future which will implement in full the provisions of section 343.