05-17144. Agency Information Collection Activities: Extension of a Currently Approved Information Collection; Comment Request

ACTION:

30-day Notice of Information Collection Under Review: Inter-Agency Alien Witness and Information Record, Form I-854.

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 information collection was previously published in the Federal Register on June 22, 2005 at 70 FR 36204. The notice allowed for a 60-day public comment period. No comments were received 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 September 28, 2005. 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: Extension of a previously approved information collection.

(2) Title of the Form/Collection: Inter-Agency Alien Witness and Information Record.

(3) Agency form number, if any, and the applicable component of the Department of Homeland Security sponsoring the collection: Form I-854. U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services.

(4) Affected public who will be asked or required to respond, as well as a brief abstract: Primary: Individual or households. This form is used by law enforcement agencies (LEA) to bring alien witnesses and informants to the United States in “S” nomimmigrant classification. This form also provides the Department of State and the USCIS with information necessary to identify the requesting LEA, and the alien witness and/or informant.

(5) An estimate of the total number of respondents and the amount of time estimated for an average respondent to respond: 125 responses at 4 hours and 15 minutes (4.25 hours) per response.

(6) An estimate of the total public burden (in hours) associated with the collection: 531 annual burden hours.

If you have additional comments, suggestions, or need a copy of the information collection instrument, please contact Richard A. Sloan, Director, Regulatory Management Division, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, 111 Massachusetts Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20529.

Dated: August 24, 2005.

Richard A. Sloan,

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