05-7456. Agency Information Collection Activities: New Information Collection; Comment Request

ACTION:

30-day notice of information collection under review: Notice of appeal to the Administrative Appeals Office, Form 1-290B.

The Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), has submitted 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 USCIS published a Federal Register notice on February 9, 2004 at 69 FR 5994, allowed for a 60-day period public comment period. The USCIS did not receive any comments on this information collection.

The purpose of this notice is to allow an additional 30 days for public comments. Comments are encouraged and will be accepted until [Insert date of 30th day from the date that this notice is published in the Federal Register]. This process is conducted in accordance with 5 CFR 1320.10.

Written comments and suggestions from the public and affected agencies concerning the collection of information should address one or more of the following four points:

(1) Evaluate whether the 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 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: New information collection.

(2) Title of the Form/Collection: Notice of Appeal to the Administrative Appeals Unit.

(3) Agency form number, if any, and the applicable component of the Department of Homeland Security sponsoring the collection: I-290B, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services.

(4) Affected public who will be asked or required to respond, as well as a brief abstract: Primary: Individuals or Households. The information collection required on the Form I-290B is necessary in order for USCIS to make a determination that the appeal or motion to reopen or reconsider meet eligibility requirements, and for the Administrative Appeals Office to adjudicate the merits of the appeal or motion to reopen or reconsider.

(5) An estimate of the total number of respondents and the amount of time estimated for an average respondent to respond: 30,000 responses at 30 minutes (.50 hours) per response.

(6) An estimate of the total public burden (in hours) associated with the collection: 15,000 annual burden hours.

If you have comments, suggestions, or need a copy of the information collection, please contact Richard A. Sloan [phone], Director, Regulatory Management Division, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, 111 Massachusetts Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20592; [phone].

Dated: April 8, 2005.

Richard A. Sloan,

Director, Regulatory Management Division, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services.