§ 96.97 - Application procedures for temporary accreditation.

(a) An agency seeking temporary accreditation must submit an application to an accrediting entity with jurisdiction over its application, with the required fee(s), by the transitional application deadline established pursuant to §96.19 of this part. Applications for temporary accreditation that are filed after the temporary application deadline will not be considered.

(b) An agency may not seek temporary accreditation and full accreditation at the same time. The agency's application must clearly state whether it is seeking temporary accreditation or full accreditation. An eligible agency's option of applying for temporary accreditation will be deemed to have been waived if the agency also submits a separate application for full accreditation prior to the transitional application deadline. The agency may apply to only one accrediting entity at a time.

(c) The accrediting entity must establish and follow uniform application procedures and must make information about these procedures available to agencies that are considering whether to apply for temporary accreditation. The accrediting entity must evaluate the applicant for temporary accreditation in a timely fashion. The accrediting entity must use its best efforts to provide a reasonable opportunity for an agency that applies for temporary accreditation by the transitional application deadline to complete the temporary accreditation process by the deadline for initial accreditation or approval. If an agency seeks temporary accreditation under this subpart, it will be included on the initial list deposited by the Secretary with the Permanent Bureau of the Hague Conference on Private International Law only if it is granted temporary accreditation by the deadline for initial accreditation or approval established pursuant to §96.19(a).