2024-22276. Agency Information Collection Activities; Extension, Without Change, of a Currently Approved Collection: Form G-639; Freedom of Information/Privacy Act Request

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Department of Homeland Security

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services

1. [OMB Control Number 1615-0102]

AGENCY:

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, Department of Homeland Security.

ACTION:

30-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. 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 30 days until October 30, 2024.

ADDRESSES:

Written comments and/or suggestions regarding the item(s) contained in this notice, especially regarding the estimated public burden and associated response time, must be submitted via the Federal eRulemaking Portal website at http://www.regulations.gov under e-Docket ID number USCIS-2008-0028. All submissions received must include the OMB Control Number 1615-0102 in the body of the letter, the agency name and Docket ID USCIS-2008-0028. Submit comments via the Federal eRulemaking Portal website at https://www.regulations.gov under e-Docket ID number USCIS-2008-0028.

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

The information collection notice was previously published in the Federal Register on June 28, 2024 at 89 FR 54027, allowing for a 60-day public comment period. USCIS did receive three comments in connection with the 60-day notice.

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-2008-0028 in the search box. Comments must be submitted in English, or an English translation must be provided. The comments submitted to USCIS via this method are visible to the Office of Management and Budget and comply with the requirements of 5 CFR 1320.12(c). 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; ( print page 79633)

(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) Agency form number, if any, and the applicable component of the DHS sponsoring the collection: Form G-639; Freedom of Information/Privacy Act Request; USCIS.

(3) Affected public who will be asked or required to respond, as well as a brief abstract: Primary: Individuals or households. Form G-639 is used to request access to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) records under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) and the Privacy Act of 1974 (PA), if applicable. This form is also used to request amendment or correction of records under the PA, if applicable. USCIS created Form G-639 as a convenient and expeditious option that individuals can use in lieu of submitting written FOIA requests. Form G-639 can be submitted electronically using the online FOIA Immigration Records System (FIRST) or printed and submitted by mail.

(4) 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 Form G-639 (paper) is 74,558 and the estimated hour burden per response is 0.67 hours. The estimated total number of respondents for the information collection Online FOIA Request is 365,872 and the estimated hour burden per response is 0.5 hours.

(5) An estimate of the total public burden (in hours) associated with the collection: The total estimated annual hour burden associated with this collection is 232,890 hours.

(6) 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 $4,155,376.50.

Dated: September 12, 2024.

Samantha L. Deshommes,

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