2012-23684. Agency Information Collection Activities: Affidavit of Support Under Section 213A of the Act, Form I-864, Affidavit of Support Under Section 213A of the Act; Form I-864A, Contract Between Sponsor and Household Member, Form I-864 EZ, ...

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 June 1, 2012, at 77 FR 32658, allowing for a 60-day public comment period. USCIS did receive one comment in connection with the 60-day notice. The comment proposed modifications to the form I-864 and USCIS considered each one. Based upon the current functionality of the form, USCIS will not be implementing these changes.

DATES:

The purpose of this notice is to allow an additional 30 days for public comments. Comments are encouraged and will be accepted until October 26, 2012. This process is conducted in accordance with 5 CFR 1320.10.

ADDRESSES:

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 DHS, and to the OMB USCIS Desk Officer. Comments may be submitted to: DHS, USCIS, Office of Policy and Strategy, Chief, Regulatory Coordination Division, 20 Massachusetts Avenue NW., Washington, DC 20529-2020. Comments may also be submitted to DHS via email at [e-mail], to the OMB USCIS Desk Officer via facsimile at 202-395-5806 or via email at [e-mail] and via the Federal eRulemaking Portal Web site at http://www.regulations.gov under e-Docket ID number USCIS-2007-0029. When submitting comments by email, please make sure to add 1615-0075 in the subject box.

All submissions received must include the agency name, OMB Control Number and Docket ID. 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 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 Request: Revision of a Currently Approved Collection.

(2) Title of the Form/Collection: Affidavit of Support under Section 213A of the Act.

(3) Agency form number, if any, and the applicable component of the DHS sponsoring the collection: Form I-864, Affidavit of Support Under Section 213A of the Act; Form I-864A, Contract Between Sponsor and Household Member, Form I-864 EZ, Affidavit of Support Under Section 213A of the Act; Form I-864W, Intending Immigrant's Affidavit of Support Exemption; USCIS.

(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: Form I-864, 439,500 responses at 6 hours per response; Form I-864A, 215,800 responses at 1.75 hours per response; Form I-864EZ, 100,000 responses at 2.5 hours per response; Form I-864W, 1,000 responses at 1 hour per response.

(6) An estimate of the total public burden (in hours) associated with the collection: 3,265,650 Hours.

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 20529-2020; Telephone [phone].

Dated: September 20, 2012.

Laura Dawkins,

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