INS Issues Proposed Rule on Health Care Worker Certifications (10/14/02)
The U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) issued a proposed rule on October 11, 2002, specifying the organizations already authorized to issue certificates for health care workers and setting up procedures for authorizing additional organizations. The proposed rule includes an appeals process in the event that requests for authorization are denied. In addition, the INS proposes to add a requirement that all nonimmigrants coming to the U.S. for the primary purpose of labor as health care workers, including those seeking a change of status be required to submit a health care worker certification.

President Signs Irish Cultural Program Measure (10/14/02)
On October 4, 2002, U.S. President George W. Bush signed into law a bill to extend the Irish Peace Process Cultural and Training Program (IPPCTP). The IPPCTP, established by the Irish Peace Process Cultural and Training Program Act of 1998, allows as many as 4,000 qualified young people from Northern Ireland and designated counties of the Republic of Ireland to enter the U.S. each year on nonimmigrant visas to obtain conflict resolution and job skills, for a limited number of years that originally would have sunset on October 1, 2005. Pursuant to the new law, the program has been extended by one year, to October 1, 2006.

New Mexican BCCs Now Required, INS Reminds (10/4/02)
As of October 1, 2002, the old Mexican Border Crossing Card (BCC) is no longer valid, and the newer BCC ("laser visa" DSP-150) is required. Since April 1998, the Department of State has issued more than five million new biometric cards.