94-457-619 Me. Code R. § 1

Current through 2024-51, December 18, 2024
Section 457-619-1 - DEFINITIONS
A. Certain terms used in this rule, which are defined in the Finance Authority of Maine Act, 10 M.R.S.A. §961et seq. and in 10 M.R.S.A. Chapter 110, subchapter 13, shall have the meanings set forth therein, unless clearly specified otherwise or unless the context clearly indicates otherwise.
B.Defined Terms
1. "Authority" means the Finance Authority of Maine
2. "Borrower" means any applicant who incurs indebtedness from the Authority for a loan under the program.
3. "Chief Executive Officer" means the chief executive officer of the Authority or a person acting under the supervisory control of the chief executive officer.
4. "Eligible costs" means the following costs incurred or to be incurred by an applicant prior to their obtaining a work permit and incurred or to be incurred for the purpose of improving the applicant's work-readiness once they obtain a work permit:
(a) Costs of translating into English any diplomas, transcripts, certifications or other proof of trainings or experience in trades, or other documents establishing courses studied or the completion of secondary school or of higher education at either the undergraduate or graduate level;
(b) Fees related to education evaluations establishing the equivalency level of education or experience attained abroad;
(c) Costs of translation into English of documents related to professional licenses, registrations or certifications of trainings or other experience obtained abroad;
(d) Costs of translation into English of letters of reference or recommendations related to education or experience obtained abroad;
(e) Fees related to test preparation courses or registration fees for a standard test of English as a foreign language such as the Test of English as a Foreign Language® (TOEFL) or other standardized test recognized worldwide that measures English language proficiency, when necessary for an immigrant's work;
(f) Expenses for employment or professional applications, certifications, licensing fees and related requirements for seeking employment, including but not limited to fingerprinting and required tests;
(g) Fees related to obtaining a Maine driver's license, including a commercial driver's license, including but not limited to driver's education course fees, learner's permit application fees and driver's license fees;
(h) Costs to travel to the nearest location of any exam or test needed to establish the applicant's skills or credentials or English language proficiency, such as the TOEFL, if there is no location within sixty miles of the Maine town in which the immigrant resides; and
(i) Costs of a filing fee required by the United States Department of Homeland Security, United States Citizenship and Immigration Services, or any successor federal agency, to apply for the immigrant's initial work permit.
5. "Fund" means the Foreign Credentialing and Skills Recognition Revolving Loan Program Fund established at 10 M.R.S.A. §1100-AA.
6. "Immigrant" means a person who:
(a) Is not a United States citizen;
(b) Has filed applications or petitions with the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services or with the immigration courts of the United States Department of Justice, Executive Office for Immigration Review or with any successor federal immigration authority entitling the person to request a work permit while the person's applications or petitions are pending; and
(c) Has received education, work experience or work training, or any combination, in a foreign country.
7. "Initial work permit" means the first work permit that the immigrant is authorized to apply for under 8 Code of Federal Regulations, Section 274a.12(c) (2019).
8. "Program" means the Foreign Credentialing and Skills Recognition Revolving Loan Program, established at 10 M.R.S.A. §1100-AA.
9. "Work permit" means a document provided by the United States Department of Homeland Security or any other federal immigration authority confirming a federal authorization of a person who is not a United States citizen to work in the United States.

94-457 C.M.R. ch. 619, § 1