February 15, 2003	Saturday	Zul Hijjah 13, 1423

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WASHINGTON, Feb 14: The Bush administration has extended registration period for Pakistanis for four weeks, US officials told Dawn on Friday.

Pakistan was added to the Immigration and Naturalization Service registration list on Dec 18, and Pakistanis have to register with the INS by Feb 21.

An official announcement is expected late on Friday.

“We are aware of the concerns of the Pakistan government,” said a senior State Department official.

US officials say they also are considering proposals to accommodate those Pakistanis who had applied for adjustment of their status under a general amnesty offered by the Clinton administration.

There are two types of people under this category: those who applied for labour certification and their cases are still in the Labour Department; and those whose cases are now with the INS.

Those whose cases are still in the Labour Department will not be ordered to leave the country right away. Instead they will be given six months to a year to appear before a judge and fix their status.

Those who have already been certified by the Labour Department and their cases are now with the INS will not face deportation proceedings. When they appear for registration, they will be asked to reappear after some time for review of their 245-I amnesty applications. INS officials will also be lenient in dealing with those on student, professional and work visas (J-1, F-1 and H-1).