2013-01218. Agency Information Collection Activities: Immigrant Petition for Alien Workers, Form I-140; Revision of a Currently Approved Collection

ACTION:

30-Day notice.

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 information collection notice was previously published in the Federal Register on October 30, 2012, at 77 FR 65706, allowing for a 60-day public comment period. USCIS received three public comment submissions in connection with the 60-day notice.

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 22, 2013. This process is conducted in accordance with 5 CFR 1320.10.

ADDRESSES:

All 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 [e-mail]. The comments submitted to the OMB USCIS Desk Officer may also be submitted to DHS via the Federal eRulemaking Portal Web site at http://www.regulations.gov under e-Docket ID number USCIS-2007-0018 or via email at [e-mail]. All submissions received must include the agency name and the OMB Control Number 1615-0015.

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. For additional information please read the Privacy Act notice that is available via the link in the footer of http://www.regulations.gov.

Note:

The address listed in this notice should only be used to submit comments concerning this information collection. Please do not submit requests for individual case status inquiries to this address. If you are seeking information about the status of your individual case, please check “My Case Status” online at: https://egov.uscis.gov/​cris/​Dashboard.do,, or call the USCIS National Customer Service Center at 1-800-375-5283.

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 Request: Revision of a Currently Approved Collection.

(2) Title of the Form/Collection: Immigrant Petition for Alien Worker.

(3) Agency form number, if any, and the applicable component of the DHS sponsoring the collection: Form I-140; USCIS.

(4) Affected public who will be asked or required to respond, as well as a brief abstract: Primary: Business or other for-profit. The information furnished on Form I-140 will be used by USCIS to classify aliens under sections 203(b)(1), 203(b)(2) or 203(b)(3) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (Act).

(5) An estimate of the total number of respondents and the amount of time estimated for an average respondent to respond: 77,149 at 1.08 hours (1 hour 5 minutes). This is a change from the estimated number of respondents in the 60-day Federal Register notice published on October 30, 2012, at 77 FR 65706 which estimated the number of respondents at 81,678. This change in the estimated number of respondents is due to a change in agency estimates based on updated FY2013 statistical data.

(6) An estimate of the total public burden (in hours) associated with the collection: 83,320.92 annual burden hours. This is a change from the estimated total public burden hours reported in 60-day Federal Register notice published on October 30, 2012 at 77 FR 65706, which estimated the total annual burden associated with this collection to be 88,212 hours. This change in the total annual burden hours can be attributed to the adjustment in the agency estimates on the number of respondents noted above.

If you need a copy of the information collection instrument with supplementary documents, or need additional information, please visit http://www.regulations.gov. We may also be contacted at: USCIS, Office of Policy and Strategy, Regulatory Coordination Division, 20 Massachusetts Avenue NW., Washington, DC 20529-2134; Telephone [phone].

Dated: January 16, 2013.

Laura Dawkins,

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