99-32485. Adjustment of Small Volume Application Fees of the Immigration Examinations Fee Account  

  • [Federal Register Volume 64, Number 240 (Wednesday, December 15, 1999)]
    [Rules and Regulations]
    [Pages 69883-69888]
    From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
    [FR Doc No: 99-32485]
    
    
    
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    Federal Register / Vol. 64, No. 240 / Wednesday, December 15, 1999 / 
    Rules and Regulations
    
    [[Page 69883]]
    
    
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    DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE
    
    Immigration and Naturalization Service
    
    8 CFR Part 103
    
    [INS No. 1933-98; AG Order No. 2282-99]
    RIN 1115-AF10
    
    
    Adjustment of Small Volume Application Fees of the Immigration 
    Examinations Fee Account
    
    AGENCY: Immigration and Naturalization Service, Justice.
    
    ACTION: Final rule.
    
    -----------------------------------------------------------------------
    
    SUMMARY: This rule amends the Immigration and Naturalization Service's 
    (Service) fee schedule of the Immigration Examinations Fee Account 
    (IEFA) for certain small volume immigration adjudication and 
    naturalization applications and petitions (Forms I-360, N-300, N-336, 
    and N-470). Fees collected from persons filing these applications and 
    petitions are deposited into the IEFA and used to fund the cost of 
    processing immigration adjudication and naturalization applications and 
    petitions and associated support services. The Service has determined 
    that the current fees for these four small volume applications and 
    petitions need to be adjusted. Of the four small volume applications 
    and petitions, the fees for two are being increased and two are being 
    decreased. This rule is necessary to ensure that the fees charged 
    accurately reflect the cost of processing immigration adjudication and 
    naturalization applications and petitions.
    
    DATES: This final rule is effective January 14, 2000.
    
    FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Paul Schlesinger, Branch Chief, Fee 
    Policy and Rate Setting Branch, Office of Budget, Immigration and 
    Naturalization Service, on (202) 616-2754, 425 I Street, NW., Room 
    6240, Washington, DC 20536. Detailed documentation of the rate-setting 
    process is available upon request by calling (202) 616-2754.
    
    SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
    
    What Legal Authority Does the Service Have To Charge Fees?
    
    1. Departments of Commerce, Justice, and State, the Judiciary, and 
    Related Agencies Appropriation Acts of 1989 and 1991
    
        The Department of Commerce, Justice, and State, the Judiciary, and 
    Related Agencies Appropriation Act, 1989 (Pub. L. 100-459), authorized 
    the Service to prescribe and collect fees to recover the cost of 
    providing certain immigration adjudication and naturalization services. 
    Public Law 100-459 also authorized the establishment of the IEFA in the 
    Treasury of the United States. All revenue from fees collected for the 
    provision of immigration adjudication and naturalization services are 
    deposited in the IEFA and ``remain available until expended to the 
    Attorney General to reimburse any appropriation the amount paid out of 
    such appropriation for expenses in providing immigration adjudication 
    and naturalization services and the collection, safeguarding and 
    accounting for fees * * *.'' 8 U.S.C. 1356(n).
        In subsequent legislation, the Departments of Commerce, Justice, 
    and State, the Judiciary, and Related Agencies Appropriation Acts, 1991 
    (Pub. L. 101-515), Congress further provided that ``fees for providing 
    adjudication and naturalization services may be set at a level that 
    will ensure recovery of the full costs of providing all such services, 
    including the costs of similar services provided without charge to 
    asylum applicants or other immigrants. Such fees may also be set at a 
    level that will recover any additional costs associated with the 
    administration of the fees collected.'' 8 U.S.C. 1356(m).
    
    2. The Independent Offices Appropriation Act, 1952
    
        The Service also employs the authority granted through the 
    Independent Offices Appropriation Act, 1952 (IOAA), 31 U.S.C. 9701 
    (Pub. L. 82-137), commonly referred to as the ``user fee statute,'' to 
    develop its fees. The user fee statute directs Federal agencies to 
    identify services provided to unique segments of the population and to 
    charge fees for those services, rather than supporting such services 
    through general tax revenues. The IOAA states that ``[i]t is the sense 
    of Congress that each service or thing of value provided by an agency * 
    * * to a person * * * is to be self-sustaining to the extent 
    possible.'' 31 U.S.C. 9701(a). The IOAA further provides that charges 
    for such services or things of value should be based on ``the costs to 
    the Government; the value of the service or thing to the recipient; the 
    public policy or interest served; and other relevant facts.'' 31 U.S.C. 
    9701(b).
    
    3. The Chief Financial Officers Act of 1990
    
        The Service must also conform to the requirements of the Chief 
    Financial Officers Act of 1990 (CFO Act), Pub. L. 101-576. Section 
    205(a)(8) of the CFO Act requires each agency's Chief Financial Officer 
    to ``review, on a biennial basis, the fee, royalties, rents, and other 
    charges imposed by the agency for services and things of value it 
    provides, and make recommendations on revising those charges to reflect 
    costs incurred by it in providing those services and things of value.'' 
    31 U.S.C. 902(a)(8).
    
    Did the Service Publish a Proposed Rule To Adjust the Fees?
    
        Yes. On May 17, 1999, the Service published a proposed rule in the 
    Federal Register at 64 FR 26698, which proposed to adjust the fee 
    schedule of the IEFA for certain small volume immigration adjudication 
    and naturalization applications and petitions (Forms I-360, N-300, N-
    336, and N-470). The public was provided with a 60-day comment period 
    which ended on July 16, 1999. The Service did not receive any comments 
    on the proposed rule.
        Accordingly, the fees for the following forms will be adjusted as 
    follows:
    
    ------------------------------------------------------------------------
                           Form                          Old Fee    New Fee
    ------------------------------------------------------------------------
    I-360.............................................     $80.00    $110.00
    N300..............................................      75.00      50.00
    N-336.............................................     110.00     170.00
    N-470.............................................     115.00      80.00
    ------------------------------------------------------------------------
    
        The following is a discussion of the standards and guidelines that 
    were used to determine the fee adjustments.
    
    [[Page 69884]]
    
    What Federal Cost Accounting and Fee Setting Standards and 
    Guidelines Were Used?
    
    1. Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Circular No. A-25, User 
    Charges
    
        When developing fees for services, the Service adheres to the 
    principles contained in OMB Circular Number A-25, User Charges. OMB 
    Circular A-25 states that, as a general policy, a ``user charge * * * 
    will be assessed against each identifiable recipient for special 
    benefits derived from Federal activities beyond those received by the 
    general public.''
        The guidance contained in OMB Circular A-25 is applicable to the 
    extent that it is not inconsistent with any Federal statute. Specific 
    legislative authority to charge fees for services takes precedence over 
    OMB Circular A-25 when the statute expressly designates ``who pays the 
    charge; how much is the charge; [or] where collections are deposited.'' 
    When a statute does not address issues of how to calculate fees or what 
    costs to include in the fee calculation, Federal agencies must follow 
    the principles and guidance contained in OMB Circular A-25 to the 
    fullest extent allowable. The guidance directs Federal agencies to 
    charge the ``full cost'' of providing services when calculating fees 
    that provide a specific benefit to recipients. OMB Circular A-25 
    defines full cost as ``all direct and indirect costs to any part of the 
    Federal Government of providing a good, resource, or service.'' These 
    costs include, but are not limited to, an appropriate share of:
        * Direct and indirect personnel costs, including salaries and 
    fringe benefits such as medical insurance and retirement;
        * Physical overhead, consulting, and other indirect costs including 
    material and supply costs, utilities, insurance, travel and rents or 
    imputed rents on land, buildings, and equipment;
        * Management and supervisory costs; and
        * The costs of enforcement, collection, research, establishment of 
    standards, and regulation.
    
    2. Federal Accounting Standards Advisory Board Statement of Federal 
    Financial Accounting Standards No. 4: Managerial Cost Accounting 
    Concepts and Standards for the Federal Government
    
        When developing fees for services, the Service also adheres to the 
    cost accounting concepts and standards recommended by the Federal 
    Accounting Standards Advisory Board (FASAB). The FASAB was established 
    in 1990, and its purpose is to recommend accounting standards for the 
    Federal Government. In developing its recommendations, the FASAB 
    considers the financial and budgetary information requirements of the 
    Congress, executive agencies, and other users of Federal financial 
    information.
    
    How Did the Service Determine the Full Cost of Processing 
    Immigration Adjudication and Naturalization Applications?
    
    1. Phase I--Large Volume Applications/Petitions
    
        The Service conducted a review of the IEFA in two phases to 
    determine the full cost of processing immigration adjudication and 
    naturalization applications. Phase I sought to develop a more 
    consistent and reliable cost accounting methodology focusing on 30 
    large volume applications and petitions (volumes in excess of 10,000 
    per year). This resulted in a proposed rule, which detailed the 
    Activity Based Costing (ABC) approach and methodology used, and 
    proposed adjusted fees for 30 immigration adjudication and 
    naturalization petitions based on the determination of the full cost to 
    the Service to perform the required activities. The proposed rule was 
    published in the Federal Register on January 12, 1998, at 63 FR 1775. 
    The final rule was published in the Federal Register on August 14, 
    1998, at 63 FR 43604.
    
    2. Phase II--Small Volume Applications/Petitions
    
        In a continuing effort to refine and build upon the methodology and 
    results of the first study, the Service implemented Phase II of the 
    IEFA fee study. The primary objective was to add more precision to the 
    cost model for certain small volume applications. For the purposes of 
    the IEFA studies, small volume applications were defined as those 
    applications and petitions that have annual volumes of less than 10,000 
    application and petition receipts. The Service selected the ABC 
    approach because it is an operationally-based technique that focuses on 
    work activities performed that produce an output and consume resources. 
    Table 1 provides the small volume applications that are the subject of 
    this final rule.
    
                       Table 1.--Small Volume Applications
    ------------------------------------------------------------------------
                   Form                             Description
    ------------------------------------------------------------------------
    I-360............................  Petition for Amerasian, Widow(er), or
                                        Special Immigrant.
    N-300............................  Application to File Declaration of
                                        Intention.
    N-336............................  Request for Hearing on a Decision in
                                        Naturalization Procedures.
    N-470............................  Application to Preserve Residence for
                                        Naturalization Purposes.
    ------------------------------------------------------------------------
    
    What Processes Were Used To Determine the Adjustment of Fees?
    
    1. Scope of Small Volume Application Review
    
        One of the primary objectives of the IEFA Study was to evaluate the 
    small volume applications and include the applications in the IEFA cost 
    model. The small volume application evaluation and analysis included: 
    (1) Incorporating small volume application expenses deducted from the 
    IEFA budget base; and (2) assigning activity processing model 
    activities to the small volume applications.
    
    2. Small Volume Applications Resources
    
        Because small volume applications were not included in the Phase I 
    IEFA Study, amounts representing the imputed cost of the small volume 
    applications were deducted from the budget base. For the purposes of 
    the Phase I IEFA Study, it was assumed that the cost of processing a 
    small volume application was equal to the fee in effect at the time. As 
    a result, the small volume application fees were multiplied by the 
    projected FY 1998 small volume application workload volume to identify 
    the projected revenue to deduct from the budget base. Table 2 provides 
    the small volume application resources deducted from the Phase I IEFA 
    Study cost model.
    
    [[Page 69885]]
    
    
    
     Table 2.--Small Volume Application Resources Deducted From the Phase I
                                 IEFA Cost Model
    ------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                         Phase I
                                        projected                 Projected
               Form number               FY 1998    Current fee   resources
                                          volume
    ------------------------------------------------------------------------
    I-360............................        8,196       $80.00     $655,680
    N-300............................          991        75.00       74,325
    N-336............................        3,956       110.00      435,160
    N-470............................          423       115.00       48,645
                                                                ------------
          Total of small volume applications...................    1,213,810
    ------------------------------------------------------------------------
    
        The $1.2 million in projected resources for processing small volume 
    applications was deducted from the budget base of each IEFA funded 
    program involved in processing these applications. The amount deducted 
    from each program was based on the percentage of full time equivalents 
    (FTEs) represented by the program in proportion to the total FTEs of 
    the programs combined. The inclusion of small volume applications in 
    the Phase II IEFA Study required assigning resources to the program 
    areas.
        After the small volume application resources were assigned to the 
    respective program areas, the resources were assigned to the 
    Application Processing Model (APM) activities based on the results of 
    the Phase I IEFA Study FTE surveys for each program area. The APM is a 
    narrative and graphical representation (i.e., a map or flowchart of the 
    activities, worksteps, or tasks) of an application process. The APM was 
    developed to show the activities involved in processing applications 
    and to serve as the primary basis for associating resources with cost 
    objects (applications). The APM enabled the study team to link the 
    resources required by the Service to perform its processing activities 
    with the applications.
    
    3. Assigning Activities to Small Volume Applications
    
        With the small volume expenses included in the Phase II cost model, 
    the next step was to assign the activities to these applications. Small 
    volume applications are processed in the same manner as other IEFA 
    funded applications. Therefore, the activities identified in the Phase 
    I IEFA Study APM were used to evaluate the small volume applications. 
    To ensure consistency with the Phase I study, the same methodology and 
    approach was used to assign activities to applications.
        In the Phase I study, the nine primary activities were assigned to 
    the immigration adjudication and naturalization applications and 
    petitions based on the percentage of projected workload volume for the 
    application or petition. These assignments were then weighted by the 
    time required to perform each activity (cycle time) for each 
    application or petition. The percentage of weighted volume represented 
    by an application determines the percentage of activity cost assigned 
    to the application. Including the small volume applications in the 
    Phase II IEFA cost model required identifying the FY 1998 workload 
    projections, and determining the time required to perform each small 
    volume application activity. Once these data elements were identified, 
    the percentage of activity costs applicable to the small volume 
    applications was calculated.
    
    4. Small Volume Applications
    
        The first step in assigning the APM activities to small volume 
    applications was to identify the projected FY 1998 workload volumes for 
    the applications. The volumes in Table 3 represent the most recent 
    workload projections developed by the Service and used in the fee 
    study.
    
             Table 3.--Projected Annual Application Workload Volumes
    ------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                   Phase II
                                                                  projected
          Small volume form                 Description             annual
                                                                    volume
    ------------------------------------------------------------------------
    I-360........................  Petition for Amerasian,             8,919
                                    Widow(er), or Special
                                    Immigrant.
    N-300........................  Application to File                 1,015
                                    Declaration of Intention.
    N-336........................  Request for Hearing on a            4,500
                                    Decision in Naturalization
                                    Procedures.
    N-470........................  Application to Preserve               382
                                    Residence for
                                    Naturalization Purpose.
    ------------------------------------------------------------------------
    
    5. Small Volume Application Data Gathering Approach
    
        Once the small volume application business volumes were identified, 
    the next step was to determine the activity cycle times for each 
    application. In the Phase I IEFA Study, applications and petitions 
    activity cycle times were identified by performing statistical sampling 
    and observation at various service centers and district offices. The 
    Phase I study cycle time collection relied on observing enough 
    application activity combinations to ensure statistical validity.
        Small volume applications by definition are not processed in the 
    same volume as other IEFA applications. The service centers and 
    district offices do not process enough small volume applications to 
    ensure that personal observations could be performed during site 
    visits. As a result, the Phase II study determined that observing 
    enough small volume application and activity combinations to ensure 
    statistical validity could not be performed in a timely or cost 
    effective manner.
        The study determined that the best approach to identify small 
    volume application activity cycle times would be to conduct telephone 
    interviews with highly experienced Service personnel involved in 
    processing small volume applications. The highly experienced Service 
    personnel identified were from different geographical locations. The 
    objective of each telephone interview was to identify the activities 
    and tasks
    
    [[Page 69886]]
    
    required to process each small volume application and to identify the 
    estimated time required to perform the activity or task.
    
    6. Telephone Interview Preparation
    
        Prior to conducting each telephone interview, procedures were 
    developed for conducting the interview. The following steps were 
    performed prior to the interview:
        Step 1. In this step, the contact person was provided with a 
    description of the fee study and the APM definitions, and asked to 
    review the APM, identifying the areas of the APM that applied to their 
    application. The contact person was requested to identify any questions 
    they had on the activities and tasks listed on the APM.
        Step 2. This step consisted of a discussion, after the initial 
    review by the contact person, of any questions that he/she had on the 
    APM. It was important that the contact person and the interviewer have 
    the same understanding of the APM prior to asking timing questions. The 
    contact person was asked to determine if there were any activities or 
    tasks for the application not listed in the APM.
        Step 3. Preparation for this step involved a discussion of the 
    application processing activities, including the ``unique'' and 
    ``common'' activities. A determination was made on whether the small 
    volume application was processed the same as other applications for 
    ``common'' activities. It was made clear that the interviewee had to 
    understand the terms ``unique'' and ``common'' before discussing 
    application cycle times.
        Step 4. This phase involved determining whether an activity was 
    ``unique,'' and making a listing of all tasks the contact person 
    completes in the processing of the application. If the contact person 
    does not list a particular task under an activity, the person must 
    ascertain whether the task is either not done for that activity, or 
    processed by another person. If processed by another person, a contact 
    person was obtained for that particular activity.
        Step 5. This step was performed after the first four initial steps 
    and involved the timing interview, which consisted of the following 
    steps:
        (1) For each task listed, ask the contact person how long it takes 
    on average to complete the task;
        (2) Ask the contact person how long they have worked for the 
    Service, and how much experience the contact person has with his or her 
    application;
        (3) Determine when the contact person last worked on adjudicating 
    the application;
        (4) Ask the contact person if there are any circumstances that 
    would make processing of the application different at other Service 
    offices;
        (5) Determine the volume of applications processed at the contact 
    person's location; and
        (6) Determine if the contact person is aware of any changes to the 
    form that may affect its processing time.
    
    7. Cycle Time Collection
    
        After the telephone interview procedures were conducted, the 
    Service collected cycle time estimates from the small volume 
    application interviewees. Cycle time estimates were provided by the 
    interviewee for each ``unique'' task performed in processing the small 
    volume application. The interviewee also identified each ``common'' 
    task performed in processing the small volume application. Common 
    activity and task cycle times were collected in the Phase I IEFA Study, 
    and represent the time required to perform an activity or task 
    regardless of the type of application. For example, opening the mail is 
    one of the tasks performed within the common activity ``Receive 
    Application or Petition.'' The activity and task are common because 
    they require the same amount of time to perform regardless of the type 
    of application in the envelope.
        The results of the telephone interviews were compiled to determine 
    the cycle time required to perform each activity and task for an 
    application. Each small volume application cycle time estimate 
    identified in the telephone interview was weighted by the volume of the 
    application processed at the location of the interviewee. As a result, 
    the response of interviewees at locations processing higher quantities 
    of an application were weighted more than the results from locations 
    that process fewer volumes. The weighted cycle times for each location 
    were then summed and divided by the total applications processed at all 
    locations. The result was the normalized cycle time to perform each 
    small volume activity.
        In addition to performing interviews, the study team collected Form 
    I-360 adjudication cycle times at the Nebraska Service Center (NSC). 
    The study team collected cycle times by making personal observations of 
    the time required to adjudicate the Form I-360. These procedures 
    consisted of the following data collection assumptions:
        (1) Selection of persons to be observed would be on a random basis;
        (2) All applications received by the Service are in random order, 
    therefore, the observation of applications processing on a first-in, 
    first-out basis would maintain this randomness;
        (3) Site visit team members would not be restricted in their 
    observations by site personnel; and
        (4) All site visit team members would have similar equipment and 
    training.
        The Form I-360 adjudication cycle times were weighted by the volume 
    of the applications processed at the NSC. These results were combined 
    with the Vermont Service Center Form I-360 telephone interview 
    estimates to determine the cycle time to process each activity and task 
    for the Form I-360. The cycle time estimates to perform each small 
    volume application activity in minutes and fractions are provided in 
    Table 4.
    
                                Table 4.--Small Volume Application Cycle Times (Minutes)
    ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                              Activity                               I-360        N-300        N-336        N-470
    ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Receive.....................................................         4.71         2.24          .89          .89
    Record Fee..................................................         1.40         1.40         1.40         1.40
    Input Application Data......................................         4.68          .95          N/A          N/A
    Manage Records..............................................         5.65        13.93         6.02         5.57
    Adjudicate Applications.....................................        49.06         7.90        77.48        26.16
    Prepare Outgoing............................................         1.67          .65         1.83         3.35
    Issue End Product...........................................          N/A         9.25         7.42          N/A
    Respond to Inquiry..........................................         7.68          N/A         2.73         9.87
                                                                 ---------------------------------------------------
          Total.................................................        74.85        36.32        97.77        47.24
    ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    
    
    [[Page 69887]]
    
    8. Small Volume Application Costs
    
        The final step in performing the small volume application analysis 
    was to calculate the cost to process each application. With the APM 
    activities assigned to small volume applications based on projected FY 
    1998 workload volumes weighted by application activity cycle times, the 
    study team determined the total annual cost to process each small 
    volume application. The total small volume application activity costs 
    were divided by the projected FY 1998 workload volumes to determine a 
    unit cost for each small volume application activity. The sum of the 
    small volume application activity costs is the total unit cost to 
    process the small volume application. (The unit cost per application 
    identifies the cost required to produce one unit, e.g., one 
    application, based on the activities consumed in producing that unit/
    application). Table 5 provides the FY 1998 activity unit cost and total 
    unit cost to process each small volume application.
    
                                  Table 5.--Small Volume Application FY 1998 Unit Costs
    ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                              Activity                               I-360        N-300        N-336        N-470
    ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Receive.....................................................        $3.78        $1.10         $.44         $.44
    Record Fee..................................................         1.66         1.66         1.66         1.66
    Input Application Data......................................         7.00         1.02          .00  ...........
    Manage Records..............................................         6.78        20.42         8.83         8.17
    Adjudicate Applications.....................................        75.34        14.02       137.50        46.42
    Prepare Outgoing............................................         4.35         1.61         4.54         8.31
    Issue End Product...........................................          .00        10.94        12.40          .00
    Respond to Inquiry..........................................        10.95          .00         3.89        14.07
                                                                 ---------------------------------------------------
          Total FY 1998 Unit Cost...............................       109.86        50.77       169.26        79.07
    ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    
        The Service is authorized to set the immigration and naturalization 
    fees at a level that will recover the costs of providing all 
    immigration adjudication and naturalization services ``including the 
    costs of similar services provided without charge to asylum applicants 
    or other immigrants.'' 8 U.S.C. 1356(m). In addition, the fees must be 
    set sufficiently high enough to recover the costs of fee waivers that 
    are granted. However, because of the small volume associated with these 
    applications, the amount derived from the calculation to determine 
    waiver/exempt costs and the asylum and refugee surcharge was so 
    insignificant that it has not been included as part of the costs for 
    these applications.
    
    What Are Our Conclusions and Fee Adjustments?
    
        The objectives of the small volume application analysis were to 
    determine the full cost of processing the applications and to include 
    the applications in the IEFA cost model. The small volume application 
    analysis was performed in accordance with the methodology implemented 
    in the Phase I IEFA Study. The analysis required incorporating small 
    volume application revenues into the IEFA cost model that were deducted 
    during the Phase I IEFA Study, and identifying and quantifying drivers 
    to assign the APM activities to the small volume applications. The unit 
    costs identified in Table 5 represent the Service's cost to process 
    each small volume application.
        The Service is increasing two and decreasing two of the small 
    volume fees associated with this study. Table 6 identifies the fees to 
    be increased as well as the fees to be decreased. The fee has been 
    rounded to the nearest whole $5 amount.
    
                               Table 6.--Small Volume Application Fee Schedule Adjustments
    ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                           Proposed
                   Form                              Description                Total cost  Current fee      fee
    ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    I-360.............................  Petition for Amerasian, Widow(er), or      $109.86       $80.00      $110.00
                                         Special Immigrant.
    N-300.............................  Application to File Declaration of           50.77        75.00        50.00
                                         Intention.
    N-336.............................  Request for Hearing on a Decision in        169.26       110.00       170.00
                                         Naturalization Procedures.
    N-470.............................  Application to Preserve Residence for        79.07       115.00        80.00
                                         Naturalization Purposes.
    ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    
    Regulatory Flexibility Act
    
        The Attorney General, in accordance with 5 U.S.C. 605(b), has 
    reviewed this regulation and, by approving it, certifies that this rule 
    will not have a significant economic impact on a substantial number of 
    small entities. Of the four applications or petitions covered under 
    this rule, only two of the fees are being increased and the other two 
    fees are being decreased. In addition, small volume applications refer 
    to fewer than 10,000 applications per year. Total projected revenues 
    for all four applications or petitions for FY 1998 amounts to 
    $1,827,400. Normally, these applications and petitions would generally 
    be filed by individuals as opposed to small businesses.
    
    Unfunded Mandates Reform Act of 1995
    
        This rule will not result in the expenditure by State, local, and 
    tribal governments, in the aggregate, or by the private sector, or $100 
    million or more in any 1 year, and it will not significantly or 
    uniquely affect small governments. This rule will only affect persons 
    who file certain applications or petitions for immigration benefits. 
    Therefore, no actions were deemed necessary under the provisions of the 
    Unfunded Mandates Reform Act of 1995.
    
    Small Business Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act of 1996
    
        This rule is not a major rule as defined by section 251 of the 
    Small Business Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act of 1996, 5 U.S.C. 
    804. This rule will not result in an annual effect on the economy of 
    $100 million or more; a major increase in costs or prices; or 
    significant adverse effects on competition, employment, investment, 
    productivity, innovation, or on the ability of United States-based 
    companies to compete with foreign-
    
    [[Page 69888]]
    
    based companies in domestic and export markets.
    
    Executive Order 12866
    
        This rule is not considered by the Department of Justice to be a 
    ``significant regulatory action'' under Executive Order 12866, section 
    3(f), Regulatory Planning and Review, because it will have an annual 
    effect on the economy of less than $100 million. Without the increases/
    decreases, the Service estimates that it will collect $1.3 million in 
    fees for immigration and adjudication services for these four small 
    volume applications in FY 1998. With the fee adjustments, the Service 
    will collect approximately $1.8 million. The implementation of this 
    rule will provide the Service with an additional $.5 million in revenue 
    over the revenue that would be collected under the old fee structure. 
    This revenue increase is a recovery of costs based on workload volumes 
    required to process these applications.
    
    Executive Order 13132
    
        This regulation will not have substantial direct effects on the 
    States, on the relationship between the national government and the 
    States, or on the distribution of power and responsibilities among the 
    various levels of government. Therefore, in accordance with section 6 
    of Executive Order 13132, the Department of Justice has determined that 
    this rule does not have sufficient federalism implications to warrant 
    the preparation of a federalism summary impact statement.
    
    Executive Order 12988: Civil Justice Reform
    
        This rule meets the applicable standards set forth in sections 3(a) 
    and 3(b)(2) of Executive Order 12988.
    
    List of Subjects in 8 CFR Part 103
    
        Administrative practice and procedure, Authority delegations 
    (Government agencies), Fees, Forms, Freedom of information, Privacy, 
    Reporting and recordkeeping requirements, Surety bonds.
        Accordingly, part 103 of chapter I of title 8 of the Code of 
    Federal Regulations is amended as follows:
    
    PART 103--POWERS AND DUTIES OF SERVICE OFFICERS; AVAILABILITY OF 
    SERVICE RECORDS
    
        1. The authority citation for part 103 continues to read as 
    follows:
    
        Authority: 5 U.S.C. 552, 552(a); 8 U.S.C. 1101, 1103, 1201, 1252 
    note, 1252b, 1304, 1356; 31 U.S.C. 9701; E.O. 12356, 47 FR 14874, 
    15557; 3 CFR, 1982 Comp., p.166; 8 CFR part 2.
    
        2. In Sec. 103.7, paragraph (b)(1) is amended by revising the 
    entries for the following forms, to read as follows:
    
    
    Sec. 103.7  Fees.
    
    * * * * *
        (b) * * * 
        (1) * * * 
    * * * * *
        Form I-360. For filing a petition for an Amerasian, Widow(er), 
    or Special Immigrant--$110.00, except there is no fee for a petition 
    seeking classification as an Amerasian.
    * * * * *
        Form N-300. For filing an application for declaration of 
    intention--$50.00.
        Form N-336. For filing a request for hearing on a decision in 
    naturalization proceedings under section 336 of the Act--$170.00.
    * * * * *
        Form N-470. For filing an application for section 316(b) or 317 
    of the Act benefits--$80.00.
    * * * * *
        Dated: December 8, 1999.
    Janet Reno,
    Attorney General.
    [FR Doc. 99-32485 Filed 12-14-99; 8:45 am]
    BILLING CODE 4410-10-M
    
    
    

Document Information

Effective Date:
1/14/2000
Published:
12/15/1999
Department:
Immigration and Naturalization Service
Entry Type:
Rule
Action:
Final rule.
Document Number:
99-32485
Dates:
This final rule is effective January 14, 2000.
Pages:
69883-69888 (6 pages)
Docket Numbers:
INS No. 1933-98, AG Order No. 2282-99
RINs:
1115-AF10: Examinations Fee Account Schedule--Small Volume Applications
RIN Links:
https://www.federalregister.gov/regulations/1115-AF10/examinations-fee-account-schedule-small-volume-applications
PDF File:
99-32485.pdf
CFR: (1)
8 CFR 103.7