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30-Day Notice of Proposed Information Collection: Petition To Classify Special Immigrant Under INA 203(b)(4) as an Emplo

🇺🇸 United StatesPermanent Residence1 recorded versionLast change 29 Jul 2026
ConfidenceVery high · 100%

Current rules

The new rule focuses on the continuation of the information collection for Form DS-1884, titled 'Petition to Classify Special Immigrant Under INA 203(b)(4) as an Employee or Former Employee of the U.S. Government Abroad, or the Surviving Spouse or Child of an Employee of the U.S. Government Abroad.' This form is utilised for aliens seeking employment-based immigrant visa preference under specific provisions of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA). The Department of State (DOS) is soliciting public comments to evaluate the necessity, accuracy of burden estimates, quality, and clarity of the information collected, and to minimise the reporting burden using modern techniques. The current approval of this collection is being extended.

Overview

The U.S. Department of State (DOS) has issued a 30-day notice for public comment regarding the extension of an existing information collection. This collection pertains to the Petition to Classify Special Immigrant Under INA 203(b)(4) for current or former U.S. Government employees abroad, or their surviving spouses or children. The notice is part of the standard review process under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995.

Who is affected by the latest change

  • Employees or former employees of the U.S. Government abroad
  • Surviving spouses or children of U.S. Government employees abroad

What changed in the latest version

Before

The old rule used Form DS-1884. People used this form to ask for special immigrant status under section 203(b)(4) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA). This applied to employees or former employees of the U.S. Government who worked abroad, or their eligible family members. The way this information was collected was approved before. This new notice is about extending that approval.

After

The new rule continues the way information is collected for Form DS-1884. This form is called 'Petition to Classify Special Immigrant Under INA 203(b)(4) as an Employee or Former Employee of the U.S. Government Abroad, or the Surviving Spouse or Child of an Employee of the U.S. Government Abroad'. People who are not citizens of the U.S. — legally called aliens — use this form. They want an employment-based immigrant visa preference under specific parts of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA). The U.S. Department of State (DOS) is asking the public for comments. They want to check if the information collected is needed. They also want to check if the estimated time it takes to fill out the form is correct. They want to ensure the information is good quality and clear. They also want to find ways to make it easier to provide this information, using modern methods. The approval for collecting this information is being extended.

This notice is important because it lets the public comment on an existing immigration request process. Your comments can directly affect how the U.S. Department of State (DOS) looks at how efficient and clear the DS-1884 form is. If you are applying, or you are a lawyer, or an organisation involved in special immigrant requests, your feedback can help. It can help make sure the collection process is needed, correct, and reduces the effort for people providing information. This public involvement is key to keeping things open and improving how special immigrant classifications are handled.

Explained simply

Imagine the U.S. Department of State (DOS) has a form, DS-1884, that people use to apply for a special type of green card. This green card is for those who worked for the U.S. government abroad, or their surviving family members. Think of it like a survey the government sends out regularly to check if its forms are still working well. They want to make sure the questions are clear, the process isn't too much trouble for you, and it's still needed. This notice is like a public announcement saying, 'Hey everyone, we're planning to keep using this form, but we want your ideas on how to make it even better or if it's still necessary.' You have a chance to tell them if the form is complicated or takes too long. Your feedback helps them improve how they collect information, making things smoother for future applicants.

Version history

  1. v1Issued 29 Jul 2026ConsultationLow impact
    30-Day Notice of Proposed Information Collection: Petition To Classify Special Immigrant Under INA 203(b)(4) as an Employee or Former Employee of the U.S. Government Abroad, or the Surviving Spouse or Child of an Employee of the U.S. Govern

    The Department of State has put out a 30-day notice. It is about collecting information for special immigrant requests. These requests fall under section 203(b)(4) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA). This policy affects current or former employees of the U.S. Government who worked outside the country, or their surviving husbands, wives, or children. They are looking for special immigrant status.

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