SUPPORTING STATEMENT sup C

SUPPORTING STATEMENT

HRIFA Supplement to Form I-485

(Form I-485 Supplement C)

OMB No. 1615-0024

A.                 JUSTIFICATION:

1.                  Section 902 of Public Law 105-277 (HRIFA) allows certain nationals of Haiti to apply for adjustment of status to that of permanent resident. Although the application period for principal applicants ended April 1, 2000, dependents may file the I-485, Application for Adjustment of Status or to Register Permanent Residence, on or after June 11, 1999. The information provided on the Form I-485 Supplement C, in combination with the information collected on Form I-485 (Application to Register Permanent Resident or Adjust Status), is necessary in order for the U.S. Citizenship & Immigration Services (USCIS) to make a determination that the adjustment of status eligibility requirements and conditions are met by the applicant.  Upon approval of the application the alien is declared to be a lawful permanent resident of the United States and a Permanent Resident Card is issued by USCIS.

2.                The information provided on this form, in combination with the data collected on Form I-485, is used by the USCIS to determine eligibility for adjustment of status for Haitian nationals applying pursuant to HRIFA. 

3.                  The use of this form provides the most efficient means for collecting and processing the required data.  This form has been designated for e-filing under the Business Transformation Project.

4.                  A review of USCIS Forms Inventory Report revealed no duplication of effort, and there is no other similar information currently available that can be used for this purpose.

5.                  This collection of information does not have an impact on small businesses or other small entities.

6.                  If the information is not provided to the applicant, the applicant will not know how to properly indicate their basis for adjustment on the Form I-485 and the adjudicating officer will be unable to determine whether the applicant is eligible for the benefits sought.

7.                  The special circumstances contained in item 7 of the Supporting Statement are not applicable to this information collection.

8.              USCIS published a 60 Day Notice, requesting public comments on September 26, 2007 at 72 FR 54671. USCIS did not receive any comments.

   9. USCIS does not provide payment or gifts to respondents in exchange for a benefit sought.

10.                  There is not assurance of confidentiality.

11.              There are no questions of a sensitive nature.

12.              Annual Reporting Burden:

a.         Number of Respondents                                                           2,000

b.         Number of Responses per each Respondent                                    1

c.         Total Annual Responses                                                            2,000

d.         Hours per Response                                                                       .50

e.         Total Annual Burden Hours                                                       1,000

Reporting Burden

Total annual reporting burden hours is 1,000.  This figure was derived by multiplying the number of respondents (2000) x frequency of response (1) x hours per response (30 minutes or .50 hours).

13.              There are no capital or start-up costs associated with this information collection.  Any cost burdens to respondents as a result of this collection are identified in question 14.  There are no fees associated with this information collection.

 

14.              Annualized Cost Analysis:

a.         Printing Cost                                                                 $    360

b.         Collecting and Processing                                             $       0*

c.         Total Cost to Program                                                  $    360

d.         Fee Charge                                                                  $          0

e.         Total Annual Cost to Government                                $    360

           

* The collecting and processing fees are included in the total for the Form I-485. This supplement C is only a separate instruction for those applying for adjustment of status under HRIFA. It is not a separate form which needs to be processed.

Public Cost

The estimated annual public cost is $10,000.  This figure is based on the number of respondents (2,000) x 30 Minutes (.50) per response x $10 (average hourly rate).

Government Cost

The estimated cost to the Government is $360.  This figure includes the estimated overhead cost for printing, stocking, and distributing the form.

15.             The HRIFA Supplement was discontinued back in 2005 because the principle application period expired. This form is being reinstated and revised to only affect dependents of the original applicants. Because this is a reinstatement, there is an increase of 1,000 burden hours.

16.              USCIS does not intend to employ the use of statistics or the publication thereof for this collection of information.

17.              USCIS will display the expiration date for OMB approval.

18.              USCIS does not request an exception to the certification of this information collection. .

B.                 Collection of Information Employing Statistical Methods.

Not Applicable.

C.                 Certification and Signature.

PAPERWORK CERTIFICATION

In submitting this request for OMB approval, I certify that the requirements of the Privacy Act and OMB directives have been complied with including paperwork regulations, statistical standards or directives, and any other information policy directives promulgated under 5 CFR 1320.

            ____________________________________                        ________________

            Stephen Tarragon                                                                                 Date

            Chief,

            Regulatory Management Division

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services