2018-00215. Agency Information Collection Activities; Revision of a Currently Approved Collection: Application for T Nonimmigrant Status; Application for Immediate Family Member of T-1 Recipient; and Declaration of Law Enforcement Officer for Victim ...

AGENCY:

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

ACTION:

60-day notice.

SUMMARY:

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS), U.S. Citizenship and Immigration (USCIS) invites the general public and other Federal agencies to comment upon this proposed revision of a currently approved collection of information. In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) of 1995, the information collection notice is published in the Federal Register to obtain comments regarding the nature of the information collection, the categories of respondents, the estimated burden (i.e. the time, effort, and resources used by the respondents to respond), the estimated cost to the respondent, and the actual information collection instruments.

DATES:

Comments are encouraged and will be accepted for 60 days until March 12, 2018.

ADDRESSES:

All submissions received must include the OMB Control Number 1615-0099 in the body of the letter, the agency name and Docket ID USCIS-2006-0059. To avoid duplicate submissions, please use only one of the following methods to submit comments:

(1) Online. Submit comments via the Federal eRulemaking Portal website at http://www.regulations.gov under e-Docket ID number USCIS-2006-0059;

(2) Mail. Submit written comments to DHS, USCIS, Office of Policy and Strategy, Chief, Regulatory Coordination Division, 20 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20529-2140.

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 http://www.uscis.gov,, or call the USCIS National Customer Service Center at 800-375-5283 (TTY 800-767-1833).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

On December 19, 2016, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) published an interim final rule (2016 interim rule) amending its regulations governing the requirements and procedures for victims of human trafficking seeking T nonimmigrant status. Classification for Victims of Severe Forms of Trafficking in Persons; Eligibility for “T” Nonimmigrant Status, 81 FR 92266 (Dec. 19, 2016). The 2016 interim rule amended the regulations to conform with legislation enacted after the initial regulations were published and the T nonimmigrant status program was established in 2002. When DHS published the 2016 interim rule DHS made changes to the Application for T Nonimmigrant Status, Form I-914; Application for Family Member of T-1 Recipient, Form I-914 Supplement A; Declaration of Law Enforcement Office for Victim of Trafficking in Persons, Form I-914, Supplement B; and the associated form instructions. Commenters on the interim rule suggested specific revisions to the forms. DHS is now proposing additional changes to the forms and requesting comments from the public on the changes. DHS will respond to comments and recommendations for each form or supplement provided in response to the 2016 interim rule and this notice and explain any changes it is making when it publishes the final rule adopting the 2016 interim rule.

Comments

You may access the information collection instrument with instructions, or additional information by visiting the Federal eRulemaking Portal site at: http://www.regulations.gov and enter USCIS-2006-0059 in the search box. Regardless of the method used for submitting comments or material, all submissions will be posted, without change, to the Federal eRulemaking Portal at http://www.regulations.gov,, and will include any personal information you provide. Therefore, submitting this information makes it public. You may wish to consider limiting the amount of personal information that you provide in any voluntary submission you make to DHS. DHS may withhold information provided in comments from public viewing that it determines may impact the privacy of an individual or is offensive. For additional information, please read the Privacy Act notice that is available via the link in the footer of http://www.regulations.gov.

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 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: Revision of a Currently Approved Collection.

(2) Title of the Form/Collection: Application for T Nonimmigrant Status; Application for Immediate Family Member of T-1 Recipient; and Declaration of Law Enforcement Officer for Victim of Trafficking in Persons, Form I-914 and Supplements A and B.

(3) Agency form number, if any, and the applicable component of the DHS sponsoring the collection: Form I-914 and Supplements A and B USCIS.

(4) Affected public who will be asked or required to respond, as well as a brief abstract: Primary: Individuals or households. Individuals or households. Form I-914 permits victims of severe forms of trafficking and their immediate family members to demonstrate that they qualify for temporary nonimmigrant status pursuant to the Victims of Trafficking and Violence Protection Act of 2000 (VTVPA), and to receive temporary immigration benefits.

(5) An estimate of the total number of respondents and the amount of time estimated for an average respondent to respond: Form I-914, 931 responses at 2 hours and 20 minutes (2.33 hours) per response; Supplement A, 940 responses at 1 hour and 10 minutes (1.17 hours) per response; Supplement B—Law Enforcement Officer, 250 responses at 3 hours and 30 minutes (3.50 hours) per response; Supplement B—Law Enforcement Officer, 250 responses at 15 minutes (.25 hours) per response. Biometric processing 1,621 respondents requiring Biometric Processing at an estimated 1 hour and 10 minutes (1.17 hours) per response.

(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 6,104 hours.

(7) An estimate of the total public burden (in cost) associated with the collection: The estimated annual cost burden associated with this collection of information is $1,870,850.

Dated: January 4, 2018.

Samantha Deshommes,

Chief, Regulatory Coordination Division, Office of Policy and Strategy, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, Department of Homeland Security.