96-22335. Fees for Motions To Reopen or Reconsider  

  • [Federal Register Volume 61, Number 171 (Tuesday, September 3, 1996)]
    [Rules and Regulations]
    [Pages 46373-46374]
    From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
    [FR Doc No: 96-22335]
    
    
    
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    Federal Register / Vol. 61, No. 171 / Tuesday, September 3, 1996 / 
    Rules and Regulations
    
    [[Page 46373]]
    
    
    
    DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE
    
    Immigration and Naturalization Service
    
    8 CFR Parts 3, 103, and 242
    
    [EOIR No. 114I; A.G. Order No. 2051-96]
    RIN 1125-AA15
    
    
    Fees for Motions To Reopen or Reconsider
    
    AGENCY: Department of Justice.
    
    ACTION: Interim rule with request for comments.
    
    -----------------------------------------------------------------------
    
    SUMMARY: This interim rule clarifies when and how fees must be paid 
    when a motion to reopen or reconsider is filed concurrently with any 
    application for relief under the immigration laws for which a fee is 
    chargeable. This interim rule applies to motions to reopen or 
    reconsider that are filed in all types of immigration proceedings, 
    including those over which the Immigration and Naturalization Service 
    (the ``Service'') and the Board of Immigration Appeals (the ``Board'') 
    have appellate jurisdiction, respectively.
    
    DATES: This interim rule is effective September 3, 1996. Written 
    comments must be received on or before November 4, 1996.
    
    ADDRESSES: Please submit written comments to Margaret M. Philbin, 
    General Counsel, Executive Office for Immigration Review, Suite 2400, 
    5107 Leesburg Pike, Falls Church, Virginia 22041, and Ernest B. Duarte, 
    Branch Chief, Immigration and Naturalization Service, 425 I Street NW., 
    Suite 3214, Washington, DC 20536.
    
    FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Margaret M. Philbin, General Counsel, 
    Executive Office for Immigration Review, Suite 2400, 5107 Leesburg 
    Pike, Falls Church, Virginia 22041, telephone (703) 305-0470, or Ernest 
    B. Duarte, Branch Chief, Immigration and Naturalization Service, 425 I 
    Street NW., Suite 3214, Washington, DC 20536, telephone (202) 307-3587.
    
    SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This interim rule amends 8 CFR parts 3, 103, 
    and 242 by clarifying when the required fees must be paid when a motion 
    to reopen or reconsider is filed concurrently with any application for 
    relief under the immigration laws for which a fee is chargeable. This 
    interim rule applies to motions to reopen or reconsider that are filed 
    in all types of immigration proceedings, including those over which the 
    Service and the Board of Immigration Appeals have appellate 
    jurisdiction, respectively.
        This interim rule is necessary to eliminate questions that have 
    arisen regarding the payment of fees for applications for relief that 
    require their own separate fees when filed concurrently with motions to 
    reopen or reconsider. For example, if an individual files a motion to 
    reopen his or her deportation case in order to apply for suspension of 
    deportation, is the individual required to pay only one fee for the 
    motion to reopen, or one fee for the motion, and a second fee for the 
    application?
        Prior to April 4, 1989, the provision at 8 CFR 103.7(b) regarding 
    motions to reopen or reconsider contained a sentence that specified 
    that ``[w]hen the motion to reopen or reconsider is made concurrently 
    with any application under the immigration laws, the application will 
    be considered an integral part of the motion and only for the fee for 
    filing the motion or the fee for filing the application, whichever is 
    greater, is payable.'' When this provision was amended in April 1989, 
    see 54 FR 13515, this sentence was deleted without explanation. During 
    the ensuing years, confusion mounted as to the meaning, if any, of this 
    deletion from the regulation and its effect on the fee requirements. 
    The Executive Office for Immigration Review (``EOIR'') and the Service 
    are prepared to eliminate this confusion by amending the fee 
    requirement for motions to reopen or reconsider as follows:
        If a motion to reopen or reconsider is filed by an individual 
    concurrently with any application for relief under the immigration laws 
    for which a fee is chargeable (e.g., an application for suspension of 
    deportation, adjustment of status, or registry), the individual 
    initially must pay only the fee required for the motion (currently, 
    $110), unless a fee waiver has been granted pursuant to 8 CFR 
    103.7(c)(1). If the motion to reopen or reconsider is granted, the 
    individual then will have to pay the fee set forth in 8 CFR 103.7(b) 
    required for the underlying application for relief in order to complete 
    the application. Fee remittance for the underlying application for 
    relief should be made payable to the ``Immigration and Naturalization 
    Service''. Unless a fee waiver has been granted pursuant to 8 CFR 
    103.7(c)(1), failure to pay the subsequent fee for the underlying 
    application for relief will result in the denial of the application. If 
    the motion to reopen or reconsider is denied, no further fee will be 
    required because the underlying application for relief, in effect, will 
    be moot. This procedure provides a fair and equitable fee structure for 
    motions and their underlying applications by requiring payment of a fee 
    for the underlying application only if the motion to reopen or 
    reconsider is granted. This will prevent imposing undue financial 
    burdens on those individuals filing such motions.
        The implementation of this rule as an interim rule, with provisions 
    for post-promulgation public comment, is based upon the ``good cause'' 
    exceptions found at 5 U.S.C. 553 (b)(B) and (d)(3). The reasons and the 
    necessity for immediate implementation of this interim rule without 
    prior notice and comment are as follows: Immediate implementation of 
    this rule will ensure that fees for motions to reopen or reconsider, 
    and their underlying applications for relief, are acceptable in a 
    consistent manner by all immigration courts and the Board. Immediate 
    implementation of this rule also will eliminate any existing confusion 
    with regard to the payment of such fees at the earliest possible time, 
    while still affording the agencies the opportunity to solicit and 
    consider all public comments that are timely submitted. Finally, this 
    interim rule provides a benefit to individuals who wish to file motions 
    to reopen or reconsider. Hence, immediate implementation will make this 
    benefit available without any further delay, which would be contrary to 
    the public interest.
        In accordance with 5 U.S.C. 605(b), the Attorney General certifies 
    that this rule affects only individuals filing
    
    [[Page 46374]]
    
    motions to reopen or reconsider concurrently with applications for the 
    relief from deportation. Therefore, this rule does not have a 
    significant economic impact on a substantial number of small entities. 
    The Attorney General has determined that this rule is not a significant 
    regulatory action under Executive Order No. 12866, and accordingly this 
    rule has not been reviewed by the Office of Management and Budget. This 
    rule has no federalism implications warranting the preparation of a 
    Federalism Assessment in accordance with Executive Order No. 12612. The 
    rule meets the applicable standards provided in sections 3(a) and 
    3(b)(2) of Executive Order No. 12988.
    
    List of Subjects
    
    8 CFR Part 3
    
        Administrative practice and procedure, Immigration, Lawyers, 
    Organizations and functions (Government agencies), Reporting and 
    recordkeeping requirements.
    
    8 CFR Part 103
    
        Administrative practice and procedure, Authority delegations 
    (Government agencies), Freedom of Information, Privacy, Reporting and 
    recordkeeping requirements, Surety bonds.
    
    8 CFR Part 242
    
        Administrative practice and procedure, Aliens.
    
        Accordingly, chapter I of Title 8 of the Code of Federal 
    Regulations is amended as follows:
    
    PART 3--EXECUTIVE OFFICE FOR IMMIGRATION REVIEW
    
    Subpart C--Rules of Procedure for Immigration Judge Proceedings
    
        1. The authority citation for part 3 continues to read as follows:
    
        Authority: 5 U.S.C. 301; 8 U.S.C. 1103, 1252 note, 1252b, 1324b, 
    1362, 1362; 28 U.S.C. 509, 1746; sec. 2, Reorg. Plan No. 2 of 1950, 
    3 CFR 1949-1953 Comp., p. 1002.
    
        2. In Sec. 3.31, paragraph (b) is amended by revising the first 
    sentence to read as follows:
    
    
    Sec. 3.31  Filing documents and applications.
    
    * * * * *
        (b) Except as provided in 8 CFR 242.17(e), all documents or 
    applications requiring the payment of a fee must be accompanied by a 
    fee receipt from the Service or by an application for a waiver of fees 
    pursuant to 8 CFR 3.24. * * *
    * * * * *
    
    PART 103--POWERS AND DUTIES OF SERVICE OFFICERS; AVAILABILITY OF 
    SERVICE RECORDS
    
        3. The authority citation for part 103 continues to read as 
    follows:
    
        Authority: 5 U.S.C. 552, 552(a); 8 U.S.C. 1101, 1103, 1201, 1252 
    note, 1252b, 1304, 1356; 31 U.S.C. 9701, E.O. 12356, 47 FR 14874; 
    15557; 3 CFR, 1982, Comp., p. 166; 8 CFR part 2.
    
        4. In Sec. 103.7, paragraph (b)(1) is amended by revising the two 
    entries for ``Motion'', respectively, to read as follows:
    
    
    Sec. 103.7  Fees.
    
    * * * * *
        (b) * * *
        (1) * * *
    * * * * *
        Motion. For filing a motion to reopen or reconsider any decision 
    under the immigration laws in any type of proceeding over which the 
    Board of Immigration Appeals has appellate jurisdiction. No fee shall 
    be charged for a motion to reopen or reconsider a decision on an 
    application for relief for which no fee is chargeable. (The fee of $110 
    shall be charged whenever an appeal or motion is filed by or on behalf 
    of two or more aliens and all such aliens are covered by one decision. 
    When a motion to reopen or reconsider is made concurrently with any 
    application for relief under the immigration laws for which a fee is 
    chargeable, the fee of $110 will be charged when the motion is filed 
    and, if the motion is granted, the requisite fee for filing the 
    application for relief will be charged and must be paid within the time 
    specified in order to complete the application.)--$110.
        Motion. For filing a motion to reopen or reconsider any decision 
    under the immigration laws in any type of proceeding over which the 
    Board of Immigration Appeals does not have appellate jurisdiction. No 
    fee shall be charged for a motion to reopen or reconsider a decision on 
    an application for relief for which no fee is chargeable. (The fee of 
    $110 shall be charged whenever an appeal or motion is filed by on or 
    behalf of two or more aliens and all such aliens are covered by one 
    decision. When a motion to reopen or reconsider is made concurrently 
    with any application for relief under the immigration laws for which a 
    fee is chargeable, the fee of $110 will be charged when the motion is 
    filed and, if the motion is granted, the requisite fee for filing the 
    application for relief will be charged and must be paid within the time 
    specified in order to complete the application.)--$110.
    * * * * *
    
    PART 242--PROCEEDINGS TO DETERMINE DEPORTABILITY OF ALIENS IN THE 
    UNITED STATES: APPREHENSION, CUSTODY, HEARING, AND APPEAL
    
        5. The authority citation for part 242 continues to read as 
    follows:
    
        Authority: 8 U.S.C. 1103, 1182, 1186a, 1251, 1252, 1252 note, 
    1252a, 1252b, 1524, 1362; 8 CFR , part 2.
    
        6. In Sec. 242.17, paragraph (e) is amended by adding two new 
    sentences after the 4th sentence, to read as follows:
    
    
    Sec. 242.17  Ancillary matters, applications.
    
    * * * * *
        (e) * * * When a motion to reopen or reconsider is made 
    concurrently with an application for relief seeking one of the 
    immigration benefits set forth in paragraphs (a) and (c) of this 
    section, only the fee set forth in Sec. 103.7(b)(1) of this chapter for 
    the motion must accompany the motion and application for relief. If 
    such a motion is granted, the appropriate fee for the application for 
    relief, if any, set forth in 8 CFR 103.7(b)(1), must be paid within the 
    time specified in order to complete the application.* * *
    
        Dated: August 26, 1996.
    
    Janet Reno,
    Attorney General.
    [FR Doc. 96-22335 Filed 8-30-96; 8:45 am]
    BILLING CODE 4410-01-M
    
    
    

Document Information

Effective Date:
9/3/1996
Published:
09/03/1996
Department:
Immigration and Naturalization Service
Entry Type:
Rule
Action:
Interim rule with request for comments.
Document Number:
96-22335
Dates:
This interim rule is effective September 3, 1996. Written comments must be received on or before November 4, 1996.
Pages:
46373-46374 (2 pages)
Docket Numbers:
EOIR No. 114I, A.G. Order No. 2051-96
RINs:
1125-AA15: Fees for Motion to Reopen or Reconsider
RIN Links:
https://www.federalregister.gov/regulations/1125-AA15/fees-for-motion-to-reopen-or-reconsider
PDF File:
96-22335.pdf
CFR: (2)
3 CFR 103.7
3 CFR 242.17