{"abstract":"This rule amends the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) regulations to provide that organizations previously authorized to issue health care worker certifications will continue to be permitted to issue certifications for a temporary period of time, and to set up procedures for authorizing organizations to issue the certificates, including an appeals process in the event that requests for authorization are denied. In addition, this rule adds the requirement that all nonimmigrants coming to the United States for the primary purpose of performing labor as health care workers, including those seeking a change of nonimmigrant status, be required to submit a health care worker certification. Publication of this rule will ensure more uniformity in the adjudication of petitions and admissibility determinations for aliens seeking to enter the United States to engage in labor as health care workers. On March 1, 2003, the former Immigration and Naturalization Service (Service) transferred from the Department of Justice to the DHS, pursuant to the Homeland Security Act of 2002 (Public Law 107-296). Accordingly, the Service's adjudications functions transferred to the Bureau of Citizenship and Immigration Services (BCIS) of the DHS, and the Service's inspections functions transferred to the Bureau of Customs and Border Protection (CBP). The DHS now has the authority to make revisions to what were previously Service regulations. For the sake of simplicity, this rule will no longer refer to the Service but rather DHS, even though meetings and publication of the previous interim rules, publication of the proposed rule, and receipt of comments took place under the Service prior to March 1, 2003.","action":"Final rule.","agencies":[{"raw_name":"DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY","name":"Homeland Security Department","id":227,"url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/agencies/homeland-security-department","json_url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/api/v1/agencies/227","parent_id":null,"slug":"homeland-security-department"}],"body_html_url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/full_text/html/2003/07/25/03-18710.html","cfr_references":[{"chapter":null,"citation_url":null,"part":103,"title":8},{"chapter":null,"citation_url":null,"part":212,"title":8},{"chapter":null,"citation_url":null,"part":214,"title":8},{"chapter":null,"citation_url":null,"part":245,"title":8},{"chapter":null,"citation_url":null,"part":248,"title":8},{"chapter":null,"citation_url":null,"part":299,"title":8}],"citation":"68 FR 43901","comment_url":null,"comments_close_on":null,"correction_of":null,"corrections":[],"dates":"This final rule is effective on September 23, 2003.","disposition_notes":null,"docket_ids":["CIS No. 2080-00"],"dockets":[],"document_number":"03-18710","effective_on":"2003-09-23","end_page":43921,"executive_order_notes":null,"executive_order_number":null,"full_text_xml_url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/full_text/xml/2003/07/25/03-18710.xml","html_url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2003/07/25/03-18710/certificates-for-certain-health-care-workers","images":{},"images_metadata":{},"json_url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/api/v1/documents/03-18710?publication_date=2003-07-25","mods_url":"https://www.govinfo.gov/metadata/granule/FR-2003-07-25/03-18710/mods.xml","not_received_for_publication":null,"page_length":21,"page_views":{"count":1099,"last_updated":"2026-07-27 12:15:04 -0400"},"pdf_url":"https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2003-07-25/pdf/03-18710.pdf","presidential_document_number":null,"proclamation_number":null,"public_inspection_pdf_url":null,"publication_date":"2003-07-25","raw_text_url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/full_text/text/2003/07/25/03-18710.txt","regulation_id_number_info":{"1615-AA10":{"issue":"200304","html_url":"https://www.federalregister.gov/regulations/1615-AA10/certification-of-certain-health-care-workers","title":"Certification of Certain Health Care Workers","xml_url":"http://www.reginfo.gov/public/do/eAgendaViewRule?pubId=200304&RIN=1615-AA10&operation=OPERATION_EXPORT_XML","priority_category":"Other Significant"}},"regulation_id_numbers":["1615-AA10"],"regulations_dot_gov_info":{},"regulations_dot_gov_url":null,"significant":true,"signing_date":null,"start_page":43901,"subtype":null,"title":"Certificates for Certain Health Care Workers","toc_doc":"Health care worker certificates","toc_subject":"Immigration:","topics":["Administrative practice and procedure","Aliens","Authority delegations (Government agencies)","Employment","Foreign officials","Freedom of information","Health professions","Immigration","Passports and visas","Privacy","Reporting and recordkeeping requirements","Students","Surety bonds"],"type":"Rule","volume":68}