E7-7589. Agency Information Collection Activities: Extension of an Existing Information Collection; Comment Request

ACTION:

60-Day Notice of Information Collection Under Review; Form I-864, Affidavit of Support Under Section 213A of the Act; Form I-864A, Contract Between Sponsor and Household Member; Form I-864EZ, EZ Affidavit of Support under Section 213 of the Act; Form I-864W, Intending Immigrant's Affidavit of Support Exemption; OMB Control No. 1615-0075.

The Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services has submitted the following information collection request for review and clearance in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995. The information collection is published to obtain comments from the public and affected agencies. Comments are encouraged and will be accepted for sixty days until June 19, 2007.

Written comments and/or suggestions regarding the item(s) contained in this notice, especially regarding the estimated public burden and associated response time, should be directed to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), USCIS, Chief, Regulatory Management Division, Clearance Officer, 111 Massachusetts Avenue, 3rd floor, Suite 3008, Washington, DC 20529. Comments may also be submitted to DHS via facsimile to 202-272-8352 or via e-mail at [e-mail]. When submitting comments by e-mail please make sure to add OMB Control No. 1615-0075 in the subject box.

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 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 agencies 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 of an existing information collection.

(2) Title of the Form/Collection: Affidavit of Support Under Section 213A of the Act; Contract Between Sponsor and Household Member; EZ Affidavit of Support under Section 213 of the Act; Intending Immigrant's Affidavit of Support Exemption.

(3) Agency form number, if any, and the applicable component of the Department of Homeland Security sponsoring the collection: Form I-864, Form I-864A, Form I-864EZ, and Form I-864W; 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. These forms are used by family-based and certain employment-based immigrants to have the petitioning relative execute an Affidavit of Support on their behalf.

(5) An estimate of the total number of respondents and the amount of time estimated for an average respondent to respond: I-864, 439,500 responses at 6 hours per response; I-864A, 215,800 responses at 1.75 hours per response; I-864EZ, 100,000 responses at 2.5 hours per response; I-864W, 1,000 responses at 1 hour per response.

(6) An estimate of the total public burden (in hours) associated with the collection: 2,637,000 annual burden hours.

If you have comments, suggestions, or need a copy of the proposed information collection instrument, please contact USCIS, Chief, Regulatory Management Division, 111 Massachusetts Avenue, NW., Suite 3008, Washington, DC 20529, telephone [phone].

Dated: April 16, 2007.

Richard A. Sloan,

Chief, Regulatory Management Division, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, Department of Homeland Security.