U.S. Department of Justice
Immigration and Naturalization Service

April I7, 2000

HQ 70/6.2.8

Ms. Traci Hong
American Immigration Law Foundation
1300 Eye Street, NW
Suite 490 E
Washington DC 20005

Dear Ms. Hong:

This refers to your letter of March 15 regarding section 343 of the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act (IIRIRA).  I have been asked to respond to your letter because it falls within an area under my jurisdiction.

As you correctly note in your letter, the Service has not yet published a rule implementing section 343 in full. The Service has, however, published two interim rules in order to ease the backlog of pending adjustment cases for aliens seeking permanent residency in the United States to work as nurses, occupational therapists, and physical therapists. The Service remains actively involved in drafting a regulation that will implement section 343 in full. The Service will publish a rule addressing section 343 in the near future.

I certainly appreciate your interest in this matter.

Sincerely,

/s/Efren Hernandez
Acting Branch Chief
Business and Trade Services