Agency Information Collection Activities; Extension, Without Change, of a Currently Approved Collection; Request for Fee Waiver; Request for Fee Exemption, 2814-2815 [2018-00830]

Agencies

• DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY
• U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services

[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 13 (Friday, January 19, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Pages 2814-2815]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-00830]


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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services

[OMB Control Number 1615-0116]


Agency Information Collection Activities; Extension, Without 
Change, of a Currently Approved Collection; Request for Fee Waiver; 
Request for Fee Exemption

AGENCY: U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, Department of 
Homeland Security.

ACTION: 30-Day notice.

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SUMMARY: The Department of Homeland Security (DHS), U.S. Citizenship 
and Immigration Services (USCIS) will be submitting the following 
information collection request to the Office of Management and Budget 
(OMB) for review and clearance in accordance with the Paperwork 
Reduction Act of 1995. The purpose of this notice is to allow an 
additional 30 days for public comments.

DATES: The purpose of this notice is to allow an additional 30 days for 
public comments. Comments are encouraged and will be accepted until 
February 20, 2018. This process is conducted in accordance with 5 CFR 
1320.10.

ADDRESSES: Written comments and/or suggestions regarding the item(s) 
contained in this notice, especially regarding the estimated public 
burden and associated response time, must be directed to the OMB USCIS 
Desk Officer via email at [email protected]. Comments may 
also be submitted via fax at (202) 395-5806. (This is not a toll-free 
number.) All submissions received must include the agency name and the 
OMB Control Number 1615-0116.
    You may wish to consider limiting the amount of personal 
information that you provide in any voluntary submission you make. For 
additional information please read the Privacy Act notice that is 
available via the link in the footer of https://www.regulations.gov.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: USCIS, Office of Policy and Strategy, 
Regulatory Coordination Division, Samantha Deshommes, Chief, 20 
Massachusetts Avenue NW., Washington, DC 20529-2140, Telephone number 
(202) 272-8377 (This is not a toll-free number; comments are not 
accepted via telephone message.). Please note contact information 
provided here is solely for questions regarding this notice. It is not 
for individual case status inquiries. Applicants seeking information 
about the status of their individual cases can check Case Status 
Online, available at the USCIS website at https://www.uscis.gov, or call 
the USCIS National Customer Service Center at (800) 375-5283; TTY (800) 
767-1833.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Comments

    The information collection notice was previously published in the 
Federal Register on October 11, 2017, at 82 FR 47234, allowing for a 
60-day public comment period. USCIS did receive two comments in 
connection with the 60-day notice.
    You may access the information collection instrument with 
instructions, or additional information by visiting the Federal 
eRulemaking Portal site at: https://www.regulations.gov and enter USCIS-
2010-0008 in the search box. Written comments and suggestions from the 
public and affected agencies should address one or more of the 
following four points:
    (1) Evaluate whether the proposed collection of information is 
necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the agency, 
including whether the information will have practical utility;
    (2) Evaluate the accuracy of the agency's estimate of the burden of 
the proposed collection of information, including the validity of the 
methodology and assumptions used;
    (3) Enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to 
be collected; and
    (4) Minimize the burden of the collection of information on those 
who are to respond, including through the use of appropriate automated, 
electronic, mechanical, or other

[[Page 2815]]

technological collection techniques or other forms of information 
technology, e.g., permitting electronic submission of responses.

Overview of This Information Collection

    (1) Type of Information Collection Request: Extension, Without 
Change, of a Currently Approved Collection.
    (2) Title of the Form/Collection: Request for Fee Waiver; Request 
for Fee Exemption
    (3) Agency form number, if any, and the applicable component of the 
DHS sponsoring the collection: Form I-912; USCIS.
    (4) Affected public who will be asked or required to respond, as 
well as a brief abstract: Primary: Individuals or households. USCIS 
uses the data collected on this form to verify that the applicant is 
unable to pay for the immigration benefit being requested. USCIS will 
consider waiving a fee for an application or petition when the 
applicant or petitioner clearly demonstrates that he or she is unable 
to pay the fee. The regulations do not require that requests for fee 
waivers be submitted on a particular form prescribed by DHS, thus the 
applicant may request that the fee be waived by attaching a written 
request to the front of their immigration benefit request. Fee waivers 
may also be requested by completing and submitting Form I-912. Form I-
912 standardizes the collection and analysis of statements and 
supporting documentation provided by the applicant with the fee waiver 
request. Form I-912 also streamlines and expedites the USCIS review, 
approval, or denial of the fee waiver request by clearly laying out the 
most salient data and evidence necessary for the determination of 
inability to pay. Officers evaluate all factors, circumstances, and 
evidence supplied in support of a fee waiver request when making a 
final determination. Each case is unique and is considered on its own 
merits. If the fee waiver is granted, the application will be 
processed. If the fee waiver is not granted, USCIS will notify the 
applicant and instruct him or her to file a new application with the 
appropriate fee.
    Certain applications and petitions may allow for filing of fee 
exemptions; the specific forms have information regarding the option 
and the requirements to request an exemption.
    (5) An estimate of the total number of respondents and the amount 
of time estimated for an average respondent to respond: The estimated 
total number of respondents for the information collection Form I-912 
is 594,000 and the estimated hour burden per response is 1.17. The 
estimated total number of respondents for the information collection 
Non-form request for fee waiver is 8,400 and the estimated hour burden 
per response is 1.17. The estimated total number of respondents for the 
information collection 8 CFR 103.7(d) Director's exception request is 
128 and the estimated hour burden per response is 1.17.
    (6) An estimate of the total public burden (in hours) associated 
with the collection: The total estimated annual hour burden associated 
with this collection is 704,958 hours.
    (7) An estimate of the total public burden (in cost) associated 
with the collection: The estimated total annual cost burden associated 
with this collection is $2,259,480.

    Dated: January 12, 2018.
Samantha Deshommes,
Chief, Regulatory Coordination Division, Office of Policy and Strategy, 
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, Department of Homeland 
Security.
[FR Doc. 2018-00830 Filed 1-18-18; 8:45 am]
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