2024-30732. Agency Information Collection Activities; Extension, Without Change, of a Currently Approved Collection: Online Request to be a Supporter and Declaration of Financial Support

Document Headings

Document headings vary by document type but may contain the following:

1. the agency or agencies that issued and signed a document
2. the number of the CFR title and the number of each part the document amends, proposes to amend, or is directly related to
3. the agency docket number / agency internal file number
4. the RIN which identifies each regulatory action listed in the Unified Agenda of Federal Regulatory and Deregulatory Actions

See the Document Drafting Handbook for more details.

Department of Homeland Security

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services

1. [OMB Control Number 1615-0157]

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 Services (USCIS) invites the general public and other Federal agencies to comment upon this proposed extension 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 February 21, 2025.

ADDRESSES:

All submissions received must include the OMB Control Number 1615-0157 in the body of the letter, the agency name and Docket ID USCIS-2023-0004. Submit comments via the Federal eRulemaking Portal website at https://www.regulations.gov under e-Docket ID number USCIS-2023-0004.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

USCIS, Office of Policy and Strategy, Regulatory Coordination Division, Samantha Deshommes, Chief, telephone number [phone] (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 Contact Center at 800-375-5283 (TTY 800-767-1833).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Comments

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 entering USCIS-2023-0004 in the search box. Comments must be submitted in English, or an English translation must be provided. All submissions will be posted, without change, to the Federal eRulemaking Portal at https://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 https://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: Extension, Without Change, of a Currently Approved Collection.

(2) Title of the Form/Collection: Online Request to be a Supporter and Declaration of Financial Support.

(3) Agency form number, if any, and the applicable component of the DHS sponsoring the collection: I-134A; USCIS. ( print page 104558)

(4) Affected public who will be asked or required to respond, as well as a brief abstract: Primary: Individuals or households. USCIS uses Form I-134A to determine whether certain U.S.-based individuals have sufficient financial resources and access to those funds to support the beneficiary named on the Form I-134A for the duration of their temporary stay in the United States, as well as to obtain information concerning whether the beneficiary merits a favorable exercise of discretion and whether parole of the beneficiary would serve urgent humanitarian reasons or significant public benefit under the statutory parole standard. Currently, Form I-134A is used for the Uniting for Ukraine (U4U) process; the processes for Cubans, Haitians, Nicaraguans, and Venezuelans (CHNV); and the Cuban, Colombian, Ecuadorian, Guatemalan, Haitian, Honduran, and Salvadoran family reunification parole (FRP) processes.

Form I-134A is filed by a U.S.-based individual (the potential supporter) to request to be a supporter, agree to provide financial support to the beneficiary named on the form during the beneficiary's period of stay in the United States, and to provide information concerning why the beneficiary warrants a discretionary grant of parole. Form I-134A is filed online.

USCIS will require the submission of biometrics from all potential supporters and co-supporters filing the Form I-134A, to verify the potential supporter's identity, obtain new or updated background checks, and produce any necessary documentation related to the supporter's support of the beneficiary.

(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 I-134A is 1,373,600 and the estimated hour burden per response is 2.60 hours; the estimated total number of respondents for the information collection Biometrics services is 1,288,000 and the estimated hour burden per response is 1.17 hours.

(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 5,078,320 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 of information is $0.00.

Dated: December 19, 2024.

Samantha L. Deshommes,

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