02-27232. Extension of Certain Foreign Passports Validity

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.