8usc1182

§ 1182

TITLE 8—ALIENS AND NATIONALITY
EFFECTIVE DATE OF 1980 AMENDMENT

Amendment by Pub. L. 96–212 effective Mar. 17, 1980,
and applicable to fiscal years beginning with the fiscal
year beginning Oct. 1, 1979, see section 204 of Pub. L.
96–212, set out as a note under section 1101 of this title.
EFFECTIVE DATE OF 1976 AMENDMENT
Amendment by Pub. L. 94–571 effective on first day of
first month which begins more than sixty days after
Oct. 20, 1976, see section 10 of Pub. L. 94–571, set out as
a note under section 1101 of this title.
EFFECTIVE DATE OF 1965 AMENDMENT
For effective date of amendment by Pub. L. 89–236,
see section 20 of Pub. L. 89–236, set out as a note under
section 1151 of this title.
CROSS REFERENCES
Definition of alien, application for admission, Attorney General, immigrant, immigrant visa, lawfully admitted for permanent residence, national, parent, passport, and United States, see section 1101 of this title.
Reentry permit, see section 1203 of this title.
SECTION REFERRED TO IN OTHER SECTIONS
This section is referred to in sections 1151, 1182, 1230
of this title.

§ 1182. Excludable aliens
(a) Classes of excludable aliens
Except as otherwise provided in this chapter,
the following describes classes of excludable
aliens who are ineligible to receive visas and
who shall be excluded from admission into the
United States:
(1) Health-related grounds
(A) In general
Any alien—
(i) who is determined (in accordance
with regulations prescribed by the Secretary of Health and Human Services) to
have a communicable disease of public
health significance, which shall include infection with the etiologic agent for acquired immune deficiency syndrome,
(ii) who is determined (in accordance
with regulations prescribed by the Secretary of Health and Human Services in
consultation with the Attorney General)—
(I) to have a physical or mental disorder and behavior associated with the
disorder that may pose, or has posed, a
threat to the property, safety, or welfare
of the alien or others, or
(II) to have had a physical or mental
disorder and a history of behavior associated with the disorder, which behavior
has posed a threat to the property, safety, or welfare of the alien or others and
which behavior is likely to recur or to
lead to other harmful behavior, or
(iii) who is determined (in accordance
with regulations prescribed by the Secretary of Health and Human Services) to
be a drug abuser or addict,
is excludable.
(B) Waiver authorized
For provision authorizing waiver of certain clauses of subparagraph (A), see subsection (g) of this section.

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(2) Criminal and related grounds
(A) Conviction of certain crimes
(i) In general
Except as provided in clause (ii), any
alien convicted of, or who admits having
committed, or who admits committing
acts which constitute the essential elements of—
(I) a crime involving moral turpitude
(other than a purely political offense) or
an attempt or conspiracy to commit
such a crime, or
(II) a violation of (or a conspiracy or
attempt to violate) any law or regulation of a State, the United States, or a
foreign country relating to a controlled
substance (as defined in section 802 of
title 21),
is excludable.
(ii) Exception
Clause (i)(I) shall not apply to an alien
who committed only one crime if—
(I) the crime was committed when the
alien was under 18 years of age, and the
crime was committed (and the alien released from any confinement to a prison
or correctional institution imposed for
the crime) more than 5 years before the
date of application for a visa or other
documentation and the date of application for admission to the United States,
or
(II) the maximum penalty possible for
the crime of which the alien was convicted (or which the alien admits having
committed or of which the acts that the
alien admits having committed constituted the essential elements) did not
exceed imprisonment for one year and, if
the alien was convicted of such crime,
the alien was not sentenced to a term of
imprisonment in excess of 6 months (regardless of the extent to which the sentence was ultimately executed).
(B) Multiple criminal convictions
Any alien convicted of 2 or more offenses
(other than purely political offenses), regardless of whether the conviction was in a
single trial or whether the offenses arose
from a single scheme of misconduct and regardless of whether the offenses involved
moral turpitude, for which the aggregate
sentences to confinement actually imposed
were 5 years or more is excludable.
(C) Controlled substance traffickers
Any alien who the consular or immigration officer knows or has reason to believe is
or has been an illicit trafficker in any such
controlled substance or is or has been a
knowing assister, abettor, conspirator, or
colluder with others in the illicit trafficking
in any such controlled substance, is excludable.
(D) Prostitution and commercialized vice
Any alien who—
(i) is coming to the United States solely,
principally, or incidentally to engage in

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TITLE 8—ALIENS AND NATIONALITY

prostitution, or has engaged in prostitution within 10 years of the date of application for a visa, entry, or adjustment of
status,
(ii) directly or indirectly procures or attempts to procure, or (within 10 years of
the date of application for a visa, entry, or
adjustment of status) procured or attempted to procure or to import, prostitutes or persons for the purpose of prostitution, or receives or (within such 10year period) received, in whole or in part,
the proceeds of prostitution, or
(iii) is coming to the United States to
engage in any other unlawful commercialized vice, whether or not related to
prostitution,
is excludable.
(E) Certain aliens involved in serious criminal activity who have asserted immunity
from prosecution
Any alien—
(i) who has committed in the United
States at any time a serious criminal offense (as defined in section 1101(h) of this
title),
(ii) for whom immunity from criminal
jurisdiction was exercised with respect to
that offense,
(iii) who as a consequence of the offense
and exercise of immunity has departed
from the United States, and
(iv) who has not subsequently submitted
fully to the jurisdiction of the court in the
United States having jurisdiction with respect to that offense,
is excludable.
(F) Waiver authorized
For provision authorizing waiver of certain subparagraphs of this paragraph, see
subsection (h) of this section.
(3) Security and related grounds
(A) In general
Any alien who a consular officer or the Attorney General knows, or has reasonable
ground to believe, seeks to enter the United
States to engage solely, principally, or incidentally in—
(i) any activity (I) to violate any law of
the United States relating to espionage or
sabotage or (II) to violate or evade any law
prohibiting the export from the United
States of goods, technology, or sensitive
information,
(ii) any other unlawful activity, or
(iii) any activity a purpose of which is
the opposition to, or the control or overthrow of, the Government of the United
States by force, violence, or other unlawful means,
is excludable.
(B) Terrorist activities
(i) In general
Any alien who—
(I) has engaged in a terrorist activity,
or

§ 1182

(II) a consular officer or the Attorney
General knows, or has reasonable ground
to believe, is likely to engage after entry
in any terrorist activity (as defined in
clause (iii)),
is excludable. An alien who is an officer,
official, representative, or spokesman of
the Palestine Liberation Organization is
considered, for purposes of this chapter, to
be engaged in a terrorist activity.
(ii) ‘‘Terrorist activity’’ defined
As used in this chapter, the term ‘‘terrorist activity’’ means any activity which
is unlawful under the laws of the place
where it is committed (or which, if committed in the United States, would be unlawful under the laws of the United States
or any State) and which involves any of
the following:
(I) The highjacking or sabotage of any
conveyance (including an aircraft, vessel, or vehicle).
(II) The seizing or detaining, and
threatening to kill, injure, or continue
to detain, another individual in order to
compel a third person (including a governmental organization) to do or abstain
from doing any act as an explicit or implicit condition for the release of the individual seized or detained.
(III) A violent attack upon an internationally protected person (as defined
in section 1116(b)(4) of title 18) or upon
the liberty of such a person.
(IV) An assassination.
(V) The use of any—
(a) biological agent, chemical agent,
or nuclear weapon or device, or
(b) explosive or firearm (other than
for mere personal monetary gain),
with intent to endanger, directly or indirectly, the safety of one or more individuals or to cause substantial damage to
property.
(VI) A threat, attempt, or conspiracy
to do any of the foregoing.
(iii) ‘‘Engage in terrorist activity’’ defined
As used in this chapter, the term ‘‘engage in terrorist activity’’ means to commit, in an individual capacity or as a
member of an organization, an act of terrorist activity or an act which the actor
knows, or reasonably should know, affords
material support to any individual, organization, or government in conducting a terrorist activity at any time, including any
of the following acts:
(I) The preparation or planning of a
terrorist activity.
(II) The gathering of information on
potential targets for terrorist activity.
(III) The providing of any type of material support, including a safe house,
transportation, communications, funds,
false identification, weapons, explosives,
or training, to any individual the actor
knows or has reason to believe has committed or plans to commit a terrorist activity.

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TITLE 8—ALIENS AND NATIONALITY

(IV) The soliciting of funds or other
things of value for terrorist activity or
for any terrorist organization.
(V) The solicitation of any individual
for membership in a terrorist organization, terrorist government, or to engage
in a terrorist activity.
(C) Foreign policy
(i) In general
An alien whose entry or proposed activities in the United States the Secretary of
State has reasonable ground to believe
would have potentially serious adverse foreign policy consequences for the United
States is excludable.
(ii) Exception for officials
An alien who is an official of a foreign
government or a purported government, or
who is a candidate for election to a foreign
government office during the period immediately preceding the election for that office, shall not be excludable or subject to
restrictions or conditions on entry into
the United States under clause (i) solely
because of the alien’s past, current, or expected beliefs, statements, or associations,
if such beliefs, statements, or associations
would be lawful within the United States.
(iii) Exception for other aliens
An alien, not described in clause (ii),
shall not be excludable or subject to restrictions or conditions on entry into the
United States under clause (i) because of
the alien’s past, current, or expected beliefs, statements, or associations, if such
beliefs, statements, or associations would
be lawful within the United States, unless
the Secretary of State personally determines that the alien’s admission would
compromise a compelling United States
foreign policy interest.
(iv) Notification of determinations
If a determination is made under clause
(iii) with respect to an alien, the Secretary
of State must notify on a timely basis the
chairmen of the Committees on the Judiciary and Foreign Affairs of the House of
Representatives and of the Committees on
the Judiciary and Foreign Relations of the
Senate of the identity of the alien and the
reasons for the determination.
(D) Immigrant membership in totalitarian
party
(i) In general
Any immigrant who is or has been a
member of or affiliated with the Communist or any other totalitarian party (or
subdivision or affiliate thereof), domestic
or foreign, is excludable.
(ii) Exception for involuntary membership
Clause (i) shall not apply to an alien because of membership or affiliation if the
alien establishes to the satisfaction of the
consular officer when applying for a visa
(or to the satisfaction of the Attorney
General when applying for admission) that

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the membership or affiliation is or was involuntary, or is or was solely when under
16 years of age, by operation of law, or for
purposes of obtaining employment, food
rations, or other essentials of living and
whether necessary for such purposes.
(iii) Exception for past membership
Clause (i) shall not apply to an alien because of membership or affiliation if the
alien establishes to the satisfaction of the
consular officer when applying for a visa
(or to the satisfaction of the Attorney
General when applying for admission)
that—
(I) the membership or affiliation terminated at least—
(a) 2 years before the date of such application, or
(b) 5 years before the date of such application, in the case of an alien whose
membership or affiliation was with the
party controlling the government of a
foreign state that is a totalitarian dictatorship as of such date, and
(II) the alien is not a threat to the security of the United States.
(iv) Exception for close family members
The Attorney General may, in the Attorney General’s discretion, waive the application of clause (i) in the case of an immigrant who is the parent, spouse, son,
daughter, brother, or sister of a citizen of
the United States or a spouse, son, or
daughter of an alien lawfully admitted for
permanent residence for humanitarian
purposes, to assure family unity, or when
it is otherwise in the public interest if the
immigrant is not a threat to the security
of the United States.
(E) Participants in Nazi persecutions or
genocide
(i) Participation in Nazi persecutions
Any alien who, during the period beginning on March 23, 1933, and ending on May
8, 1945, under the direction of, or in association with—
(I) the Nazi government of Germany,
(II) any government in any area occupied by the military forces of the Nazi
government of Germany,
(III) any government established with
the assistance or cooperation of the Nazi
government of Germany, or
(IV) any government which was an ally
of the Nazi government of Germany,
ordered, incited, assisted, or otherwise
participated in the persecution of any person because of race, religion, national origin, or political opinion is excludable.
(ii) Participation in genocide
Any alien who has engaged in conduct
that is defined as genocide for purposes of
the International Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of Genocide is excludable.
(4) Public charge
Any alien who, in the opinion of the consular officer at the time of application for a

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TITLE 8—ALIENS AND NATIONALITY

visa, or in the opinion of the Attorney General
at the time of application for admission or adjustment of status, is likely at any time to become a public charge is excludable.
(5) Labor certification and qualifications for
certain immigrants
(A) Labor certification
(i) In general
Any alien who seeks to enter the United
States for the purpose of performing
skilled or unskilled labor is excludable,
unless the Secretary of Labor has determined and certified to the Secretary of
State and the Attorney General that—
(I) there are not sufficient workers who
are able, willing, qualified (or equally
qualified in the case of an alien described
in clause (ii)) and available at the time
of application for a visa and admission
to the United States and at the place
where the alien is to perform such
skilled or unskilled labor, and
(II) the employment of such alien will
not adversely affect the wages and working conditions of workers in the United
States similarly employed.
(ii) Certain aliens subject to special rule
For purposes of clause (i)(I), an alien described in this clause is an alien who—
(I) is a member of the teaching profession, or
(II) has exceptional ability in the sciences or the arts.
(B) Unqualified physicians
An alien who is a graduate of a medical
school not accredited by a body or bodies approved for the purpose by the Secretary of
Education (regardless of whether such
school of medicine is in the United States)
and who is coming to the United States principally to perform services as a member of
the medical profession is excludable, unless
the alien (i) has passed parts I and II of the
National Board of Medical Examiners Examination (or an equivalent examination as determined by the Secretary of Health and
Human Services) and (ii) is competent in
oral and written English. For purposes of the
previous sentence, an alien who is a graduate of a medical school shall be considered
to have passed parts I and II of the National
Board of Medical Examiners if the alien was
fully and permanently licensed to practice
medicine in a State on January 9, 1978, and
was practicing medicine in a State on that
date.
(C) Application of grounds
The grounds for exclusion of aliens under
subparagraphs (A) and (B) shall apply to immigrants seeking admission or adjustment
of status under paragraph (2) or (3) of section
1153(b) of this title.
(6) Illegal entrants and immigration violators
(A) Aliens previously deported
Any alien who has been excluded from admission and deported and who again seeks
admission within one year of the date of

§ 1182

such deportation is excludable, unless prior
to the alien’s reembarkation at a place outside the United States or attempt to be admitted from foreign contiguous territory the
Attorney General has consented to the
alien’s reapplying for admission.
(B) Certain aliens previously removed
Any alien who—
(i) has been arrested and deported,
(ii) has fallen into distress and has been
removed pursuant to this chapter or any
prior Act,
(iii) has been removed as an alien enemy,
or
(iv) has been removed at Government expense in lieu of deportation pursuant to
section 1252(b) of this title,
and (a) who seeks admission within 5 years
of the date of such deportation or removal,
or (b) who seeks admission within 20 years in
the case of an alien convicted of an aggravated felony, is excludable, unless before the
date of the alien’s embarkation or reembarkation at a place outside the United States
or attempt to be admitted from foreign contiguous territory the Attorney General has
consented to the alien’s applying or reapplying for admission.
(C) Misrepresentation
(i) In general
Any alien who, by fraud or willfully misrepresenting a material fact, seeks to procure (or has sought to procure or has procured) a visa, other documentation, or
entry into the United States or other benefit provided under this chapter is excludable.
(ii) Waiver authorized
For provision authorizing waiver of
clause (i), see subsection (i) of this section.
(D) Stowaways
Any alien who is a stowaway is excludable.
(E) Smugglers
(i) In general
Any alien who at any time knowingly
has encouraged, induced, assisted, abetted,
or aided any other alien to enter or to try
to enter the United States in violation of
law is excludable.
(ii) Special rule in the case of family reunification
Clause (i) shall not apply in the case of
alien who is an eligible immigrant (as defined in section 301(b)(1) of the Immigration Act of 1990), was physically present in
the United States on May 5, 1988, and is
seeking admission as an immediate relative or under section 1153(a)(2) of this
title (including under section 112 of the
Immigration Act of 1990) or benefits under
section 301(a) of the Immigration Act of
1990 if the alien, before May 5, 1988, has encouraged, induced, assisted, abetted, or
aided only the alien’s spouse, parent, son,
or daughter (and no other individual) to
enter the United States in violation of law.

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TITLE 8—ALIENS AND NATIONALITY

(iii) Waiver authorized
For provision authorizing waiver of
clause (i), see subsection (d)(11) of this section.
(F) Subject of civil penalty
An alien who is the subject of a final order
for violation of section 1324c of this title is
excludable.
(7) Documentation requirements
(A) Immigrants
(i) In general
Except as otherwise specifically provided
in this chapter, any immigrant at the time
of application for admission—
(I) who is not in possession of a valid
unexpired immigrant visa, reentry permit, border crossing identification card,
or other valid entry document required
by this chapter, and a valid unexpired
passport, or other suitable travel document, or document of identity and nationality if such document is required
under the regulations issued by the Attorney General under section 1181(a) of
this title, or
(II) whose visa has been issued without
compliance with the provisions of section 1153 of this title,
is excludable.
(ii) Waiver authorized
For provision authorizing waiver of
clause (i), see subsection (k) of this section.
(B) Nonimmigrants
(i) In general
Any nonimmigrant who—
(I) is not in possession of a passport
valid for a minimum of six months from
the date of the expiration of the initial
period of the alien’s admission or contemplated initial period of stay authorizing the alien to return to the country
from which the alien came or to proceed
to and enter some other country during
such period, or
(II) is not in possession of a valid nonimmigrant visa or border crossing identification card at the time of application
for admission,
is excludable.
(ii) General waiver authorized
For provision authorizing waiver of
clause (i), see subsection (d)(4) of this section.
(iii) Guam visa waiver
For provision authorizing waiver of
clause (i) in the case of visitors to Guam,
see subsection (l) of this section.
(iv) Visa waiver pilot program
For authority to waive the requirement
of clause (i) under a pilot program, see section 1187 of this title.
(8) Ineligible for citizenship
(A) In general
Any immigrant who is permanently ineligible to citizenship is excludable.

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(B) Draft evaders
Any person who has departed from or who
has remained outside the United States to
avoid or evade training or service in the
armed forces in time of war or a period declared by the President to be a national
emergency is excludable, except that this
subparagraph shall not apply to an alien who
at the time of such departure was a nonimmigrant and who is seeking to reenter the
United States as a nonimmigrant.
(9) Miscellaneous
(A) Practicing polygamists
Any immigrant who is coming to the
United States to practice polygamy is excludable.
(B) Guardian required to accompany excluded alien
Any alien accompanying another alien ordered to be excluded and deported and certified to be helpless from sickness or mental
or physical disability or infancy pursuant to
section 1227(e) of this title, whose protection
or guardianship is required by the alien ordered excluded and deported, is excludable.
(C) International child abduction
(i) In general
Except as provided in clause (ii), any
alien who, after entry of an order by a
court in the United States granting custody to a person of a United States citizen
child who detains or retains the child, or
withholds custody of the child, outside the
United States from the person granted custody by that order, is excludable until the
child is surrendered to the person granted
custody by that order.
(ii) Exception
Clause (i) shall not apply so long as the
child is located in a foreign state that is a
party to the Hague Convention on the
Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction.
(b) Notices of denials
If an alien’s application for a visa, for admission to the United States, or for adjustment of
status is denied by an immigration or consular
officer because the officer determines the alien
to be excludable under subsection (a) of this section, the officer shall provide the alien with a
timely written notice that—
(1) states the determination, and
(2) lists the specific provision or provisions
of law under which the alien is excludable or
ineligible for entry or adjustment of status.
(c) Nonapplicability of subsection (a)
Aliens lawfully admitted for permanent residence who temporarily proceeded abroad voluntarily and not under an order of deportation,
and who are returning to a lawful unrelinquished domicile of seven consecutive years,
may be admitted in the discretion of the Attorney General without regard to the provisions of
subsection (a) of this section (other than paragraphs (3) and (9)(C)). Nothing contained in this
subsection shall limit the authority of the At-

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TITLE 8—ALIENS AND NATIONALITY

torney General to exercise the discretion vested
in him under section 1181(b) of this title. The
first sentence of this subsection shall not apply
to an alien who has been convicted of one or
more aggravated felonies and has served for
such felony or felonies a term of imprisonment
of at least 5 years.
(d) Temporary admission of nonimmigrants
(1) The Attorney General shall determine
whether a ground for exclusion exists with respect to a nonimmigrant described in section
1101(a)(15)(S) of this title. The Attorney General,
in the Attorney General’s discretion, may waive
the application of subsection (a) of this section
(other than paragraph (3)(E)) in the case of a
nonimmigrant described in section 1101(a)(15)(S)
of this title, if the Attorney General considers it
to be in the national interest to do so. Nothing
in this section shall be regarded as prohibiting
the Immigration and Naturalization Service
from
instituting
deportation
proceedings
against an alien admitted as a nonimmigrant
under section 1101(a)(15)(S) of this title for conduct committed after the alien’s admission into
the United States, or for conduct or a condition
that was not disclosed to the Attorney General
prior to the alien’s admission as a nonimmigrant under section 1101(a)(15)(S) of this
title.
(2) Repealed. Pub. L. 101–649, title VI,
§ 601(d)(2)(A), Nov. 29, 1990, 104 Stat. 5076.
(3) Except as provided in this subsection, an
alien (A) who is applying for a nonimmigrant
visa and is known or believed by the consular officer to be ineligible for such visa under subsection (a) of this section (other than paragraphs (3)(A)(i)(I), (3)(A)(ii), (3)(A)(iii), (3)(C),
and (3)(E) of such subsection), may, after approval by the Attorney General of a recommendation by the Secretary of State or by the
consular officer that the alien be admitted temporarily despite his inadmissibility, be granted
such a visa and may be admitted into the United
States temporarily as a nonimmigrant in the
discretion of the Attorney General, or (B) who is
inadmissible under subsection (a) of this section
(other than paragraphs (3)(A)(i)(I), (3)(A)(ii),
(3)(A)(iii), (3)(C), and (3)(E) of such subsection),
but who is in possession of appropriate documents or is granted a waiver thereof and is seeking admission, may be admitted into the United
States temporarily as a nonimmigrant in the
discretion of the Attorney General. The Attorney General shall prescribe conditions, including exaction of such bonds as may be necessary,
to control and regulate the admission and return of excludable aliens applying for temporary
admission under this paragraph.
(4) Either or both of the requirements of paragraph (7)(B)(i) of subsection (a) of this section
may be waived by the Attorney General and the
Secretary of State acting jointly (A) on the
basis of unforeseen emergency in individual
cases, or (B) on the basis of reciprocity with respect to nationals of foreign contiguous territory or of adjacent islands and residents thereof
having a common nationality with such nationals, or (C) in the case of aliens proceeding in immediate and continuous transit through the
United States under contracts authorized in section 1228(c) of this title.

§ 1182

(5)(A) The Attorney General may, except as
provided in subparagraph (B) or in section 1184(f)
of this title, in his discretion parole into the
United States temporarily under such conditions as he may prescribe for emergent reasons
or for reasons deemed strictly in the public interest any alien applying for admission to the
United States, but such parole of such alien
shall not be regarded as an admission of the
alien and when the purposes of such parole shall,
in the opinion of the Attorney General, have
been served the alien shall forthwith return or
be returned to the custody from which he was
paroled and thereafter his case shall continue to
be dealt with in the same manner as that of any
other applicant for admission to the United
States.
(B) The Attorney General may not parole into
the United States an alien who is a refugee unless the Attorney General determines that compelling reasons in the public interest with respect to that particular alien require that the
alien be paroled into the United States rather
than be admitted as a refugee under section 1157
of this title.
(6) Repealed. Pub. L. 101–649, title VI,
§ 601(d)(2)(A), Nov. 29, 1990, 104 Stat. 5076.
(7) The provisions of subsection (a) of this section (other than paragraph (7)) shall be applicable to any alien who shall leave Guam, Puerto
Rico, or the Virgin Islands of the United States,
and who seeks to enter the continental United
States or any other place under the jurisdiction
of the United States. The Attorney General
shall by regulations provide a method and procedure for the temporary admission to the United
States of the aliens described in this proviso.
Any alien described in this paragraph, who is excluded from admission to the United States,
shall be immediately deported in the manner
provided by section 1227(a) of this title.
(8) Upon a basis of reciprocity accredited officials of foreign governments, their immediate
families, attendants, servants, and personal employees may be admitted in immediate and continuous transit through the United States without regard to the provisions of this section except paragraphs (3)(A), (3)(B), (3)(C), and (7)(B) of
subsection (a) of this section.
(9), (10) Repealed. Pub. L. 101–649, title VI,
§ 601(d)(2)(A), Nov. 29, 1990, 104 Stat. 5076.
(11) The Attorney General may, in his discretion for humanitarian purposes, to assure family
unity, or when it is otherwise in the public interest, waive application of clause (i) of subsection (a)(6)(E) of this section in the case of
any alien lawfully admitted for permanent residence who temporarily proceeded abroad voluntarily and not under an order of deportation,
and who is otherwise admissible to the United
States as a returning resident under section
1181(b) of this title and in the case of an alien
seeking admission or adjustment of status as an
immediate relative or immigrant under section
1153(a) of this title (other than paragraph (4)
thereof) if the alien has encouraged, induced, assisted, abetted, or aided only the alien’s spouse,
parent, son, or daughter (and no other individual) to enter the United States in violation of
law.

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TITLE 8—ALIENS AND NATIONALITY

(e) Educational visitor status; foreign residence
requirement; waiver
No person admitted under section 1101(a)(15)(J)
of this title or acquiring such status after admission (i) whose participation in the program
for which he came to the United States was financed in whole or in part, directly or indirectly, by an agency of the Government of the
United States or by the government of the country of his nationality or his last residence, (ii)
who at the time of admission or acquisition of
status under section 1101(a)(15)(J) of this title
was a national or resident of a country which
the Director of the United States Information
Agency, pursuant to regulations prescribed by
him, had designated as clearly requiring the
services of persons engaged in the field of specialized knowledge or skill in which the alien
was engaged, or (iii) who came to the United
States or acquired such status in order to receive graduate medical education or training,
shall be eligible to apply for an immigrant visa,
or for permanent residence, or for a nonimmigrant visa under section 1101(a)(15)(H) or
section 1101(a)(15)(L) of this title until it is established that such person has resided and been
physically present in the country of his nationality or his last residence for an aggregate of at
least two years following departure from the
United States: Provided, That upon the favorable
recommendation of the Director, pursuant to
the request of an interested United States Government agency (or, in the case of an alien described in clause (iii), pursuant to the request of
a State Department of Public Health, or its
equivalent), or of the Commissioner of Immigration and Naturalization after he has determined
that departure from the United States would
impose exceptional hardship upon the alien’s
spouse or child (if such spouse or child is a citizen of the United States or a lawfully resident
alien), or that the alien cannot return to the
country of his nationality or last residence because he would be subject to persecution on account of race, religion, or political opinion, the
Attorney General may waive the requirement of
such two-year foreign residence abroad in the
case of any alien whose admission to the United
States is found by the Attorney General to be in
the public interest except that in the case of a
waiver requested by a State Department of Public Health, or its equivalent the waiver shall be
subject to the requirements of section 1184(k) of
this title: And provided further, That, except in
the case of an alien described in clause (iii), the
Attorney General may, upon the favorable recommendation of the Director, waive such twoyear foreign residence requirement in any case
in which the foreign country of the alien’s nationality or last residence has furnished the Director a statement in writing that it has no objection to such waiver in the case of such alien.
(f) Suspension of entry or imposition of restrictions by President
Whenever the President finds that the entry of
any aliens or of any class of aliens into the
United States would be detrimental to the interests of the United States, he may by proclamation, and for such period as he shall deem necessary, suspend the entry of all aliens or any

Page 90

class of aliens as immigrants or nonimmigrants,
or impose on the entry of aliens any restrictions
he may deem to be appropriate.
(g) Bond and conditions for admission of alien
excludable on health-related grounds
The Attorney General may waive the application of—
(1) subsection (a)(1)(A)(i) in the case of any
alien who—
(A) is the spouse or the unmarried son or
daughter, or the minor unmarried lawfully
adopted child, of a United States citizen, or
of an alien lawfully admitted for permanent
residence, or of an alien who has been issued
an immigrant visa, or
(B) has a son or daughter who is a United
States citizen, or an alien lawfully admitted
for permanent residence, or an alien who has
been issued an immigrant visa, or
(2) subsection (a)(1)(A)(ii) of this section in
the case of any alien,
in accordance with such terms, conditions, and
controls, if any, including the giving of bond, as
the Attorney General, in his discretion after
consultation with the Secretary of Health and
Human Services, may by regulation prescribe.
(h) Waiver of subsection (a)(2)(A)(i)(I), (II), (B),
(D), and (E)
The Attorney General may, in his discretion,
waive the application of subparagraphs (A)(i)(I),
(B), (D), and (E) of subsection (a)(2) of this section and subparagraph (A)(i)(II) of such subsection insofar as it relates to a single offense of
simple possession of 30 grams or less of marijuana if—
(1)(A) in the case of any immigrant it is established to the satisfaction of the Attorney
General that—
(i) the alien is excludable only under subparagraph (D)(i) or (D)(ii) of such subsection
or the activities for which the alien is excludable occurred more than 15 years before
the date of the alien’s application for a visa,
entry, or adjustment of status,
(ii) the admission to the United States of
such alien would not be contrary to the national welfare, safety, or security of the
United States, and
(iii) the alien has been rehabilitated; or
(B) in the case of an immigrant who is the
spouse, parent, son, or daughter of a citizen of
the United States or an alien lawfully admitted for permanent residence if it is established
to the satisfaction of the Attorney General
that the alien’s exclusion would result in extreme hardship to the United States citizen or
lawfully resident spouse, parent, son, or
daughter of such alien; and
(2) the Attorney General, in his discretion,
and pursuant to such terms, conditions and
procedures as he may by regulations prescribe,
has consented to the alien’s applying or reapplying for a visa, for admission to the United
States, or adjustment of status.
No waiver shall be provided under this subsection in the case of an alien who has been convicted of (or who has admitted committing acts
that constitute) murder or criminal acts involv-

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TITLE 8—ALIENS AND NATIONALITY

ing torture, or an attempt or conspiracy to commit murder or a criminal act involving torture.
(i) Admission of immigrant excludable for fraud
or willful misrepresentation of material fact
The Attorney General may, in his discretion,
waive application of clause (i) of subsection
(a)(6)(C) of this section—
(1) in the case of an immigrant who is the
spouse, parent, or son or daughter of a United
States citizen or of an immigrant lawfully admitted for permanent residence, or
(2) if the fraud or misrepresentation occurred at least 10 years before the date of the
immigrant’s application for a visa, entry, or
adjustment of status and it is established to
the satisfaction of the Attorney General that
the admission to the United States of such immigrant would not be contrary to the national
welfare, safety, or security of the United
States.
(j) Limitation on immigration of foreign medical
graduates
(1) The additional requirements referred to in
section 1101(a)(15)(J) of this title for an alien
who is coming to the United States under a program under which he will receive graduate medical education or training are as follows:
(A) A school of medicine or of one of the
other health professions, which is accredited
by a body or bodies approved for the purpose
by the Secretary of Education, has agreed in
writing to provide the graduate medical education or training under the program for
which the alien is coming to the United States
or to assume responsibility for arranging for
the provision thereof by an appropriate public
or nonprofit private institution or agency, except that, in the case of such an agreement by
a school of medicine, any one or more of its affiliated hospitals which are to participate in
the provision of the graduate medical education or training must join in the agreement.
(B) Before making such agreement, the accredited school has been satisfied that the
alien (i) is a graduate of a school of medicine
which is accredited by a body or bodies approved for the purpose by the Secretary of
Education (regardless of whether such school
of medicine is in the United States); or (ii)(I)
has passed parts I and II of the National Board
of Medical Examiners Examination (or an
equivalent examination as determined by the
Secretary of Health and Human Services), (II)
has competency in oral and written English,
(III) will be able to adapt to the educational
and cultural environment in which he will be
receiving his education or training, and (IV)
has adequate prior education and training to
participate satisfactorily in the program for
which he is coming to the United States. For
the purposes of this subparagraph, an alien
who is a graduate of a medical school shall be
considered to have passed parts I and II of the
National Board of Medical Examiners examination if the alien was fully and permanently
licensed to practice medicine in a State on
January 9, 1978, and was practicing medicine
in a State on that date.
(C) The alien has made a commitment to return to the country of his nationality or last

§ 1182

residence upon completion of the education or
training for which he is coming to the United
States, and the government of the country of
his nationality or last residence has provided
a written assurance, satisfactory to the Secretary of Health and Human Services, that
there is a need in that country for persons
with the skills the alien will acquire in such
education or training.
(D) The duration of the alien’s participation
in the program of graduate medical education
or training for which the alien is coming to
the United States is limited to the time typically required to complete such program, as
determined by the Director of the United
States Information Agency at the time of the
alien’s entry into the United States, based on
criteria which are established in coordination
with the Secretary of Health and Human Services and which take into consideration the
published requirements of the medical specialty board which administers such education
or training program; except that—
(i) such duration is further limited to
seven years unless the alien has demonstrated to the satisfaction of the Director
that the country to which the alien will return at the end of such specialty education
or training has an exceptional need for an
individual trained in such specialty, and
(ii) the alien may, once and not later than
two years after the date the alien enters the
United States as an exchange visitor or acquires exchange visitor status, change the
alien’s designated program of graduate medical education or training if the Director approves the change and if a commitment and
written assurance with respect to the alien’s
new program have been provided in accordance with subparagraph (C).
(E) The alien furnishes the Attorney General
each year with an affidavit (in such form as
the Attorney General shall prescribe) that attests that the alien (i) is in good standing in
the program of graduate medical education or
training in which the alien is participating,
and (ii) will return to the country of his nationality or last residence upon completion of
the education or training for which he came to
the United States.
(2) An alien who is a graduate of a medical
school and who is coming to the United States
to perform services as a member of the medical
profession may not be admitted as a nonimmigrant under section 1101(a)(15)(H)(i)(b) of
this title unless—
(A) the alien is coming pursuant to an invitation from a public or nonprofit private educational or research institution or agency in
the United States to teach or conduct research, or both, at or for such institution or
agency, or
(B)(i) the alien has passed the Federation licensing examination (administered by the
Federation of State Medical Boards of the
United States) or an equivalent examination
as determined by the Secretary of Health and
Human Services, and
(ii)(I) has competency in oral and written
English or (II) is a graduate of a school of

§ 1182

TITLE 8—ALIENS AND NATIONALITY

medicine which is accredited by a body or bodies approved for the purpose by the Secretary
of Education (regardless of whether such
school of medicine is in the United States).
(3) The Director of the United States Information Agency annually shall transmit to the Congress a report on aliens who have submitted affidavits described in paragraph (1)(E), and shall
include in such report the name and address of
each such alien, the medical education or training program in which such alien is participating, and the status of such alien in that program.
(k) Attorney General’s discretion to admit otherwise excludable aliens who possess immigrant visas
Any alien, excludable from the United States
under paragraph (5)(A) or (7)(A)(i) of subsection
(a) of this section, who is in possession of an immigrant visa may, if otherwise admissible, be
admitted in the discretion of the Attorney General if the Attorney General is satisfied that exclusion was not known to, and could not have
been ascertained by the exercise of reasonable
diligence by, the immigrant before the time of
departure of the vessel or aircraft from the last
port outside the United States and outside foreign contiguous territory or, in the case of an
immigrant coming from foreign contiguous territory, before the time of the immigrant’s application for admission.
(l) Guam; waiver of requirements for nonimmigrant visitors; conditions of waiver; acceptance of funds from Guam
(1) The requirement of paragraph (7)(B)(i) of
subsection (a) of this section may be waived by
the Attorney General, the Secretary of State,
and the Secretary of the Interior, acting jointly,
in the case of an alien applying for admission as
a nonimmigrant visitor for business or pleasure
and solely for entry into and stay on Guam for
a period not to exceed fifteen days, if the Attorney General, the Secretary of State, and the
Secretary of the Interior, after consultation
with the Governor of Guam, jointly determine
that—
(A) an adequate arrival and departure control system has been developed on Guam, and
(B) such a waiver does not represent a threat
to the welfare, safety, or security of the
United States or its territories and commonwealths.
(2) An alien may not be provided a waiver
under this subsection unless the alien has
waived any right—
(A) to review or appeal under this chapter of
an immigration officer’s determination as to
the admissibility of the alien at the port of
entry into Guam, or
(B) to contest, other than on the basis of an
application for asylum, any action for deportation against the alien.
(3) If adequate appropriated funds to carry out
this subsection are not otherwise available, the
Attorney General is authorized to accept from
the Government of Guam such funds as may be
tendered to cover all or any part of the cost of
administration and enforcement of this subsection.

Page 92

(m)

Requirements for admission of nonimmigrant nurses during five-year period
(1) The qualifications referred to in section
1101(a)(15)(H)(i)(a) of this title, with respect to
an alien who is coming to the United States to
perform nursing services for a facility, are that
the alien—
(A) has obtained a full and unrestricted license to practice professional nursing in the
country where the alien obtained nursing education or has received nursing education in
the United States or Canada;
(B) has passed an appropriate examination
(recognized in regulations promulgated in consultation with the Secretary of Health and
Human Services) or has a full and unrestricted
license under State law to practice professional nursing in the State of intended employment; and
(C) is fully qualified and eligible under the
laws (including such temporary or interim licensing requirements which authorize the
nurse to be employed) governing the place of
intended employment to engage in the practice of professional nursing as a registered
nurse immediately upon admission to the
United States and is authorized under such
laws to be employed by the facility.
(2)(A) The attestation referred to in section
1101(a)(15)(H)(i)(a) of this title is an attestation
as to the following:
(i) There would be a substantial disruption
through no fault of the facility in the delivery
of health care services of the facility without
the services of such an alien or aliens.
(ii) The employment of the alien will not adversely affect the wages and working conditions of registered nurses similarly employed.
(iii) The alien employed by the facility will
be paid the wage rate for registered nurses
similarly employed by the facility.
(iv) Either (I) the facility has taken and is
taking timely and significant steps designed
to recruit and retain sufficient registered
nurses who are United States citizens or immigrants who are authorized to perform nursing services, in order to remove as quickly as
reasonably possible the dependence of the facility on nonimmigrant registered nurses, or
(II) the facility is subject to an approved State
plan for the recruitment and retention of
nurses (described in paragraph (3)).
(v) There is not a strike or lockout in the
course of a labor dispute, and the employment
of such an alien is not intended or designed to
influence an election for a bargaining representative for registered nurses of the facility.
(vi) At the time of the filing of the petition
for
registered
nurses
under
section
1101(a)(15)(H)(i)(a) of this title, notice of the
filing has been provided by the facility to the
bargaining representative of the registered
nurses at the facility or, where there is no
such bargaining representative, notice of the
filing has been provided to registered nurses
employed at the facility through posting in
conspicuous locations.
A facility is considered not to meet clause (i)
(relating to an attestation of a substantial dis-

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TITLE 8—ALIENS AND NATIONALITY

ruption in delivery of health care services) if the
facility, within the previous year, laid off registered nurses. Notwithstanding the previous
sentence, a facility that lays off a registered
nurse other than a staff nurse still meets clause
(i) if, in its attestation under this subparagraph,
the facility has attested that it will not replace
the nurse with a nonimmigrant described in section 1101(a)(15)(H)(i)(a) of this title (either
through promotion or otherwise) for a period of
1 year after the date of the lay off. Nothing in
clause (iv) shall be construed as requiring a facility to have taken significant steps described
in such clause before Dec. 18, 1989. In the case of
an alien for whom an employer has filed an attestation under this subparagraph and who is
performing services at a worksite other than the
employer’s or other than a worksite controlled
by the employer, the Secretary may waive such
requirements for the attestation for the worksite as may be appropriate in order to avoid duplicative attestations, in cases of temporary,
emergency circumstances, with respect to information not within the knowledge of the attestor, or for other good cause.
(B) For purposes of subparagraph (A)(iv)(I),
each of the following shall be considered a significant step reasonably designed to recruit and
retain registered nurses:
(i) Operating a training program for registered nurses at the facility or financing (or
providing participation in) a training program
for registered nurses elsewhere.
(ii) Providing career development programs
and other methods of facilitating health care
workers to become registered nurses.
(iii) Paying registered nurses wages at a rate
higher than currently being paid to registered
nurses similarly employed in the geographic
area.
(iv) Providing adequate support services to
free registered nurses from administrative and
other nonnursing duties.
(v) Providing reasonable opportunities for
meaningful salary advancement by registered
nurses.
The steps described in this subparagraph shall
not be considered to be an exclusive list of the
significant steps that may be taken to meet the
conditions of subparagraph (A)(iv)(I). Nothing
herein shall require a facility to take more than
one step, if the facility can demonstrate that
taking a second step is not reasonable.
(C) Subject to subparagraph (E), an attestation under subparagraph (A) shall—
(i) expire at the end of the 1-year period beginning on the date of its filing with the Secretary of Labor, and
(ii) apply to petitions filed during such 1year period if the facility states in each such
petition that it continues to comply with the
conditions in the attestation.
(D) A facility may meet the requirements
under this paragraph with respect to more than
one registered nurse in a single petition.
(E)(i) The Secretary of Labor shall compile
and make available for public examination in a
timely manner in Washington, D.C., a list
identifying facilities which have filed petitions
for
nonimmigrants
under
section

§ 1182

1101(a)(15)(H)(i)(a) of this title and, for each such
facility, a copy of the facility’s attestation
under subparagraph (A) (and accompanying documentation) and each such petition filed by the
facility.
(ii) The Secretary of Labor shall establish a
process for the receipt, investigation, and disposition of complaints respecting a facility’s
failure to meet conditions attested to or a facility’s misrepresentation of a material fact in an
attestation. Complaints may be filed by any aggrieved person or organization (including bargaining representatives, associations deemed appropriate by the Secretary, and other aggrieved
parties as determined under regulations of the
Secretary). The Secretary shall conduct an investigation under this clause if there is reasonable cause to believe that a facility fails to meet
conditions attested to.
(iii) Under such process, the Secretary shall
provide, within 180 days after the date such a
complaint is filed, for a determination as to
whether or not a basis exists to make a finding
described in clause (iv). If the Secretary determines that such a basis exists, the Secretary
shall provide for notice of such determination to
the interested parties and an opportunity for a
hearing on the complaint within 60 days of the
date of the determination.
(iv) If the Secretary of Labor finds, after notice and opportunity for a hearing, that a facility (for which an attestation is made) has failed
to meet a condition attested to or that there
was a misrepresentation of material fact in the
attestation, the Secretary shall notify the Attorney General of such finding and may, in addition, impose such other administrative remedies
(including civil monetary penalties in an
amount not to exceed $1,000 per violation) as the
Secretary determines to be appropriate. Upon
receipt of such notice, the Attorney General
shall not approve petitions filed with respect to
a facility during a period of at least 1 year for
nurses to be employed by the facility.
(v) In addition to the sanctions provided under
clause (iv), if the Secretary of Labor finds, after
notice and an opportunity for a hearing, that a
facility has violated the condition attested to
under subparagraph (A)(iii) (relating to payment
of registered nurses at the prevailing wage rate),
the Secretary shall order the facility to provide
for payment of such amounts of back pay as
may be required to comply with such condition.
(3) The Secretary of Labor shall provide for a
process under which a State may submit to the
Secretary a plan for the recruitment and retention of United States citizens and immigrants
who are authorized to perform nursing services
as registered nurses in facilities in the State.
Such a plan may include counseling and educating health workers and other individuals concerning the employment opportunities available
to registered nurses. The Secretary shall provide, on an annual basis in consultation with the
Secretary of Health and Human Services, for the
approval or disapproval of such a plan, for purposes of paragraph (2)(A)(iv)(II). Such a plan
may not be considered to be approved with respect to the facility unless the plan provides for
the taking of significant steps described in paragraph (2)(A)(iv)(I) with respect to registered
nurses in the facility.

§ 1182

TITLE 8—ALIENS AND NATIONALITY

(4) The period of admission of an alien under
section 1101(a)(15)(H)(i)(a) of this title shall be
for an initial period of not to exceed 3 years,
subject to an extension for a period or periods,
not to exceed a total period of admission of 5
years (or a total period of admission of 6 years
in the case of extraordinary circumstances, as
determined by the Attorney General).
(5) For purposes of this subsection and section
1101(a)(15)(H)(i)(a) of this title, the term ‘‘facility’’ includes an employer who employs registered nurses in a home setting.
(n) Labor condition application
(1) No alien may be admitted or provided
status as a nonimmigrant described in section
1101(a)(15)(H)(i)(b) of this title in an occupational classification unless the employer has
filed with the Secretary of Labor an application
stating the following:
(A) The employer—
(i) is offering and will offer during the period of authorized employment to aliens admitted or provided status as a nonimmigrant
described
in
section
1101(a)(15)(H)(i)(b) of this title wages that
are at least—
(I) the actual wage level paid by the employer to all other individuals with similar
experience and qualifications for the specific employment in question, or
(II) the prevailing wage level for the occupational classification in the area of employment,
whichever is greater, based on the best information available as of the time of filing the
application, and
(ii) will provide working conditions for
such a nonimmigrant that will not adversely
affect the working conditions of workers
similarly employed.
(B) There is not a strike or lockout in the
course of a labor dispute in the occupational
classification at the place of employment.
(C) The employer, at the time of filing the
application—
(i) has provided notice of the filing under
this paragraph to the bargaining representative (if any) of the employer’s employees in
the occupational classification and area for
which aliens are sought, or
(ii) if there is no such bargaining representative, has posted notice of filing in
conspicuous locations at the place of employment.
(D) The application shall contain a specification of the number of workers sought, the occupational classification in which the workers
will be employed, and wage rate and conditions under which they will be employed.
The employer shall make available for public
examination, within one working day after the
date on which an application under this paragraph is filed, at the employer’s principal place
of business or worksite, a copy of each such application (and such accompanying documents as
are necessary). The Secretary shall compile, on
a current basis, a list (by employer and by occupational classification) of the applications filed
under this subsection. Such list shall include

Page 94

the wage rate, number of aliens sought, period
of intended employment, and date of need. The
Secretary shall make such list available for public examination in Washington, D.C. The Secretary of Labor shall review such an application
only for completeness and obvious inaccuracies.
Unless the Secretary finds that the application
is incomplete or obviously inaccurate, the Secretary shall provide the certification described
in section 1101(a)(15)(H)(i)(b) of this title within
7 days of the date of the filing of the application.
(2)(A) The Secretary shall establish a process
for the receipt, investigation, and disposition of
complaints respecting a petitioner’s failure to
meet a condition specified in an application submitted under paragraph (1) or a petitioner’s misrepresentation of material facts in such an application. Complaints may be filed by any aggrieved person or organization (including bargaining representatives). No investigation or
hearing shall be conducted on a complaint concerning such a failure or misrepresentation unless the complaint was filed not later than 12
months after the date of the failure or misrepresentation, respectively. The Secretary shall conduct an investigation under this paragraph if
there is reasonable cause to believe that such a
failure or misrepresentation has occurred.
(B) Under such process, the Secretary shall
provide, within 30 days after the date such a
complaint is filed, for a determination as to
whether or not a reasonable basis exists to make
a finding described in subparagraph (C). If the
Secretary determines that such a reasonable
basis exists, the Secretary shall provide for notice of such determination to the interested parties and an opportunity for a hearing on the
complaint, in accordance with section 556 of
title 5, within 60 days after the date of the determination. If such a hearing is requested, the
Secretary shall make a finding concerning the
matter by not later than 60 days after the date
of the hearing. In the case of similar complaints
respecting the same applicant, the Secretary
may consolidate the hearings under this subparagraph on such complaints.
(C) If the Secretary finds, after notice and opportunity for a hearing, a failure to meet a condition of paragraph (1)(B), a substantial failure
to meet a condition of paragraphs (1)(C) or
(1)(D), a willful failure to meet a condition of
paragraph (1)(A), or a misrepresentation of material fact in an application—
(i) the Secretary shall notify the Attorney
General of such finding and may, in addition,
impose such other administrative remedies
(including civil monetary penalties in an
amount not to exceed $1,000 per violation) as
the Secretary determines to be appropriate,
and
(ii) the Attorney General shall not approve
petitions filed with respect to that employer
under section 1154 or 1184(c) of this title during
a period of at least 1 year for aliens to be employed by the employer.
(D) If the Secretary finds, after notice and opportunity for a hearing, that an employer has
not paid wages at the wage level specified under
the application and required under paragraph
(1), the Secretary shall order the employer to

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TITLE 8—ALIENS AND NATIONALITY

provide for payment of such amounts of back
pay as may be required to comply with the requirements of paragraph (1), whether or not a
penalty under subparagraph (C) has been imposed.
(o) Requirements for receipt of immigrant visa
within ninety days following departure
An alien who has been physically present in
the United States shall not be eligible to receive
an immigrant visa within ninety days following
departure therefrom unless—
(1) the alien was maintaining a lawful nonimmigrant status at the time of such departure, or
(2) the alien is the spouse or unmarried child
of an individual who obtained temporary or
permanent resident status under section 1160
or 1255a of this title or section 202 of the Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986 at any
date, who—
(A) as of May 5, 1988, was the unmarried
child or spouse of the individual who obtained temporary or permanent resident
status under section 1160 or 1255a of this
title or section 202 of the Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986;
(B) entered the United States before May
5, 1988, resided in the United States on May
5, 1988, and is not a lawful permanent resident; and
(C) applied for benefits under section 301(a)
of the Immigration Act of 1990.
(June 27, 1952, ch. 477, title II, ch. 2, § 212, 66 Stat.
182; July 18, 1956, ch. 629, title III, § 301 (a), 70
Stat. 575; July 7, 1958, Pub. L. 85–508, § 23, 72 Stat.
351; Mar. 18, 1959, Pub. L. 86–3, § 20(b), 73 Stat. 13;
July 14, 1960, Pub. L. 86–648, § 8, 74 Stat. 505;
Sept. 21, 1961, Pub. L. 87–256, § 109(c), 75 Stat. 535;
Sept. 26, 1961, Pub. L. 87–301, §§ 11–15, 75 Stat. 654,
655; Oct. 3, 1965, Pub. L. 89–236, §§ 10, 15, 79 Stat.
917, 919; Apr. 7, 1970, Pub. L. 91–225, § 2, 84 Stat.
116; Oct. 12, 1976, Pub. L. 94–484, title VI, § 601(a),
(c), (d), 90 Stat. 2300, 2301; Oct. 20, 1976, Pub. L.
94–571, §§ 5, 7(d), 90 Stat. 2705, 2706; Aug. 1, 1977,
Pub. L. 95–83, title III, § 307(q)(1), (2), 91 Stat. 394;
Oct. 30, 1978, Pub. L. 95–549, title I, §§ 101, 102, 92
Stat. 2065; Sept. 27, 1979, Pub. L. 96–70, title III,
§ 3201(b), 93 Stat. 497; Mar. 17, 1980, Pub. L. 96–212,
title II, § 203(d), (f), 94 Stat. 107; Dec. 17, 1980,
Pub. L. 96–538, title IV, § 404, 94 Stat. 3192; Dec.
29, 1981, Pub. L. 97–116, §§ 4, 5(a)(1), (2), (b), 18(e),
95 Stat. 1611, 1612, 1620; Oct. 5, 1984, Pub. L.
98–454, title VI, § 602[(a)], 98 Stat. 1737; Oct. 12,
1984, Pub. L. 98–473, title II, § 220(a), 98 Stat. 2028;
Aug. 27, 1986, Pub. L. 99–396, § 14(a), 100 Stat. 842;
Oct. 27, 1986, Pub. L. 99–570, title I, § 1751(a), 100
Stat. 3207–47; Nov. 10, 1986, Pub. L. 99–639, § 6(a),
100 Stat. 3543; Nov. 14, 1986, Pub. L. 99–653, § 7(a),
100 Stat. 3657; Dec. 22, 1987, Pub. L. 100–204, title
VIII, § 806(c), 101 Stat. 1399; Oct. 24, 1988, Pub. L.
100–525, §§ 3(1)(A), 7(c)(1), (3), 8(f), 9(i), 102 Stat.
2614, 2616, 2617, 2620; Nov. 18, 1988, Pub. L. 100–690,
title VII, § 7349(a), 102 Stat. 4473; Dec. 18, 1989,
Pub. L. 101–238, § 3(b), 103 Stat. 2100; Feb. 16, 1990,
Pub. L. 101–246, title I, § 131(a), (c), 104 Stat. 31;
Nov. 29, 1990, Pub. L. 101–649, title I, § 162(e)(1),
(f)(2)(B), title II, §§ 202(b), 205(c)(3), title V,
§§ 511(a), 514(a), title VI, § 601(a), (b), (d), 104 Stat.
5011, 5012, 5014, 5020, 5052, 5053, 5067, 5075; Dec. 12,
1991, Pub. L. 102–232, title III, §§ 302(e)(6), (9),

§ 1182

303(a)(5)(B), (6), (7)(B), 306(a)(10), (12), 307(a)–(g),
309(b)(7), 105 Stat. 1746, 1747, 1751, 1753–1755, 1759;
June 10, 1993, Pub. L. 103–43, title XX, § 2007(a),
107 Stat. 210; Aug. 26, 1994, Pub. L. 103–317, title
V, § 506(a), 108 Stat. 1765; Sept. 13, 1994, Pub. L.
103–322, title XIII, § 130003(b)(1), 108 Stat. 2024;
Oct. 25, 1994, Pub. L. 103–416, title II, §§ 203(a),
219(e), (z)(1), (5), 220(a), 108 Stat. 4311, 4316, 4318,
4319.)
AMENDMENT OF SECTION
For termination of amendment by section
506(c) of Pub. L. 103–317, see Effective and Termination Dates of 1994 Amendments note below.
REFERENCES IN TEXT
Section 301 of the Immigration Act of 1990, referred to
in subsecs. (a)(6)(E)(ii) and (o)(2)(C), is section 301 of
Pub. L. 101–649, which is set out as a note under section
1255a of this title.
Section 112 of the Immigration Act of 1990, referred to
in subsec. (a)(6)(E)(ii), is section 112 of Pub. L. 101–649,
which is set out as a note under section 1153 of this
title.
The effective date of this subsection, referred to in
subsec. (j)(2), is ninety days after Oct. 12, 1976.
Section 202 of the Immigration Reform and Control
Act of 1986, referred to in subsec. (o)(2), is section 202 of
Pub. L. 99–603, which is set out as a note under section
1255a of this title.
AMENDMENTS
1994—Subsec. (a)(2)(A)(i)(I). Pub. L. 103–416, § 203(a)(1),
inserted ‘‘or an attempt or conspiracy to commit such
a crime’’ after ‘‘offense)’’.
Subsec. (a)(2)(A)(i)(II). Pub. L. 103–416, § 203(a)(2), inserted ‘‘or attempt’’ after ‘‘conspiracy’’.
Subsec. (a)(5)(C). Pub. L. 103–416, § 219(z)(5), amended
directory language of Pub. L. 102–232, § 307(a)(6). See
1991 Amendment note below.
Subsec. (d)(1). Pub. L. 103–322 added par. (1).
Subsec. (d)(11). Pub. L. 103–416, § 219(e), substituted
‘‘voluntarily’’ for ‘‘voluntary’’.
Subsec. (e). Pub. L. 103–416, § 220(a), in first proviso,
inserted ‘‘(or, in the case of an alien described in clause
(iii), pursuant to the request of a State Department of
Public Health, or its equivalent)’’ after ‘‘interested
United States Government agency’’ and ‘‘except that in
the case of a waiver requested by a State Department
of Public Health, or its equivalent the waiver shall be
subject to the requirements of section 1184(k) of this
title’’ after ‘‘public interest’’.
Subsec. (h). Pub. L. 103–416, § 203(a)(3), inserted before
period at end ‘‘, or an attempt or conspiracy to commit
murder or a criminal act involving torture’’.
Subsec. (n)(1)(A)(i). Pub. L. 103–416, § 219(z)(1), made
technical correction to Pub. L. 102–232, § 303(a)(7)(B)(i).
See 1991 Amendment note below.
Subsec. (o). Pub. L. 103–317, § 506(a), (c), temporarily
added subsec. (o). See Effective and Termination Dates
of 1994 Amendments note below.
1993—Subsec. (a)(1)(A)(i). Pub. L. 103–43 inserted at
end ‘‘which shall include infection with the etiologic
agent for acquired immune deficiency syndrome,’’.
1991—Subsec.
(a)(1)(A)(ii)(II).
Pub.
L.
102–232,
§ 307(a)(1), inserted ‘‘or’’ at end.
Subsec. (a)(3)(A)(i). Pub. L. 102–232, § 307(a)(2), inserted
‘‘(I)’’ after ‘‘any activity’’ and ‘‘(II)’’ after ‘‘sabotage
or’’.
Subsec. (a)(3)(B)(iii)(III). Pub. L. 102–232, § 307(a)(3),
substituted ‘‘a terrorist activity’’ for ‘‘an act of terrorist activity’’.
Subsec. (a)(3)(C)(iv). Pub. L. 102–232, § 307(a)(5), substituted ‘‘identity’’ for ‘‘identities’’.
Subsec. (a)(3)(D)(iv). Pub. L. 102–232, § 307(a)(4), substituted ‘‘if the immigrant’’ for ‘‘if the alien’’.
Subsec. (a)(5). Pub. L. 102–232, § 302(e)(6), repealed Pub.
L. 101–649, § 162(e)(1). See 1990 Amendment note below.

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TITLE 8—ALIENS AND NATIONALITY

Subsec. (a)(5)(C). Pub. L. 102–232, § 307(a)(6), as amended by Pub. L. 103–416, § 219(z)(5), substituted ‘‘immigrants seeking admission or adjustment of status under
paragraph (2) or (3) of section 1153(b) of this title’’ for
‘‘preference immigrant aliens described in paragraph
(3) or (6) of section 1153(a) of this title and to nonpreference immigrant aliens described in section
1153(a)(7) of this title’’.
Subsec. (a)(6)(B). Pub. L. 102–232, § 307(a)(7), in closing
provisions, substituted ‘‘(a) who seeks’’ for ‘‘who
seeks’’, ‘‘, or (b) who seeks admission’’ for ‘‘(or’’, and
‘‘felony,’’ for ‘‘felony)’’.
Subsec. (a)(6)(E)(ii), (iii). Pub. L. 102–232, § 307(a)(8),
added cl. (ii) and redesignated former cl. (ii) as (iii).
Subsec. (a)(8)(B). Pub. L. 102–232, § 307(a)(9), substituted ‘‘person’’ for ‘‘alien’’ after ‘‘Any’’.
Subsec. (a)(9)(C)(i). Pub. L. 102–232, § 307(a)(10)(A), substituted ‘‘an order by a court in the United States
granting custody to a person of a United States citizen
child who detains or retains the child, or withholds custody of the child, outside the United States from the
person granted custody by that order, is excludable
until the child is surrendered to the person granted
custody by that order’’ for ‘‘a court order granting custody to a citizen of the United States of a child having
a lawful claim to United States citizenship, detains, retains, or withholds custody of the child outside the
United States from the United States citizen granted
custody, is excludable until the child is surrendered to
such United States citizen’’.
Subsec. (a)(9)(C)(ii). Pub. L. 102–232, § 307(a)(10)(B),
substituted ‘‘so long as the child is located in a foreign
state that is a party’’ for ‘‘to an alien who is a national
of a foreign state that is a signatory’’.
Subsec. (a)(17). Pub. L. 102–232, § 306(a)(12), amended
Pub. L. 101–649, § 514(a). See 1990 Amendment note
below.
Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 102–232, § 307(b), substituted
‘‘paragraphs (3) and (9)(C)’’ for ‘‘subparagraphs (A), (B),
(C), or (E) of paragraph (3)’’.
Pub. L. 102–232, § 306(a)(10), substituted ‘‘one or more
aggravated felonies and has served for such felony or
felonies’’ for ‘‘an aggravated felony and has served’’.
Subsec. (d)(3). Pub. L. 102–232, § 307(c), substituted
‘‘(3)(A)(i)(I), (3)(A)(ii), (3)(A)(iii),’’ for ‘‘(3)(A),’’ in two
places and ‘‘(3)(E)’’ for ‘‘(3)(D)’’ in two places.
Subsec. (d)(11). Pub. L. 102–232, § 307(d), inserted ‘‘and
in the case of an alien seeking admission or adjustment
of status as an immediate relative or immigrant under
section 1153(a) of this title (other than paragraph (4)
thereof)’’ after ‘‘section 1181(b) of this title’’.
Subsec. (g)(1). Pub. L. 102–232, § 307(e), substituted
‘‘subsection (a)(1)(A)(i)’’ for ‘‘section (a)(1)(A)(i)’’.
Subsec. (h). Pub. L. 102–232, § 307(f)(1), struck out ‘‘in
the case of an immigrant who is the spouse, parent,
son, or daughter of a citizen of the United States or
alien lawfully admitted for permanent residence’’ after
‘‘marijuana’’ in introductory provisions.
Subsec. (h)(1). Pub. L. 102–232, § 307(f)(2), designated
existing provisions as subpar. (A) and inserted ‘‘in the
case of any immigrant’’ in introductory provisions, redesignated former subpars. (A) to (C) as cls. (i) to (iii),
respectively, struck out ‘‘and’’ at end of cl. (i), substituted ‘‘or’’ for ‘‘and’’ at end of cl. (iii), and added
subpar. (B).
Subsec. (i). Pub. L. 102–232, § 307(g), substituted ‘‘immigrant’’ and ‘‘immigrant’s’’ for ‘‘alien’’ and ‘‘alien’s’’,
respectively, wherever appearing.
Subsec. (j)(1)(D). Pub. L. 102–232, § 309(b)(7), substituted ‘‘United States Information Agency’’ for
‘‘International Communication Agency’’.
Subsec. (j)(2). Pub. L. 102–232, § 303(a)(5)(B), added par.
(2) and struck out former par. (2) which related to inapplicability of par. (1)(A) and (B)(ii)(I) requirements between effective date of subsec. and Dec. 31, 1983.
Subsec. (j)(3). Pub. L. 102–232, § 309(b)(7), substituted
‘‘United States Information Agency’’ for ‘‘International Communication Agency’’.
Subsec. (m)(2)(A). Pub. L. 102–232, § 302(e)(9), inserted,
after first sentence of closing provisions, sentence re-

Page 96

lating to attestation that facility will not replace
nurse with nonimmigrant for period of one year after
layoff.
Subsec. (n)(1). Pub. L. 102–232, § 303(a)(7)(B)(ii), (iii),
redesignated matter after first sentence of subpar. (D)
as closing provisions of par. (1), substituted ‘‘(and such
accompanying documents as are necessary)’’ for ‘‘(and
accompanying documentation)’’, and inserted last two
sentences providing for review and certification by Secretary of Labor.
Subsec. (n)(1)(A)(i). Pub. L. 102–232, § 303(a)(7)(B)(i), as
amended by Pub. L. 103–416, § 219(z)(1), in introductory
provisions substituted ‘‘admitted or provided status as
a nonimmigrant described in section 1101(a)(15)(H)(i)(b)
of this title’’ for ‘‘and to other individuals employed in
the occupational classification and in the area of employment’’, in closing provisions substituted ‘‘based on
the best information available’’ for ‘‘determined’’, and
amended subcl. (I) generally. Prior to amendment,
subcl. (I) read as follows: ‘‘the actual wage level for the
occupational classification at the place of employment,
or’’.
Subsec. (n)(1)(A)(ii). Pub. L. 102–232, § 303(a)(6), substituted ‘‘for such a nonimmigrant’’ for ‘‘for such
aliens’’.
Subsec. (n)(1)(D). Pub. L. 102–232, § 303(a)(7)(B)(iii), redesignated matter after first sentence as closing provisions of par. (1).
Subsec. (n)(2)(C). Pub. L. 102–232, § 303(a)(7)(B)(iv),
substituted ‘‘of paragraph (1)(B), a substantial failure
to meet a condition of paragraphs (1)(C) or (1)(D), a
willful failure to meet a condition of paragraph (1)(A),
or a misrepresentation’’ for ‘‘(or a substantial failure in
the case of a condition described in subparagraph (C) or
(D) of paragraph (1)) or misrepresentation’’.
Subsec. (n)(2)(D). Pub. L. 102–232, § 303(a)(7)(B)(v), (vi),
substituted ‘‘If’’ for ‘‘In addition to the sanctions provided under subparagraph (C), if’’ and inserted before
period at end ‘‘, whether or not a penalty under subparagraph (C) has been imposed’’.
1990—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 101–649, § 601(a), amended
subsec. (a) generally, decreasing number of classes of
excludable aliens from 34 to 9 by broadening descriptions of such classes.
Pub. L. 101–649, § 514(a), as amended by Pub. L. 102–232,
§ 306(a)(12), substituted ‘‘20 years’’ for ‘‘ten years’’ in
par. (17).
Pub. L. 101–649, which provided that par. (5) is amended in subpar. (A), by striking ‘‘Any alien who seeks to
enter the United States for the purpose of performing
skilled or unskilled labor’’ and inserting ‘‘Any alien
who seeks admission or status as an immigrant under
paragraph (2) or (3) of section 1153(b) of this title, in
subpar. (B), by inserting ‘‘who seeks admission or
status as an immigrant under paragraph (2) or (3) of
section 1153(b) of this title’’ after ‘‘An alien’’ the first
place it appears, and by striking subpar. (C), was repealed by Pub. L. 102–232, § 302(e)(6). See Construction of
1990 Amendment note below.
Pub. L. 101–246, § 131(a), added par. (34) which read as
follows: ‘‘Any alien who has committed in the United
States any serious criminal offense, as defined in section 1101(h) of this title, for whom immunity from
criminal jurisdiction was exercised with respect to that
offense, who as a consequence of the offense and the exercise of immunity has departed the United States, and
who has not subsequently submitted fully to the jurisdiction of the court in the United States with jurisdiction over the offense.’’
Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 101–649, § 601(b), added subsec. (b)
and struck out former subsec. (b) which related to nonapplicability of subsec. (a)(25).
Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 101–649, § 601(d)(1), substituted
‘‘subsection (a) of this section (other than subparagraphs (A), (B), (C), or (E) of paragraph (3))’’ for ‘‘paragraph (1) through (25) and paragraphs (30) and (31) of
subsection (a) of this section’’.
Pub. L. 101–649, § 511(a), inserted at end ‘‘The first sentence of this subsection shall not apply to an alien who
has been convicted of an aggravated felony and has
served a term of imprisonment of at least 5 years.’’

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TITLE 8—ALIENS AND NATIONALITY

Subsec. (d)(1), (2). Pub. L. 101–649, § 601(d)(2)(A), struck
out pars. (1) and (2) which related to applicability of
subsec. (a)(11), (25), and (28).
Subsec. (d)(3). Pub. L. 101–649, § 601(d)(2)(B), substituted ‘‘under subsection (a) of this section (other
than paragraphs (3)(A), (3)(C), and (3)(D) of such subsection)’’ for ‘‘under one or more of the paragraphs enumerated in subsection (a) of this section (other than
paragraphs (27), (29), and (33))’’ wherever appearing, and
inserted at end ‘‘The Attorney General shall prescribe
conditions, including exaction of such bonds as may be
necessary, to control and regulate the admission and
return of excludable aliens applying for temporary admission under this paragraph.’’
Subsec. (d)(4). Pub. L. 101–649, § 601(d)(2)(C), substituted ‘‘(7)(B)(i)’’ for ‘‘(26)’’.
Subsec. (d)(5)(A). Pub. L. 101–649, § 202(b), inserted ‘‘or
in section 1184(f) of this title’’ after ‘‘except as provided
in subparagraph (B)’’.
Subsec. (d)(6). Pub. L. 101–649, § 601(d)(2)(A), struck
out par. (6) which directed that Attorney General prescribe conditions to control excludable aliens applying
for temporary admission.
Subsec. (d)(7). Pub. L. 101–649, § 601(d)(2)(D), substituted ‘‘(other than paragraph (7))’’ for ‘‘of this section, except paragraphs (20), (21), and (26),’’.
Subsec. (d)(8). Pub. L. 101–649, § 601(d)(2)(E), substituted ‘‘(3)(A), (3)(B), (3)(C), and (7)(B)’’ for ‘‘(26), (27),
and (29)’’.
Subsec. (d)(9), (10). Pub. L. 101–649, § 601(d)(2)(A),
struck out pars. (9) and (10) which related to applicability of pars. (7) and (15), respectively, of subsec. (a).
Subsec. (d)(11). Pub. L. 101–649, § 601(d)(2)(F), added
par. (11).
Subsec. (g). Pub. L. 101–649, § 601(d)(3), amended subsec. (g) generally, substituting provisions relating to
waiver of application for provisions relating to admission of mentally retarded, tubercular, and mentally ill
aliens.
Subsec. (h). Pub. L. 101–649, § 601(d)(4), amended subsec. (h) generally, substituting provisions relating to
waiver of certain subsec. (a)(2) provisions for provisions
relating to nonapplicability of subsec. (a)(9), (10), (12),
(23), and (34).
Pub. L. 101–246, § 131(c), substituted ‘‘(12), or (34)’’ for
‘‘or (12)’’.
Subsec. (i). Pub. L. 101–649, § 601(d)(5), amended subsec. (i) generally, substituting provisions relating to
waiver of subsec. (a)(6)(C)(i) of this section for provisions relating to admission of alien spouse, parent or
child excludable for fraud.
Subsec. (k). Pub. L. 101–649, § 601(d)(6), substituted
‘‘paragraph (5)(A) or (7)(A)(i)’’ for ‘‘paragraph (14), (20),
or (21)’’.
Subsec. (l). Pub. L. 101–649, § 601(d)(7), substituted
‘‘paragraph (7)(B)(i)’’ for ‘‘paragraph (26)(B)’’.
Subsec. (m)(2)(A). Pub. L. 101–649, § 162(f)(2)(B), in
opening provision, struck out ‘‘, with respect to a facility for which an alien will perform services,’’ before ‘‘is
an attestation, in cl. (iii) inserted ‘‘employed by the facility’’ after ‘‘The alien’’, and inserted at end ‘‘In the
case of an alien for whom an employer has filed an attestation under this subparagraph and who is performing services at a worksite other than the employer’s or
other than a worksite controlled by the employer, the
Secretary may waive such requirements for the attestation for the worksite as may be appropriate in order
to avoid duplicative attestations, in cases of temporary, emergency circumstances, with respect to information not within the knowledge of the attestor, or
for other good cause.’’
Subsec. (n). Pub. L. 101–649, § 205(c)(3), added subsec.
(n).
1989—Subsec. (m). Pub. L. 101–238 added subsec. (m).
1988—Subsec. (a)(17). Pub. L. 100–690 inserted ‘‘(or
within ten years in the case of an alien convicted of an
aggravated felony)’’ after ‘‘within five years’’.
Subsec. (a)(19). Pub. L. 100–525, § 7(c)(1), made technical correction to directory language of Pub. L. 99–639,
§ 6(a). See 1986 Amendment note below.

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Subsec. (a)(32). Pub. L. 100–525, § 9(i)(1), substituted
‘‘Secretary of Education’’ for ‘‘Commissioner of Education’’ and ‘‘Secretary of Health and Human Services’’
for ‘‘Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare’’.
Subsec. (d)(4). Pub. L. 100–525, § 8(f), added Pub. L.
99–653, § 7(d)(2). See 1986 Amendment note below.
Subsec. (e). Pub. L. 100–525, § 9(i)(2), substituted ‘‘Director of the United States Information Agency’’ for
‘‘Secretary of State’’ the first place appearing, and ‘‘Director’’ for ‘‘Secretary of State’’ each subsequent place
appearing.
Subsec. (g). Pub. L. 100–525, § 9(i)(3), substituted ‘‘Secretary of Health and Human Services’’ for ‘‘Surgeon
General of the United States Public Health Service’’
wherever appearing.
Subsec. (h). Pub. L. 100–525, § 9(i)(4), substituted
‘‘paragraph (9)’’ for ‘‘paragraphs (9)’’.
Subsec. (i). Pub. L. 100–525, § 7(c)(3), added Pub. L.
99–639, § 6(b). See 1986 Amendment note below.
Subsec. (l). Pub. L. 100–525, § 3(1)(A), made technical
correction to Pub. L. 99–396, § 14(a). See 1986 Amendment note below.
1987—Subsec. (a)(23). Pub. L. 100–204 amended par. (23)
generally. Prior to amendment, par. (23) read as follows: ‘‘Any alien who has been convicted of a violation
of, or a conspiracy to violate, any law or regulation of
a State, the United States, or a foreign country relating to a controlled substance (as defined in section 802
of title 21); or any alien who the consular officer or immigration officer know or have reason to believe is or
has been an illicit trafficker in any such controlled
substance;’’.
1986—Subsec. (a)(19). Pub. L. 99–639, § 6(a), as amended
by Pub. L. 100–525, § 7(c)(1), amended par. (19) generally.
Prior to amendment, par. (19) read as follows: ‘‘Any
alien who seeks to procure, or has sought to procure, or
has procured a visa or other documentation, or seeks to
enter the United States, by fraud, or by willfully misrepresenting a material fact;’’.
Subsec. (a)(23). Pub. L. 99–570 substituted ‘‘any law or
regulation of a State, the United States, or a foreign
country relating to a controlled substance (as defined
in section 802 of title 21)’’ for ‘‘any law or regulation relating to the illicit possession of or traffic in narcotic
drugs or marihuana, or who has been convicted of a violation of, or a conspiracy to violate, any law or regulation governing or controlling the taxing, manufacture,
production, compounding, transportation, sale, exchange, dispensing, giving away, importation, exportation, or the possession for the purpose of the manufacture, production, compounding, transportation, sale,
exchange, dispensing, giving away, importation, or exportation of opium, coca leaves, heroin, marihuana, or
any salt derivative, or preparation of opium or coca
leaves, or isonipecaine or any addiction-forming or addiction-sustaining opiate’’ and ‘‘any such controlled
substance’’ for ‘‘any of the aforementioned drugs’’.
Subsec. (a)(24). Pub. L. 99–653 struck out par. (24)
which related to aliens seeking admission from foreign
contiguous territory or adjacent islands who arrived
there on vessel or aircraft of nonsignatory line or noncomplying transportation line and have not resided
there at least two years subsequent to such arrival, except for aliens described in section 1101(a)(27)(A) of this
title and aliens born in Western Hemisphere, and further provided that no paragraph following par. (24)
shall be redesignated as result of this amendment.
Subsec. (d)(4). Pub. L. 99–653, § 7(d)(2), as added by
Pub. L. 100–525, § 8(f), substituted ‘‘section 1228(c) of this
title’’ for ‘‘section 1228(d) of this title’’.
Subsec. (i). Pub. L. 99–639, § 6(b), as added by Pub. L.
100–525, § 7(c)(3), inserted ‘‘or other benefit under this
chapter’’ after ‘‘United States,’’.
Subsec. (l). Pub. L. 99–396, § 14(a), as amended by Pub.
L. 100–525, § 3(1)(A), amended subsec. (l) generally, designating existing provisions as par. (1) and redesignating former pars. (1) and (2) as subpars. (A) and (B), respectively, inserting in par. (1) as so designated reference to consultation with the Governor of Guam, inserting in subpar. (B) as so redesignated reference to

§ 1182

TITLE 8—ALIENS AND NATIONALITY

the welfare, safety, and security of the territories and
commonwealths of the United States, and adding pars.
(2) and (3).
1984—Subsec. (a)(9). Pub. L. 98–473 amended last sentence generally. Prior to amendment, last sentence
read as follows: ‘‘Any alien who would be excludable because of a conviction of a misdemeanor classifiable as
a petty offense under the provisions of section 1(3) of
title 18, by reason of the punishment actually imposed,
or who would be excludable as one who admits the commission of an offense that is classifiable as a misdemeanor under the provisions of section 1(2) of title 18,
by reason of the punishment which might have been
imposed upon him, may be granted a visa and admitted
to the United States if otherwise admissible: Provided,
That the alien has committed only one such offense, or
admits the commission of acts which constitute the essential elements of only one such offense;’’.
Subsec. (l). Pub. L. 98–454 added subsec. (l).
1981—Subsec. (a)(17). Pub. L. 97–116, § 4(1), inserted
‘‘and who seek admission within five years of the date
of such deportation or removal,’’ after ‘‘section 1252(b)
of this title,’’.
Subsec. (a)(32). Pub. L. 97–116, §§ 5(a)(1), 18(e)(1), substituted ‘‘in the United States)’’ for ‘‘in the United
States’’ and inserted provision that for purposes of this
paragraph an alien who is a graduate of a medical
school be considered to have passed parts I and II of the
National Board of Medical Examiners examination if
the alien was fully and permanently licensed to practice medicine in a State on Jan. 9, 1978, and was practicing medicine in a State on that date.
Subsec. (d)(6). Pub. L. 97–116, § 4(2), struck out provision that the Attorney General make a detailed report
to Congress in any case in which he exercises his authority under par. (3) of this subsection on behalf of
any alien excludable under subsec. (a)(9), (10), and (28)
of this section.
Subsec. (h). Pub. L. 97–116, § 4(3), substituted ‘‘paragraphs (9), (10), or (12) of subsection (a) of this section
or paragraph (23) of such subsection as such paragraph
relates to a single offense of simple possession of 30
grams or less of marihuana’’ for ‘‘paragraphs (9), (10),
or (12) of subsection (a) of this section’’.
Subsec. (j)(1). Pub. L. 97–116, § 5(b)(1), inserted ‘‘as follows’’ after ‘‘training are’’.
Subsec. (j)(1)(A). Pub. L. 97–116, § 5(b)(3), (4), substituted ‘‘Secretary of Education’’ for ‘‘Commissioner
of Education’’ and a period for the semicolon at the
end.
Subsec. (j)(1)(B). Pub. L. 97–116, § 5(a)(2), (b)(3), (7)(A),
(B), substituted ‘‘Secretary of Education’’ for ‘‘Commissioner of Education’’, ‘‘(ii)(I)’’ for ‘‘(ii)’’, and ‘‘Secretary of Health and Human Services’’ for ‘‘Secretary
of Health, Education, and Welfare’’; inserted ‘‘(II)’’ before ‘‘has competency’’, ‘‘(III)’’ before ‘‘will be able to
adapt’’, and ‘‘(IV)’’ before ‘‘has adequate prior education’’; and inserted provision that for purposes of this
subparagraph an alien who is a graduate of a medical
school be considered to have passed parts I and II of the
National Board of Medical Examiners examination if
the alien was fully and permanently licensed to practice medicine in a State on Jan. 9, 1978, and was practicing medicine in a State on that date.
Subsec. (j)(1)(C). Pub. L. 97–116, § 5(b)(2)–(4), struck
out ‘‘(including any extension of the duration thereof
under subparagraph (D))’’ after ‘‘to the United States’’
and substituted ‘‘Secretary of Health and Human Services’’ for ‘‘Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare’’ and a period for ‘‘; and’’ at end.
Subsec. (j)(1)(D). Pub. L. 97–116, § 5(b)(5), substituted
provision permitting aliens coming to the United
States to study in medical residency training programs
to remain until the typical completion date of the program, as determined by the Director of the International Communication Agency at the time of the
alien’s entry, based on criteria established in coordination with the Secretary of Health and Human Services,
except that such duration be limited to seven years unless the alien demonstrates to the satisfaction of the

Page 98

Director that the country to which the alien will return after such specialty education has exceptional
need for an individual trained in such specialty, and
that the alien may change enrollment in programs once
within two years after coming to the United States if
approval of the Director is obtained and further commitments are obtained from the alien to assure that,
upon completion of the program, the alien would return
to his country for provision limiting the duration of
the alien’s participation in the program for which he is
coming to the United States to not more than 2 years,
with a possible one year extension.
Subsec. (j)(1)(E). Pub. L. 97–116, § 5(b)(6), added subpar.
(E).
Subsec. (j)(2)(A). Pub. L. 97–116, § 5(b)(7)(C)–(F), substituted ‘‘and (B)(ii)(I)’’ for ‘‘and (B)’’ and ‘‘1983’’ for
‘‘1981’’; inserted ‘‘(i) the Secretary of Health and
Human Services determines, on a case-by-case basis,
that’’ after ‘‘if’’; and added cl. (ii).
Subsec. (j)(2)(B). Pub. L. 97–116, § 5(b)(7)(G), inserted
provision directing Secretary of Health and Human
Services, in coordination with Attorney General and
Director of the International Communication Agency,
to monitor the issuance of waivers under subpar. (A)
and the needs of the communities, with respect to
which such waivers are issued, to assure that quality
medical care is provided and to review each program
with such a waiver to assure that the plan described in
subpar. (A)(ii) is being carried out and that the participants in such program are being provided appropriate
supervision in their medical education and training.
Subsec. (j)(2)(C). Pub. L. 97–116, § 5(b)(7)(G), added subpar. (C).
Subsec. (j)(3). Pub. L. 97–116, § 5(b)(8), added par. (3).
Subsec. (k). Pub. L. 97–116, § 18(e)(2), added subsec. (k).
1980—Subsec. (a)(14), (32). Pub. L. 96–212, § 203(d), substituted ‘‘1153(a)(7)’’ for ‘‘1153(a)(8)’’.
Subsec. (d)(5). Pub. L. 96–212, § 203(f), redesignated existing provisions as subpar. (A), inserted provision excepting subpar. (B), and added subpar. (B).
Subsec. (j)(2)(A). Pub. L. 96–538 substituted ‘‘December 30, 1981’’ for ‘‘December 30, 1980’’.
1979—Subsec. (d)(9), (10). Pub. L. 96–70 added pars. (9)
and (10).
1978—Subsec. (a)(33). Pub. L. 95–549, § 101, added par.
(33).
Subsec. (d)(3). Pub. L. 95–549, § 102, inserted reference
to par. (33) in parenthetical text.
1977—Subsec. (a)(32). Pub. L. 95–83, § 307(q)(1), inserted
‘‘not accredited by a body or bodies approved for the
purpose by the Commissioner of Education (regardless
of whether such school of medicine is in the United
States’’ after ‘‘graduates of a medical school’’ in first
sentence and struck out second sentence exclusion of
aliens provision with respect to application to special
immigrants defined in section 1101(a)(27)(A) of this title
(other than the parents, spouses, or children of the
United States citizens or of aliens lawfully admitted
for permanent residence).
Subsec. (j)(1)(B). Pub. L. 95–83, § 307(q)(2)(A), inserted
cl. (i) and designated existing provisions as cl. (ii).
Subsec. (j)(1)(C). Pub. L. 95–83, § 307(q)(2)(B), substituted ‘‘that there is a need in that country for persons with the skills the alien will acquire in such education or training’’ for ‘‘that upon such completion and
return, he will be appointed to a position in which he
will fully utilize the skills acquired in such education
or training in the government of that country or in an
educational or other appropriate institution or agency
in that country’’.
Subsec. (j)(1)(D). Pub. L. 95–83, § 307(q)(2)(C), substituted ‘‘at the written request’’ for ‘‘at the request’’,
struck out cl. ‘‘(i) such government provides a written
assurance, satisfactory to the Secretary of Health,
Education, and Welfare, that the alien will, at the end
of such extension, be appointed to a position in which
he will fully utilize the skills acquired in such education or training in the government of that country or
in an educational or other appropriate institution or
agency in that country,’’, and redesignated as cls. (i)
and (ii) former cls. (ii) and (iii).

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TITLE 8—ALIENS AND NATIONALITY

Subsec. (j)(2)(A). Pub. L. 95–83, § 307(q)(2)(D), substituted ‘‘(A) and (B)’’ for ‘‘(A) through (D)’’.
1976—Subsec. (a)(14). Pub. L. 94–571, § 5, in revising
par. (14), inserted in cl. (A) ‘‘(or equally qualified in the
case of aliens who are members of the teaching profession or who have exceptional ability in the sciences or
the arts)’’ and struck out ‘‘in the United States’’ after
‘‘sufficient workers’’ and ‘‘destined’’ before ‘‘to perform’’ and introductory provision of last sentence making exclusion of aliens under par. (14) applicable to special immigrants defined in former provision of section
1101(a)(27)(A) of this title (other than the parents,
spouses, or children of United States citizens or of
aliens lawfully admitted to the United States for permanent residence).
Subsec. (a)(24). Pub. L. 94–571, § 7(d), substituted in
parenthetical text ‘‘section 1101(a)(27)(A) of this title
and aliens born in the Western Hemisphere’’ for ‘‘section 1101(a)(27)(A) and (B) of this title’’.
Subsec. (a)(32). Pub. L. 94–484, § 601(a), added par. (32).
Subsec. (e). Pub. L. 94–484, § 601(c), substituted ‘‘(i)
whose’’ for ‘‘whose (i)’’, and ‘‘residence, (ii)’’ for ‘‘residence, or (ii)’’, inserted ‘‘or (iii) who came to the
United States or acquired such status in order to receive graduate medical education or training,’’ before
‘‘shall be eligible’’, and inserted ‘‘, except in the case of
an alien described in clause (iii),’’ in second proviso.
Subsec. (j). Pub. L. 94–484, § 601(d), added subsec. (j).
1970—Subsec. (e). Pub. L. 91–225 inserted cls. (i) and
(ii) and reference to eligibility for nonimmigrant visa
under section 1101(a)(15)(L) of this title, provided for
waiver of requirement of two-year foreign residence
abroad where alien cannot return to the country of his
nationality or last residence because he would be subject to persecution on account of race, religion, or political opinion or where the foreign country of alien’s
nationality or last residence has furnished a written
statement that it has no objection to such waiver for
such alien, and struck out alternative provision for residence and physical presence in another foreign country and former first and final provisos which read as
follows: ‘‘Provided, That such residence in another foreign country shall be considered to have satisfied the
requirements of this subsection if the Secretary of
State determines that it has served the purpose and the
intent of the Mutual Educational and Cultural Exchange Act of 1961’’ and ‘‘And provided further, That
the provisions of this subchapter shall apply also to
those persons who acquired exchange visitor status
under the United States Information and Educational
Exchange Act of 1948, as amended.’’
1965—Subsec. (a)(1). Pub. L. 89–236, § 15(a), substituted
‘‘mentally retarded’’ for ‘‘feebleminded’’.
Subsec. (a)(4). Pub. L. 89–236, § 15(b), substituted ‘‘or
sexual deviation’’ for ‘‘epilepsy’’.
Subsec. (a)(14). Pub. L. 89–236, § 10(a), inserted requirement that Secretary of Labor make an affirmative
finding that any alien seeking to enter the United
States as a worker, skilled or otherwise, will not replace a worker in the United States nor will the employment of the alien adversely affect the wages and
working conditions of individuals in the United States
similarly employed, and made the requirement applicable to special immigrants (other than the parents,
spouses, and minor children of U.S. citizens or permanent resident aliens), preference immigrants described
in sections 1153(a)(3) and 1153(a)(6) of this title, and
nonpreference immigrants.
Subsec. (a)(20). Pub. L. 89–236, § 10(b), substituted
‘‘1181(a)’’ for ‘‘1181(e)’’.
Subsec. (a)(21). Pub. L. 89–236, § 10(c), struck out
‘‘quota’’ before ‘‘immigrant’’.
Subsec. (a)(24). Pub. L. 89–236, § 10(d), substituted
‘‘other than aliens described in section 1101(a)(27)(A)
and (B)’’ for ‘‘other than those aliens who are nativeborn citizens of countries enumerated in section
1101(a)(27) of this title and aliens described in section
1101(a)(27)(B) of this title’’.
Subsec. (g). Pub. L. 89–236, § 15(c), redesignated subsec. (f) of sec. 212 of the Immigration and Nationality

§ 1182

Act as subsec. (g) thereof, which for purposes of codification had already been designated as subsec. (g) of
this section and granted the Attorney General authority to admit any alien who is the spouse, unmarried son
or daughter, minor adopted child, or parent of a citizen
or lawful permanent resident and who is mentally retarded or has a past history of mental illness under the
same conditions as authorized in the case of such close
relatives afflicted with tuberculosis.
Subsecs. (h), (i). Pub. L. 89–236, § 15(c), redesignated
subsecs. (g) and (h) of sec. 212 of the Immigration and
Nationality Act as subsecs. (h) and (i) respectively
thereof, which for purposes of codification had already
been designated as subsecs. (h) and (i) of this section.
1961—Subsec. (a)(6). Pub. L. 87–301, § 11, struck out references to tuberculosis and leprosy.
Subsec. (a)(9). Pub. L. 87–301, § 13, authorized admission of aliens who would be excluded because of conviction of a violation classifiable as an offense under section 1(3) of title 18, by reason of punishment actually
imposed, or who admit commission of an offense classifiable as a misdemeanor under section 1(2) of title 18,
by reason of punishment which might have been imposed, if otherwise admissible and provided the alien
has committed, or admits to commission of, only one
such offense.
Subsecs. (e), (f). Pub. L. 87–256 added subsec. (e) and
redesignated former subsec. (e) as (f).
Subsecs. (g) to (i). Pub. L. 87–301, §§ 12, 14, 15, added
subsecs. (f) to (h), which for purposes of codification
have been designated as subsecs. (g) to (i).
1960—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 86–648 inserted ‘‘or marihuana’’ after ‘‘narcotic drugs’’ in cl. (23).
1959—Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 86–3 struck out provisions
from cl. (7) which related to aliens who left Hawaii and
to persons who were admitted to Hawaii under section
8(a)(1) of the act of March 24, 1934, or as nationals of the
United States.
1958—Subsec. (d)(7). Pub. L. 85–508 struck out provisions which related to aliens who left Alaska.
1956—Subsec. (a)(23). Act July 18, 1956, included conspiracy to violate a narcotic law, and the illicit possession of narcotics, as additional grounds for exclusion.
CHANGE OF NAME
Committee on Foreign Affairs of House of Representatives changed to Committee on International Relations of House of Representatives by House Resolution
No. 6, One Hundred Fourth Congress, Jan. 4, 1995.
EFFECTIVE AND TERMINATION DATES OF 1994
AMENDMENTS
Section 203(c) of Pub. L. 103–416 provided that: ‘‘The
amendments made by this section [amending this section and section 1251 of this title] shall apply to convictions occurring before, on, or after the date of the enactment of this Act [Oct. 25, 1994].’’
Amendment by section 219(e) of Pub. L. 103–416 effective as if included in the enactment of the Immigration
Act of 1990, Pub. L. 101–649, see section 219(dd) of Pub.
L. 103–416, set out as an Effective Date of 1994 Amendment note under section 1101 of this title.
Section 219(z) of Pub. L. 103–416 provided that the
amendment made by subsec. (z)(1), (5) of that section is
effective as if included in the Miscellaneous and Technical Immigration and Naturalization Amendments of
1991, Pub. L. 102–232.
Section 220(c) of Pub. L. 103–416 provided that: ‘‘The
amendments made by this section [amending this section and section 1184 of this title] shall apply to aliens
admitted to the United States under section
101(a)(15)(J) of the Immigration and Nationality Act [8
U.S.C. 1101(a)(15)(J)], or acquiring such status after admission to the United States, before, on, or after the
date of enactment of this Act [Oct. 25, 1994] and before
June 1, 1996.’’
Section 506(c) of Pub. L. 103–317 provided that: ‘‘The
provisions of these amendments to the Immigration
and Nationality Act [amending this section and section

§ 1182

TITLE 8—ALIENS AND NATIONALITY

1255 of this title] shall take effect on October 1, 1994 and
shall cease to have effect on October 1, 1997.’’
EFFECTIVE DATE OF 1993 AMENDMENT
Section 2007(b) of Pub. L. 103–43 provided that: ‘‘The
amendment made by subsection (a) [amending this section] shall take effect 30 days after the date of the enactment of this Act [June 10, 1993].’’
EFFECTIVE DATE OF 1991 AMENDMENT
Amendment by sections 302(e)(6), 303(a)(5)(B), (6),
(7)(B), 306(a)(10), (12), 307(a)–(g) of Pub. L. 102–232 effective as if included in the enactment of the Immigration
Act of 1990, Pub. L. 101–649, see section 310(1) of Pub. L.
102–232, set out as a note under section 1101 of this title.
Section 302(e)(9) of Pub. L. 102–232 provided that the
amendment made by that section is effective as if included in the Immigration Nursing Relief Act of 1989,
Pub. L. 101–238.
EFFECTIVE DATE OF 1990 AMENDMENT
Amendment by section 162(e)(1) of Pub. L. 101–649 effective Oct. 1, 1991, and applicable beginning with fiscal
year 1992, with general transition provisions and admissibility standards, see section 161(a), (c), (d) of Pub. L.
101–649, set out as a note under section 1101 of this title.
Amendment by section 162(f)(2)(B) of Pub. L. 101–649
applicable as though included in the enactment of Pub.
L. 101–238, see section 162(f)(3) of Pub. L. 101–649, set out
as a note under section 1101 of this title.
Section 202(c) of Pub. L. 101–649 provided that: ‘‘The
amendments made by this section [amending this section and section 1184 of this title] shall take effect 60
days after the date of the enactment of this Act [Nov.
29, 1990].’’
Amendment by section 205(c)(3) of Pub. L. 101–649 effective Oct. 1, 1991, see section 231 of Pub. L. 101–649, set
out as a note under section 1101 of this title.
Section 511(b) of Pub. L. 101–649 provided that: ‘‘The
amendment made by subsection (a) [amending this section] shall apply to admissions occurring after the date
of the enactment of this Act [Nov. 29, 1990].’’
Section 514(b) of Pub. L. 101–649 provided that: ‘‘The
amendment made by subsection (a) [amending this section] shall apply to admissions occurring on or after
January 1, 1991.’’
Amendment by section 601(a), (b), and (d) of Pub. L.
101–649 applicable to individuals entering United States
on or after June 1, 1991, see section 601(e)(1) of Pub. L.
101–649, set out as a note under section 1101 of this title.

Page 100

Nationality Act Amendments of 1986, Pub. L. 99–653, see
section 309(b)(15) of Pub. L. 102–232, set out as an Effective and Termination Dates of 1988 Amendments note
under section 1101 of this title.
EFFECTIVE DATE OF 1986 AMENDMENTS
Amendment by Pub. L. 99–653 applicable to visas issued, and admissions occurring, on or after Nov. 14,
1986, see section 23(a) of Pub. L. 99–653, set out as a note
under section 1101 of this title.
Section 6(c), formerly 6(b), of Pub. L. 99–639, as redesignated and amended by Pub. L. 100–525, § 7(c)(2), Oct.
24, 1988, 102 Stat. 2616, provided that: ‘‘The amendment
made by this section [amending this section] shall
apply to the receipt of visas by, and the admission of,
aliens occurring after the date of the enactment of this
Act [Nov. 10, 1986] based on fraud or misrepresentations
occurring before, on, or after such date.’’
Section 1751(c) of Pub. L. 99–570 provided that: ‘‘The
amendments made by the [sic] subsections (a) and (b) of
this section [amending this section and section 1251 of
this title] shall apply to convictions occurring before,
on, or after the date of the enactment of this section
[Oct. 27, 1986], and the amendments made by subsection
(a) [amending this section] shall apply to aliens entering the United States after the date of the enactment
of this section.’’
EFFECTIVE DATE OF 1984 AMENDMENT
Amendment by Pub. L. 98–473 effective Nov. 1, 1987,
and applicable only to offenses committed after the
taking effect of such amendment, see section 235(a)(1)
of Pub. L. 98–473, set out as an Effective Date note
under section 3551 of Title 18, Crimes and Criminal Procedure.
EFFECTIVE DATE OF 1981 AMENDMENT
Section 5(c) of Pub. L. 97–116 provided that: ‘‘The
amendments made by paragraphs (2), (5), and (6) of subsection (b) [striking out ‘‘including any extension of
the duration thereof under subparagraph (D)’’ in subsec. (j)(1)(C) of this section, amending subsec. (j)(1)(D)
of this section, and enacting subsec. (j)(1)(E) of this section] shall apply to aliens entering the United States as
exchange visitors (or otherwise acquiring exchange visitor status) on or after January 10, 1978.’’
Amendment by Pub. L. 97–116 effective Dec. 29, 1981,
except as provided by section 5(c) of Pub. L. 97–116, see
section 21(a) of Pub. L. 97–116, set out as a note under
section 1101 of this title.

EFFECTIVE DATE OF 1989 AMENDMENT

EFFECTIVE DATE OF 1980 AMENDMENT

Section 3(d) of Pub. L. 101–238 provided that: ‘‘The
amendments made by the previous provisions of this
section [amending this section and section 1101 of this
title] shall apply to classification petitions filed for
nonimmigrant status only during the 5-year period beginning on the first day of the 9th month beginning
after the date of the enactment of this Act [Dec. 18,
1989].’’

Amendment by section 203(d) of Pub. L. 96–212 effective, except as otherwise provided, Apr. 1, 1980, and
amendment by section 203(f) of Pub. L. 96–212 applicable, except as otherwise provided, to aliens paroled into
the United States on or after the sixtieth day after
Mar. 17, 1980, see section 204 of Pub. L. 96–212, set out
as a note under section 1101 of this title.

EFFECTIVE DATE OF 1988 AMENDMENTS
Section 7349(b) of Pub. L. 100–690 provided that: ‘‘The
amendment made by subsection (a) [amending this section] shall apply to any alien convicted of an aggravated felony who seeks admission to the United States
on or after the date of the enactment of this Act [Nov.
18, 1988].’’
Section 3 of Pub. L. 100–525 provided that the amendment made by that section is effective as if included in
the enactment of Pub. L. 99–396.
Section 7(d) of Pub. L. 100–525 provided that: ‘‘The
amendments made by this section [amending this section, sections 1186a and 1255 of this title, and provisions
set out as a note below] shall be effective as if they
were included in the enactment of the Immigration
Marriage Fraud Amendments of 1986 [Pub. L. 99–639].’’
Amendment by section 8(f) of Pub. L. 100–525 effective
as if included in the enactment of the Immigration and

EFFECTIVE DATE OF 1979 AMENDMENT
Amendment by Pub. L. 96–70 effective Sept. 27, 1979,
see section 3201(d)(1) of Pub. L. 96–70, set out as a note
under section 1101 of this title.
Section 3201(d)(2) of Pub. L. 96–70 provided that:
‘‘Paragraph (9) of section 212(d) of the Immigration and
Nationality Act [subsec. (d)(9) of this section], as added
by subsection (b) of this section, shall cease to be effective at the end of the transition period [midnight Mar.
31, 1982, see section 3831 of Title 22, Foreign Relations
and Intercourse].’’
EFFECTIVE DATE OF 1976 AMENDMENTS
Amendment by Pub. L. 94–571 effective on first day of
first month which begins more than sixty days after
Oct. 20, 1976, see section 10 of Pub. L. 94–571, set out as
a note under section 1101 of this title.
Amendment by section 601(d) of Pub. L. 94–484 applicable only on and after Jan. 10, 1978, notwithstanding

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TITLE 8—ALIENS AND NATIONALITY

section 601(f) of Pub. L. 94–484, see section 602(d) of Pub.
L. 94–484, as added by section 307(q)(3) of Pub. L. 95–83,
set out as an Effective Date of 1977 Amendment note
under section 1101 of this title.
Section 601(f) of Pub. L. 94–484 provided that: ‘‘The
amendments made by this section [amending this section and section 1101 of this title] shall take effect
ninety days after the date of enactment of this section
[Oct. 12, 1976].’’
EFFECTIVE DATE OF 1965 AMENDMENT
For effective date of amendment by Pub. L. 89–236 see
section 20 of Pub. L. 89–236, set out as a note under section 1151 of this title.
EFFECTIVE DATE OF 1956 AMENDMENT
Amendment by act July 18, 1956, effective July 19,
1956, see section 401 of act July 18, 1956.
CONSTRUCTION OF 1990 AMENDMENT
Section 302(e)(6) of Pub. L. 102–232 provided that:
‘‘Paragraph (1) of section 162(e) of the Immigration Act
of 1990 [Pub. L. 101–649, amending this section] is repealed, and the provisions of law amended by such
paragraph are restored as though such paragraph had
not been enacted.’’
ASSISTANCE TO DRUG TRAFFICKERS
Pub. L. 103–447, title I, § 107, Nov. 2, 1994, 108 Stat.
4695, provided that: ‘‘The President shall take all reasonable steps provided by law to ensure that the immediate relatives of any individual described in section
487(a) of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 (22 U.S.C.
2291f(a)), and the business partners of any such individual or of any entity described in such section, are not
permitted entry into the United States, consistent with
the provisions of the Immigration and Nationality Act
(8 U.S.C. 1101 et seq.).’’
PROCESSING OF VISAS FOR ADMISSION TO UNITED
STATES
Pub. L. 103–236, title I, § 140(c), Apr. 30, 1994, 108 Stat.
399, as amended by Pub. L. 103–415, § 1(d), Oct. 25, 1994,
108 Stat. 4299, provided that:
‘‘(1)(A) Beginning 24 months after the date of the enactment of this Act [Apr. 30, 1994], whenever a United
States consular officer issues a visa for admission to
the United States, that official shall certify, in writing,
that a check of the Automated Visa Lookout System,
or any other system or list which maintains information about the excludability of aliens under the Immigration and Nationality Act [8 U.S.C. 1101 et seq.], has
been made and that there is no basis under such system
for the exclusion of such alien.
‘‘(B) If, at the time an alien applies for an immigrant
or nonimmigrant visa, the alien’s name is included in
the Department of State’s visa lookout system and the
consular officer to whom the application is made fails
to follow the procedures in processing the application
required by the inclusion of the alien’s name in such
system, the consular officer’s failure shall be made a
matter of record and shall be considered as a serious
negative factor in the officer’s annual performance
evaluation.
‘‘(2) If an alien to whom a visa was issued as a result
of a failure described in paragraph (1)(B) is admitted to
the United States and there is thereafter probable
cause to believe that the alien was a participant in a
terrorist act causing serious injury, loss of life, or significant destruction of property in the United States,
the Secretary of State shall convene an Accountability
Review Board under the authority of title III of the
Omnibus Diplomatic Security and Antiterrorism Act of
1986 [22 U.S.C. 4831 et seq.].’’
ACCESS TO INTERSTATE IDENTIFICATION INDEX OF NATIONAL CRIME INFORMATION CENTER; FINGERPRINT
CHECKS
Pub. L. 103–236, title I, § 140(d)–(g), Apr. 30, 1994, 108
Stat. 400, as amended by Pub. L. 103–317, title V, § 505,
Aug. 26, 1994, 108 Stat. 1765, provided that:

§ 1182

‘‘(d) ACCESS TO THE INTERSTATE IDENTIFICATION
INDEX.—
‘‘(1) Subject to paragraphs (2) and (3), the Department of State Consolidated Immigrant Visa Processing Center shall have on-line access, without payment of any fee or charge, to the Interstate Identification Index of the National Crime Information
Center solely for the purpose of determining whether
a visa applicant has a criminal history record indexed
in such Index. Such access does not entitle the Department of State to obtain the full content of automated records through the Interstate Identification
Index. To obtain the full content of a criminal history record, the Department shall submit a separate
request to the Identification Records Section of the
Federal Bureau of Investigation, and shall pay the
appropriate fee as provided for in the Departments of
Commerce, Justice, and State, the Judiciary, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 1990 (Public Law
101–162) [103 Stat. 988, 998].
‘‘(2) The Department of State shall be responsible
for all one-time start-up and recurring incremental
non-personnel costs of establishing and maintaining
the access authorized in paragraph (1).
‘‘(3) The individual primarily responsible for the
day-to-day implementation of paragraph (1) shall be
an employee of the Federal Bureau of Investigation
selected by the Department of State, and detailed to
the Department on a fully reimbursable basis.
‘‘(e) FINGERPRINT CHECKS.—
‘‘(1) Effective not later than March 31, 1995, the Secretary of State shall in the ten countries with the
highest volume of immigrant visa issuance for the
most recent fiscal year for which data are available
require the fingerprinting of applicants over sixteen
years of age for immigrant visas. The Department of
State shall submit records of such fingerprints to the
Federal Bureau of Investigation in order to ascertain
whether such applicants previously have been convicted of a felony under State or Federal law in the
United States, and shall pay all appropriate fees.
‘‘(2) The Secretary shall prescribe and publish such
regulations as may be necessary to implement the requirements of this subsection, and to avoid undue
processing costs and delays for eligible immigrants
and the United States Government.
‘‘(f) Not later than December 31, 1996, the Secretary
of State and the Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation shall jointly submit to the Committee on
Foreign Affairs [now Committee on International Relations] and the Committee on the Judiciary of the House
of Representatives, and the Committee on Foreign Relations and the Committee on the Judiciary of the Senate, a report on the effectiveness of the procedures authorized in subsections (d) and (e).
‘‘(g) Subsections (d) and (e) shall cease to have effect
after December 31, 1997.’’
VISA LOOKOUT SYSTEMS
Pub. L. 103–236, title I, § 140(b), Apr. 30, 1994, 108 Stat.
399, provided that: ‘‘Not later than 18 months after the
date of the enactment of this Act [Apr. 30, 1994], the
Secretary of State shall implement an upgrade of all
overseas visa lookout operations to computerized systems with automated multiple-name search capabilities.’’
Pub. L. 102–138, title I, § 128, Oct. 28, 1991, 105 Stat. 660,
provided that:
‘‘(a) VISAS.—The Secretary of State may not include
in the Automated Visa Lookout System, or in any
other system or list which maintains information
about the excludability of aliens under the Immigration and Nationality Act [8 U.S.C. 1101 et seq.], the
name of any alien who is not excludable from the
United States under the Immigration and Nationality
Act, subject to the provisions of this section.
‘‘(b) CORRECTION OF LISTS.—Not later than 3 years
after the date of enactment of this Act [Oct. 28, 1991],
the Secretary of State shall—
‘‘(1) correct the Automated Visa Lookout System,
or any other system or list which maintains informa-

§ 1182

TITLE 8—ALIENS AND NATIONALITY

tion about the excludability of aliens under the Immigration and Nationality Act, by deleting the name
of any alien not excludable under the Immigration
and Nationality Act; and
‘‘(2) report to the Congress concerning the completion of such correction process.
‘‘(c) REPORT ON CORRECTION PROCESS.—
‘‘(1) Not later than 90 days after the date of enactment of this Act [Oct. 28, 1991], the Secretary of
State, in coordination with the heads of other appropriate Government agencies, shall prepare and submit to the appropriate congressional committees, a
plan which sets forth the manner in which the Department of State will correct the Automated Visa
Lookout System, and any other system or list as set
forth in subsection (b).
‘‘(2) Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act [Oct. 28, 1991], the Secretary of State
shall report to the appropriate congressional committees on the progress made toward completing the correction of lists as set forth in subsection (b).
‘‘(d) APPLICATION.—This section refers to the Immigration and Nationality Act as in effect on and after
June 1, 1991.
‘‘(e) LIMITATION.—
‘‘(1) The Secretary may add or retain in such system or list the names of aliens who are not excludable only if they are included for otherwise authorized law enforcement purposes or other lawful purposes of the Department of State. A name included
for other lawful purposes under this paragraph shall
include a notation which clearly and distinctly indicates that such person is not presently excludable.
The Secretary of State shall adopt procedures to ensure that visas are not denied to such individuals for
any reason not set forth in the Immigration and Nationality Act [8 U.S.C. 1101 et seq.].
‘‘(2) The Secretary shall publish in the Federal Register regulations and standards concerning maintenance and use by the Department of State of systems
and lists for purposes described in paragraph (1).
‘‘(3) Nothing in this section may be construed as
creating new authority or expanding any existing authority for any activity not otherwise authorized by
law.
‘‘(f) DEFINITION.—As used in this section the term ‘appropriate congressional committees’ means the Committee on the Judiciary and the Committee on Foreign
Affairs [now Committee on International Relations] of
the House of Representatives and the Committee on the
Judiciary and the Committee on Foreign Relations of
the Senate.’’
CHANGES IN LABOR CERTIFICATION PROCESS
Section 122 of Pub. L. 101–649, as amended by Pub. L.
103–416, title II, § 219(ff), Oct. 25, 1995, 108 Stat. 4319, provided that:
‘‘[(a) Repealed. Pub. L. 103–416, title II, § 219(ff), Oct.
25, 1994, 108 Stat. 4319.]
‘‘(b) NOTICE IN LABOR CERTIFICATIONS.—The Secretary
of Labor shall provide, in the labor certification process under section 212(a)(5)(A) of the Immigration and
Nationality Act [8 U.S.C. 1182(a)(5)(A)], that—
‘‘(1) no certification may be made unless the applicant for certification has, at the time of filing the application, provided notice of the filing (A) to the bargaining representative (if any) of the employer’s employees in the occupational classification and area
for which aliens are sought, or (B) if there is no such
bargaining representative, to employees employed at
the facility through posting in conspicuous locations;
and
‘‘(2) any person may submit documentary evidence
bearing on the application for certification (such as
information on available workers, information on
wages and working conditions, and information on
the employer’s failure to meet terms and conditions
with respect to the employment of alien workers and
co-workers).’’

Page 102

REVIEW OF EXCLUSION LISTS
Section 601(c) of Pub. L. 101–649 provided that: ‘‘The
Attorney General and the Secretary of State shall develop protocols and guidelines for updating lookout
books and the automated visa lookout system and
similar mechanisms for the screening of aliens applying for visas for admission, or for admission, to the
United States. Such protocols and guidelines shall be
developed in a manner that ensures that in the case of
an alien—
‘‘(1) whose name is in such system, and
‘‘(2) who either (A) applies for entry after the effective date of the amendments made by this section
[see Effective Date of 1990 Amendment note above], or
(B) requests (in writing to a local consular office
after such date) a review, without seeking admission,
of the alien’s continued excludability under the Immigration and Nationality Act [8 U.S.C. 1101 et seq.],
if the alien is no longer excludable because of an
amendment made by this section the alien’s name shall
be removed from such books and system and the alien
shall be informed of such removal and if the alien continues to be excludable the alien shall be informed of
such determination.’’
IMPLEMENTATION OF REQUIREMENTS FOR ADMISSION OF
NONIMMIGRANT NURSES DURING 5-YEAR PERIOD
Section 3(c) of Pub. L. 101–238 provided that: ‘‘The
Secretary of Labor (in consultation with the Secretary
of Health and Human Services) shall—
‘‘(1) first publish final regulations to carry out section 212(m) of the Immigration and Nationality Act [8
U.S.C. 1182(m)] (as added by this section) not later
than the first day of the 8th month beginning after
the date of the enactment of this Act [Dec. 18, 1989];
and
‘‘(2) provide for the appointment (by January 1,
1991) of an advisory group, including representatives
of the Secretary, the Secretary of Health and Human
Services, the Attorney General, hospitals, and labor
organizations representing registered nurses, to advise the Secretary—
‘‘(A) concerning the impact of this section on the
nursing shortage,
‘‘(B) on programs that medical institutions may
implement to recruit and retain registered nurses
who are United States citizens or immigrants who
are authorized to perform nursing services,
‘‘(C) on the formulation of State recruitment and
retention plans under section 212(m)(3) of the Immigration and Nationality Act, and
‘‘(D) on the advisability of extending the amendments made by this section [amending sections 1101
and 1182 of this title] beyond the 5-year period described in subsection (d) [set out above].’’
PROHIBITION ON EXCLUSION OR DEPORTATION OF ALIENS
ON CERTAIN GROUNDS
Section 901 of Pub. L. 100–204, as amended by Pub. L.
100–461, title V, § 555, Oct. 1, 1988, 102 Stat. 2268–36; Pub.
L. 101–246, title I, § 128, Feb. 16, 1990, 104 Stat. 30, provided that no nonimmigrant alien was to be denied a
visa or excluded from admission into the United States,
or subject to deportation because of any past, current
or expected beliefs, statements or associations which, if
engaged in by a United States citizen in the United
States, would be protected under the Constitution of
the United States, and which provided construction regarding excludable aliens and standing to sue, prior to
repeal by Pub. L. 101–649, title VI, § 603(a)(21), Nov. 29,
1990, 104 Stat. 5084.
REGULATIONS GOVERNING ADMISSION, DETENTION, AND
TRAVEL OF NONIMMIGRANT ALIENS IN GUAM PURSUANT TO VISA WAIVERS
Section 14(b) of Pub. L. 99–396, as amended by Pub. L.
100–525, § 3(1)(B), Oct. 24, 1988, 102 Stat. 2614, directed Attorney General to issue, within 90 days after Aug. 27,
1986, regulations governing the admission, detention,

Page 103

TITLE 8—ALIENS AND NATIONALITY

and travel of nonimmigrant aliens pursuant to the visa
waiver authorized by the amendment made by section
14(a) of Pub. L. 99–396, prior to repeal by Pub. L. 101–649,
title VI, § 603(a)(19), Nov. 29, 1990, 104 Stat. 5084.
ANNUAL REPORT TO CONGRESS ON IMPLEMENTATION OF
PROVISIONS AUTHORIZING WAIVER OF CERTAIN REQUIREMENTS FOR NONIMMIGRANT VISITORS TO GUAM
Section 14(c) of Pub. L. 99–396, as amended by Pub. L.
100–525, § 3(1)(B), (C), Oct. 24, 1988, 102 Stat. 2614, directed Attorney General to submit a report each year
on implementation of 8 U.S.C. 1182(l) to Committees on
the Judiciary and Interior and Insular Affairs of House
of Representatives and Committees on the Judiciary
and Energy and Natural Resources of Senate, prior to
repeal by Pub. L. 101–649, title VI, § 603(a)(19), Nov. 29,
1990, 104 Stat. 5084.
SHARING OF INFORMATION CONCERNING DRUG
TRAFFICKERS
Pub. L. 99–93, title I, § 132, Aug. 16, 1985, 99 Stat. 420,
provided that:
‘‘(a) REPORTING SYSTEMS.—In order to ensure that
foreign narcotics traffickers are denied visas to enter
the United States, as required by section 212(a)(23) of
the Immigration and Naturalization Act (22 [8] U.S.C.
1182(a)(23))—
‘‘(1) the Department of State shall cooperate with
United States law enforcement agencies, including
the Drug Enforcement Administration and the United
States Customs Service, in establishing a comprehensive information system on all drug arrests of foreign
nationals in the United States, so that that information may be communicated to the appropriate United
States embassies; and
‘‘(2) the National Drug Enforcement Policy Board
shall agree on uniform guidelines which would permit
the sharing of information on foreign drug traffickers.
‘‘(b) REPORT.—Not later than six months after the
date of the enactment of this Act [Aug. 16, 1985], the
Chairman of the National Drug Enforcement Policy
Board shall submit a report to the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of Representatives and the
Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate on the
steps taken to implement this section.’’
ADJUSTMENT OF STATUS OF NONIMMIGRANT ALIENS RESIDING IN THE VIRGIN ISLANDS TO PERMANENT RESIDENT ALIEN STATUS
Upon application during the one-year period beginning Sept. 30, 1982, by a nonimmigrant alien worker or
the spouse or minor child of such worker who has resided continuously in the Virgin Islands since June 30,
1975, the Attorney General may adjust the status of
such nonimmigrant alien to that of an alien lawfully
admitted for permanent residence, provided among
other conditions, that the alien is otherwise admissible
to the United States for permanent residence, except
for the grounds of exclusion specified in subsec. (a)(14),
(20), (21), (25), (32) of this section, and such alien is not
to be deported for failure to maintain nonimmigrant
status until final action is taken on the alien’s application for adjustment, see section 2(a), (b) of Pub. L.
97–271, set out as a note under section 1255 of this title.
REFUGEES FROM DEMOCRATIC KAMPUCHEA (CAMBODIA);
TEMPORARY PAROLE INTO UNITED STATES FOR FISCAL
YEARS 1979 AND 1980
Pub. L. 95–431, title VI, § 605, Oct. 10, 1978, 92 Stat.
1045, provided that: ‘‘It is the sense of the Congress
that—
‘‘(1) the Government of the United States should
give special consideration to the plight of refugees
from Democratic Kampuchea (Cambodia) in view of
the magnitude and severity of the violations of
human rights committed by the Government of
Democratic Kampuchea (Cambodia); and
‘‘(2) the Attorney General should exercise his authority under section 212(d)(5) of the Immigration and

§ 1182

Nationality Act [subsec. (d)(5) of this section] to parole into the United States—
‘‘(A) for the fiscal year 1979, 7,500 aliens who are
nationals or citizens of Democratic Kampuchea
(Cambodia) and who are applying for admission to
the United States; and
‘‘(B) for the fiscal year 1980, 7,500 such aliens.’’
RETROACTIVE ADJUSTMENT OF REFUGEE STATUS
Pub. L. 95–412, § 5, Oct. 5, 1978, 92 Stat. 909, as amended
by Pub. L. 96–212, title II, § 203(g), Mar. 17, 1980, 94 Stat.
108, provided that: ‘‘Notwithstanding any other provision of law, any refugee, not otherwise eligible for retroactive adjustment of status, who was or is paroled
into the United States by the Attorney General pursuant to section 212(d)(5) of the Immigration and Nationality Act [subsec. (d)(5) of this section] before April 1,
1980, shall have his status adjusted pursuant to the provisions of section 203(g) and (h) of that Act [section
1153(g) and (h) of this title].’’
REPORT BY ATTORNEY GENERAL TO CONGRESSIONAL
COMMITTEES ON ADMISSION OF CERTAIN EXCLUDABLE
ALIENS
Pub. L. 95–370, title IV, § 401, Sept. 17, 1978, 92 Stat.
627, directed Attorney General, by October 30, 1979, to
report to specific congressional committees on certain
cases of the admission to the United States of aliens
that may have been excludable under section 1182(a)(27)
to (29) of this title.
NATIONAL BOARD OF MEDICAL EXAMINERS EXAMINATION
Section 602(a), (b) of Pub. L. 94–484, as added Pub. L.
95–83, title III, § 307(q)(3), Aug. 1, 1977, 91 Stat. 395, eff.
Jan. 10, 1977, provided that an alien who is a graduate
of a medical school would be considered to have passed
parts I and II of the National Board of Medical Examiners Examination if the alien was on January 9, 1977, a
doctor of medicine fully and permanently licensed to
practice medicine in a State, held on that date a valid
specialty certificate issued by a constituent board of
the American Board of Medical Specialties, and was on
that date practicing medicine in a State, prior to repeal by Pub. L. 97–116, § 5(a)(3), Dec. 29, 1981, 95 Stat.
1612. See subsecs. (a)(32) and (j)(1)(B) of this section.
LABOR CERTIFICATION FOR GRADUATES OF FOREIGN
MEDICAL SCHOOLS; DEVELOPMENT OF DATA BY SECRETARY OF HEALTH, EDUCATION, AND WELFARE NOT
LATER THAN OCT. 12, 1977
Section 906 of Pub. L. 94–484 directed Secretary of
Health, Education, and Welfare, not later than one year
after Oct. 12, 1976, to develop sufficient data to enable
the Secretary of Labor to make equitable determinations with regard to applications for labor certification
by graduates of foreign medical schools, such data to
include the number of physicians (by specialty and by
percent of population) in a geographic area necessary
to provide adequate medical care, including such care
in hospitals, nursing homes, and other health care institutions, in such area.
RESETTLEMENT OF REFUGEE-ESCAPEE; REPORTS; FORMULA; TERMINATION DATE; PERSONS DIFFICULT TO
RESETTLE; CREATION OF RECORD OF ADMISSION FOR
PERMANENT RESIDENCE
Pub. L. 86–648, §§ 1–4, 11, July 14, 1960, 74 Stat. 504, 505,
as amended by Pub. L. 87–510, § 6, June 28, 1962, 76 Stat.
124; Pub. L. 89–236, § 16, Oct. 3, 1965, 79 Stat. 919, provided:
‘‘[SECTION 1. Repealed. Pub. L. 89–236, § 16, Oct. 3, 1965,
79 Stat. 919.]
‘‘[SEC. 2. Repealed. Pub. L. 89–236, § 16, Oct. 3, 1965, 79
Stat. 919.]
‘‘SEC. 3. Any alien who was paroled into the United
States as a refugee-escapee, pursuant to section 1 of the
Act, whose parole has not theretofore been terminated
by the Attorney General pursuant to such regulations
as he may prescribe under the authority of section

§ 1182

TITLE 8—ALIENS AND NATIONALITY

212(d)(5) of the Immigration and Nationality Act [subsec. (d)(5) of this section]; and who has been in the
United States for at least two years, and who has not
acquired permanent residence, shall forthwith return
or be returned to the custody of the Immigration and
Naturalization Service and shall thereupon be inspected and examined for admission into the United
States, and his case dealt with in accordance with the
provisions of sections 235, 236, and 237 of the Immigration and Nationality Act [sections 1225, 1226 and 1227 of
this title].
‘‘SEC. 4. Any alien who, pursuant to section 3 of this
Act, is found, upon inspection by the immigration officer or after hearing before a special inquiry officer, to
be admissible as an immigrant under the Immigration
and Nationality Act [this chapter] at the time of his inspection and examination, except for the fact that he
was not and is not in possession of the documents required by section 212(a)(20) of the said Act [subsec.
(a)(20) of this section], shall be regarded as lawfully admitted to the United States for permanent residence as
of the date of his arrival.
*

*

*

*

*

‘‘[SEC. 11. Repealed. Pub. L. 89-236, § 16, Oct. 3, 1965, 79
Stat. 919.]’’
CREATION OF RECORD OF ADMISSION FOR PERMANENT
RESIDENCE IN THE CASE OF CERTAIN HUNGARIAN REFUGEES

Pub. L. 85–559, July 25, 1958, 72 Stat. 419, provided:
‘‘That any alien who was paroled into the United
States as a refugee from the Hungarian revolution
under section 212(d)(5) of the Immigration and Nationality Act [subsection (d)(5) of this section] subsequent
to October 23, 1956, who has been in the United States
for at least two years, and who has not acquired permanent residence, shall forthwith return or be returned to
the custody of the Immigration and Naturalization
Service, and shall thereupon be inspected and examined
for admission into the United States, and his case dealt
with, in accordance with the provisions of sections 235,
236 and 237 of that Act [sections 1225, 1226 and 1227 of
this title].
‘‘SEC. 2. Any such alien who, pursuant to section 1 of
this Act, is found, upon inspection by an immigration
officer or after hearing before a special inquiry officer,
to have been and to be admissible as an immigrant at
the time of his arrival in the United States and at the
time of his inspection and examination, except for the
fact that he was not and is not in possession of the documents required by section 212(a)(20) of the Immigration and Nationality Act [subsection (a)(20) of this section], shall be regarded as lawfully admitted to the
United States for permanent residence as of the date of
his arrival.
‘‘SEC. 3. Nothing contained in this Act shall be held
to repeal, amend, alter, modify, affect, or restrict the
powers, duties, functions, or authority of the Attorney
General in the administration and enforcement of the
Immigration and Nationality Act [this chapter] or any
other law relating to immigration, nationality, or naturalization.’’
EXECUTIVE ORDER NO. 12324
Ex. Ord. No. 12324, Sept. 29, 1981, 46 F.R. 48109, which
directed Secretary of State to enter into cooperative
arrangements with foreign governments for purpose of
preventing illegal migration to United States by sea,
directed Secretary of the Department in which the
Coast Guard is operating to issue appropriate instructions to Coast Guard to enforce suspension of entry of
undocumented aliens and interdiction of any defined
vessel carrying such aliens, and directed Attorney General to ensure fair enforcement of immigration laws
and strict observance of international obligations of
United States concerning those who genuinely flee persecution in their homeland, was revoked and replaced
by Ex. Ord. No. 12807, § 4, May 24, 1992, 57 F.R. 23134, set
out below.

Page 104

PROC. NO. 4865. HIGH SEAS INTERDICTION OF ILLEGAL
ALIENS
Proc. No. 4865, Sept. 29, 1981, 46 F.R. 48107, provided:
The ongoing migration of persons to the United
States in violation of our laws is a serious national
problem detrimental to the interests of the United
States. A particularly difficult aspect of the problem is
the continuing illegal migration by sea of large numbers of undocumented aliens into the southeastern
United States. These arrivals have severely strained
the law enforcement resources of the Immigration and
Naturalization Service and have threatened the welfare
and safety of communities in that region.
As a result of our discussions with the Governments
of affected foreign countries and with agencies of the
Executive Branch of our Government, I have determined that new and effective measures to curtail these
unlawful arrivals are necessary. In this regard, I have
determined that international cooperation to intercept
vessels trafficking in illegal migrants is a necessary
and proper means of insuring the effective enforcement
of our laws.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, RONALD REAGAN, President
of the United States of America, by the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the statutes of the
United States, including Sections 212(f) and 215(a)(1) of
the Immigration and Nationality Act, as amended (8
U.S.C. 1182(f) and 1185(a)(1)), in order to protect the sovereignty of the United States, and in accordance with
cooperative arrangements with certain foreign governments, and having found that the entry of undocumented aliens, arriving at the borders of the United
States from the high seas, is detrimental to the interests of the United States, do proclaim that:
The entry of undocumented aliens from the high seas
is hereby suspended and shall be prevented by the
interdiction of certain vessels carrying such aliens.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my
hand this twenty-ninth day of September, in the year
of our Lord nineteen hundred and eighty-one, and of
the Independence of the United States of America the
two hundred and sixth.
RONALD REAGAN.
EX. ORD. NO. 12807. INTERDICTION OF ILLEGAL ALIENS
Ex. Ord. No. 12807, May 24, 1992, 57 F.R. 23133, provided:
By the authority vested in me as President by the
Constitution and the laws of the United States of
America, including sections 212(f) and 215(a)(1) of the
Immigration and Nationality Act, as amended (8 U.S.C.
1182(f) and 1185(a)(1)), and whereas:
(1) The President has authority to suspend the entry
of aliens coming by sea to the United States without
necessary documentation, to establish reasonable rules
and regulations regarding, and other limitations on,
the entry or attempted entry of aliens into the United
States, and to repatriate aliens interdicted beyond the
territorial sea of the United States;
(2) The international legal obligations of the United
States under the United Nations Protocol Relating to
the Status of Refugees (U.S. T.I.A.S. 6577; 19 U.S.T.
6223) to apply Article 33 of the United Nations Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees do not extend
to persons located outside the territory of the United
States;
(3) Proclamation No. 4865 [set out above] suspends the
entry of all undocumented aliens into the United
States by the high seas; and
(4) There continues to be a serious problem of persons
attempting to come to the United States by sea without necessary documentation and otherwise illegally;
I, GEORGE BUSH, President of the United States of
America, hereby order as follows:
SECTION 1. The Secretary of State shall undertake to
enter into, on behalf of the United States, cooperative
arrangements with appropriate foreign governments
for the purpose of preventing illegal migration to the
United States by sea.

Page 105

TITLE 8—ALIENS AND NATIONALITY

SEC. 2. (a) The Secretary of the Department in which
the Coast Guard is operating, in consultation, where
appropriate, with the Secretary of Defense, the Attorney General, and the Secretary of State, shall issue appropriate instructions to the Coast Guard in order to
enforce the suspension of the entry of undocumented
aliens by sea and the interdiction of any defined vessel
carrying such aliens.
(b) Those instructions shall apply to any of the following defined vessels:
(1) Vessels of the United States, meaning any vessel
documented or numbered pursuant to the laws of the
United States, or owned in whole or in part by the
United States, a citizen of the United States, or a corporation incorporated under the laws of the United
States or any State, Territory, District, Commonwealth, or possession thereof, unless the vessel has
been granted nationality by a foreign nation in accord
with Article 5 of the Convention on the High Seas of
1958 (U.S. T.I.A.S. 5200; 13 U.S.T. 2312).
(2) Vessels without nationality or vessels assimilated
to vessels without nationality in accordance with paragraph (2) of Article 6 of the Convention on the High
Seas of 1958 (U.S. T.I.A.S. 5200; 13 U.S.T. 2312).
(3) Vessels of foreign nations with whom we have arrangements authorizing the United States to stop and
board such vessels.
(c) Those instructions to the Coast Guard shall include appropriate directives providing for the Coast
Guard:
(1) To stop and board defined vessels, when there is
reason to believe that such vessels are engaged in the
irregular transportation of persons or violations of
United States law or the law of a country with which
the United States has an arrangement authorizing such
action.
(2) To make inquiries of those on board, examine documents and take such actions as are necessary to carry
out this order.
(3) To return the vessel and its passengers to the
country from which it came, or to another country,
when there is reason to believe that an offense is being
committed against the United States immigration
laws, or appropriate laws of a foreign country with
which we have an arrangement to assist; provided, however, that the Attorney General, in his unreviewable
discretion, may decide that a person who is a refugee
will not be returned without his consent.
(d) These actions, pursuant to this section, are authorized to be undertaken only beyond the territorial
sea of the United States.
SEC. 3. This order is intended only to improve the internal management of the Executive Branch. Neither
this order nor any agency guidelines, procedures, instructions, directives, rules or regulations implementing this order shall create, or shall be construed to create, any right or benefit, substantive or procedural (including without limitation any right or benefit under
the Administrative Procedure Act [5 U.S.C. 551 et seq.,
701 et seq.]), legally enforceable by any party against
the United States, its agencies or instrumentalities, officers, employees, or any other person. Nor shall this
order be construed to require any procedures to determine whether a person is a refugee.
SEC. 4. Executive Order No. 12324 is hereby revoked
and replaced by this order.
SEC. 5. This order shall be effective immediately.
GEORGE BUSH.
CROSS REFERENCES
Alien enemies, see section 21 et seq. of Title 50, War
and National Defense.
Alien women, prevention of transportation in foreign
commerce under international agreement, see section
1557 of this title.
Atomic weapons information, waiver of admission requirements, see section 47c of Title 50, War and National Defense.
Bonds—

§ 1182

Bond from nonimmigrant alien as prerequisite to
admission to the United States, see section 1184 of
this title.
Bond or undertaking as prerequisite to admission of
aliens likely to become public charge or with certain physical disabilities, see section 1183 of this
title.
Bond or undertaking as prerequisite to issuance of
visas to aliens with certain physical disabilities
or likely to become public charges, see section
1201 of this title.
Forms to be prescribed by Attorney General, see
section 1103 of this title.
Definition of the term—
Adjacent islands, as used in this subchapter, see
section 1101(b)(5) of this title.
Advocating a doctrine, see section 1101(e)(1) of this
title.
Affiliation, see section 1101(e)(2) of this title.
Alien, see section 1101(a)(3) of this title.
Application for admission, see section 1101(a)(4) of
this title.
Attorney General, see section 1101(a)(5) of this title.
Border crossing identification card, see section
1101(a)(6) of this title.
Child, as used in subchapter III of this chapter, see
section 1101(c)(1) of this title.
Child, as used in this subchapter and subchapter I
of this chapter, see section 1101(b)(1) of this title.
Consular officer, see section 1101(a)(9) of this title.
Doctrine, see section 1101(a)(12) of this title.
Entry, see section 1101(a)(13) of this title.
Foreign state, see section 1101(a)(14) of this title.
Immigrant, see section 1101(a)(15) of this title.
Immigrant visa, see section 1101(a)(16) of this title.
Immigration officer, see section 1101(a)(18) of this
title.
Ineligible to citizenship, see section 1101(a)(19) of
this title.
Lawfully admitted for permanent residence, see
section 1101(a)(20) of this title.
National, see section 1101(a)(21) of this title.
Nonimmigrant alien, see section 1101(a)(15) of this
title.
Nonimmigrant visa, see section 1101(a)(26) of this
title.
Organization, see section 1101(a)(28) of this title.
Parent, as used in subchapter III of this chapter,
see section 1101(c)(2) of this title.
Parent, as used in this subchapter and subchapter I
of this chapter, see section 1101(b)(2) of this title.
Passport, see section 1101(a)(30) of this title.
Permanent, see section 1101(a)(31) of this title.
Person of good moral character, see section 1101(f)
of this title.
Profession, see section 1101(a)(32) of this title.
Residence, see section 1101(a)(33) of this title.
Special immigrant, see section 1101(a)(27) of this
title.
Spouse, see section 1101(a)(35) of this title.
Totalitarian party and totalitarian dictatorship,
see section 1101(a)(37) of this title.
United States, see section 1101(a)(38) of this title.
World communism, see section 1101(a)(40) of this
title.
Deportation for offenses committed after entry into
United States, see section 1251 of this title.
Detention of aliens for observation and examination,
see section 1222 of this title.
Diplomatic and semidiplomatic immunities, see section 1102 of this title.
Espionage and censorship, see section 792 et seq. of
Title 18, Crimes and Criminal Procedure.
Passports and visas, see section 1541 et seq. of Title
18, Crimes and Criminal Procedure.
Principals, see section 2 of Title 18.
Readmission without documentation after temporary
departure, see section 1181 of this title.
Reentry permit, see section 1203 of this title.
Sabotage, see section 2151 et seq. of Title 18, Crimes
and Criminal Procedure.

§§ 1182a to 1182c

TITLE 8—ALIENS AND NATIONALITY

Stowaways on vessels or aircraft, see section 2199 of
Title 18.
Submission of alien seeking immigrant or nonimmigrant visa to physical and mental examination,
see section 1201 of this title.
Treason, sedition and subversive activities, see section 2381 et seq. of Title 18, Crimes and Criminal Procedure.
White slave traffic, see section 2421 et seq. of Title 18.
SECTION REFERRED TO IN OTHER SECTIONS
This section is referred to in sections 1101, 1102, 1153,
1157, 1159, 1160, 1181, 1183, 1184, 1186, 1186a, 1187, 1201, 1222,
1224, 1225, 1226, 1251, 1254, 1254a, 1255, 1255a, 1258, 1259,
1282, 1284, 1322, 1327, 1356 of this title; title 7 section
2015; title 26 section 3304; title 28 section 1821; title 42
sections 602, 615, 1382c, 1382j, 1436a.

§§ 1182a to 1182c. Repealed. Pub. L. 87–301,
§ 24(a)(1), (3), Sept. 26, 1961, 75 Stat. 657
Section 1182a, act Sept. 3, 1954, ch. 1254, § 4, 68 Stat.
1145, related to admission of aliens who were either
convicted, or who admitted the commission, of a misdemeanor. See section 1182(a)(9) of this title.
Section 1182b, Pub. L. 85–316, § 5, Sept. 11, 1957, 71
Stat. 640, permitted admission of an alien spouse, child
or parent excludable for crime involving moral turpitude in cases of hardship, when not contrary to national welfare or security, and with Attorney General’s
consent, and under conditions and procedures prescribed by him. See section 1182(h) of this title.
Section 1182c, Pub. L. 85–316, § 6, Sept. 11, 1957, 71 Stat.
640; Pub. L. 86–253, § 1, Sept. 9, 1959, 73 Stat. 490, authorized admission of an alien spouse, child, or parent of a
United States citizen afflicted with tuberculosis under
terms, conditions and controls prescribed by Attorney
General. See section 1182(g) of this title.

§ 1183. Admission of aliens on giving bond or
undertaking; return upon permanent departure
An alien excludable under paragraph (4) of section 1182(a) of this title may, if otherwise admissible, be admitted in the discretion of the Attorney General upon the giving of a suitable and
proper bond or undertaking approved by the Attorney General, in such amount and containing
such conditions as he may prescribe, to the
United States, and to all States, territories,
counties, towns, municipalities, and districts
thereof holding the United States and all States,
territories, counties, towns, municipalities, and
districts thereof harmless against such alien becoming a public charge. Such bond or undertaking shall terminate upon the permanent departure from the United States, the naturalization, or the death of such alien, and any sums or
other security held to secure performance thereof, except to the extent forfeited for violation of
the terms thereof, shall be returned to the person by whom furnished, or to his legal representatives. Suit may be brought thereon in the name
and by the proper law officers of the United
States for the use of the United States, or of any
State, territory, district, county, town, or municipality in which such alien becomes a public
charge, irrespective of whether a demand for
payment of public expenses has been made.
(June 27, 1952, ch. 477, title II, ch. 2, § 213, 66 Stat.
188; July 10, 1970, Pub. L. 91–313, § 1, 84 Stat. 413;
Nov. 29, 1990, Pub. L. 101–649, title VI, § 603(a)(8),
104 Stat. 5083.)

Page 106

AMENDMENTS
1990—Pub. L. 101–649 substituted ‘‘(4)’’ for ‘‘(7) or (15)’’
and inserted before period at end ‘‘, irrespective of
whether a demand for payment of public expenses has
been made’’ after ‘‘becomes a public charge’’.
1970—Pub. L. 91–313 substituted provisions admitting,
under the specified conditions, an alien excludable
under pars. (7) or (15) of section 1182(a) of this title, for
provisions admitting, under the specified conditions,
any alien excludable because of the likelihood of becoming a public charge or because of physical disability other than tuberculosis in any form, leprosy, or a
dangerous contagious disease, and struck out provisions authorizing a cash deposit with the Attorney
General in lieu of a bond, such amount to be deposited
in the United States Postal Savings System, and provisions that the admission of the alien be consideration
for the giving of the bond, undertaking, or cash deposit.
EFFECTIVE DATE OF 1990 AMENDMENT
Amendment by Pub. L. 101–649 applicable to individuals entering United States on or after June 1, 1991, see
section 601(e)(1) of Pub. L. 101–649, set out as a note
under section 1101 of this title.
CROSS REFERENCES
Bonds—
Bond from nonimmigrant alien as prerequisite to
admission to the United States, see section 1184 of
this title.
Bond or undertaking as prerequisite to issuance of
visas to aliens with certain physical disabilities
or those likely to become public charges, see section 1201 of this title.
Exaction from excludable aliens applying for temporary admission, see section 1182 of this title.
Forms to be prescribed by Attorney General, see
section 1103 of this title.
Definition of alien and Attorney General, see section
1101 of this title.
Nationality and naturalization, see section 1401 et
seq. of this title.
SECTION REFERRED TO IN OTHER SECTIONS
This section is referred to in section 1201 of this title.

§ 1184. Admission of nonimmigrants
(a) Regulations
(1) The admission to the United States of any
alien as a nonimmigrant shall be for such time
and under such conditions as the Attorney General may by regulations prescribe, including
when he deems necessary the giving of a bond
with sufficient surety in such sum and containing such conditions as the Attorney General
shall prescribe, to insure that at the expiration
of such time or upon failure to maintain the
status under which he was admitted, or to maintain any status subsequently acquired under section 1258 of this title, such alien will depart
from the United States. No alien admitted to
Guam without a visa pursuant to section 1182(l)
of this title may be authorized to enter or stay
in the United States other than in Guam or to
remain in Guam for a period exceeding fifteen
days from date of admission to Guam. No alien
admitted to the United States without a visa
pursuant to section 1187 of this title may be authorized to remain in the United States as a
nonimmigrant visitor for a period exceeding 90
days from the date of admission.
(2)(A) The period of authorized status as a nonimmigrant described in section 1101(a)(15)(O) of
this title shall be for such period as the Attor-