I-698 Supporting Statement 2012-12-14

Supporting Statement

Application to Adjust Status from Temporary to Permanent Resident

OMB Control No.: 1615-0035

Collection Instrument: Form I-698

A. Justification

1. Explain the circumstances that make the collection of information necessary. Identify any legal or administrative requirements that necessitate the collection. Attach a copy of the appropriate section of each statute and regulation mandating or authorizing the collection of information.

The information on the application is used by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) in determining the eligibility for permanent resident status by temporary residents and for the issuance of Form I-551, Permanent Resident Card, as provided in 8 CFR 245a.3(d)(1). The regulations provide that a temporary resident has 43 months from the date the USCIS approved his or her application for temporary residence in which to apply for permanent residence.

Authority: Section 245A of the Immigration and Nationality Act (Act), and 8 CFR 245a.3(d)(1).

2. Indicate how, by whom, and for what purpose the information is to be used. Except for a new collection, indicate the actual use the agency has made of the information received from the current collection.

The data collected on Form I-698 is used by the USCIS to determine eligibility to adjust an applicant’s residence status. The form serves the purpose of standardizing requests for the benefit, and ensuring that basic information required to assess eligibility is provided by applicants. A person who has been granted temporary residence under Section 245A of the Act is eligible to apply to USCIS to adjust to permanent resident status no later than 43 months after their approval for temporary residence.

3. Describe whether, and to what extent, the collection of information involves the use of automated, electronic, mechanical, or other technological collection techniques or other forms of information technology, e.g., permitting electronic submission of responses, and the basis for the decision for adopting this means of collection. Also describe any consideration of using information technology to reduce burden.

The use of this form currently provides the most efficient means for collecting and processing the required data. Form I-698 is available online at http://www.uscis.gov/files/form/i-698.pdf and the respondent can complete the form and save it electronically. Form I-698 currently provides for partial GPEA compliance. USCIS has not taken any steps in the past year to allow for full GPEA compliance.

4. Describe efforts to identify duplication. Show specifically why any similar information already available cannot be used or modified for use for the purposes described in Item 2 above.

There is no duplication of effort for this particular benefit, and there is no other similar information currently available that can be used for this purpose. The information required to complete the process that is available from other sources is taken from the form indicated in Question 2 above.

5. If the collection of information impacts small businesses or other small entities (Item 5 of OMB Form 83-I), describe any methods used to minimize burden.

The collection of this information does not have an impact on small businesses or other small entities.

6. Describe the consequence to Federal program or policy activities if the collection is not conducted or is conducted less frequently, as well as any technical or legal obstacles to reducing burden.

Without this information collection there would be no venue by which certain classes of aliens could apply for and receive permanent residence status.

7. Explain any special circumstances that would cause an information collection to be conducted in a manner:

• Requiring respondents to report information to the agency more often than quarterly;

• requiring respondents to prepare a written response to a collection of information in fewer than 30 days after receipt of it;

• requiring respondents to submit more than an original and two copies of any document;

• requiring respondents to retain records, other than health, medical, government contract, grant-in-aid, or tax records for more than three years;

• In connection with a statistical survey, that is not designed to produce valid and reliable results that can be generalized to the universe of study;

• requiring the use of a statistical data classification that has not been reviewed and approved by OMB;

• that includes a pledge of confidentiality that is not supported by authority established in statute or regulation, that is not supported by disclosure and data security policies that are consistent with the pledge, or which unnecessarily impedes sharing of data with other agencies for compatible confidential use; or

• requiring respondents to submit proprietary trade secret, or other confidential information unless the agency can demonstrate that it has instituted procedures to protect the information's confidentiality to the extent permitted by law.

This information collection is conducted in a manner consistent with the guidelines in 5 CFR 1320.5(d)(2).

8. If applicable, provide a copy and identify the data and page number of publication in the Federal Register of the agency's notice, required by 5 CFR 1320.8(d), soliciting comments on the information collection prior to submission to OMB. Summarize public comments received in response to that notice and describe actions taken by the agency in response to these comments. Specifically address comments received on cost and hour burden.

On October 4, 2012 USCIS published a 60-day notice in the Federal Register at 77 FR 60708. USCIS did not receive any comment on the 60-day notice. On December 4, 2012, USCIS published a 30-day notice in the Federal Register at 77 FR 74489. USCIS received one comment in connection with the 30-day notice. Below is the summary of the comment, and USCIS response.

USCIS received one comment in connection with the publication of the 30-day notice of Form I-698. The commenter asked that USCIS substantially decrease immigration to the United States. The decision is not to revise the existing form at this time. USCIS is required to enforce the immigration laws that are passed by Congress.

9. Explain any decision to provide any payment or gift to respondents, other than remuneration of contractors or grantees.

USCIS does not provide payments or gifts to respondents related to this information

collection.

10. Describe any assurance of confidentiality provided to respondents and the basis for the assurance in statute, regulation or agency policy.

There is no assurance of confidentiality. The system of record notice associated with this information collection is United States Citizenship and Immigration Services Benefits Information System, which was published in the Federal Register on September 29, 2008, at 73 FR 56596. The privacy impact assessment associated with this information collection is USCIS Benefits Processing of Applicants other than Petitions for Naturalization, Refugee Status, and Asylum (Dated September 5, 2008).

11. Provide additional justification for any questions of a sensitive nature, such as sexual behavior and attitudes, religious beliefs, and other matters that are commonly considered private. This justification should include the reasons why the agency considers the questions necessary, the specific uses to be made of the information, the explanation to be given to person’s form whom the information is requested, and any steps to be taken to obtain their consent.

USCIS asks questions of a sensitive nature regarding past behavior and activities.  These questions are necessary to determine eligibility of the applicant for adjustment to permanent residence status as required by law.  Sensitive questions are asked to determine: whether an individual might be inadmissible under INA 212 (a)(3) (A)-(F)– Security Grounds for Unlawful Activity, Control or Overthrow of the U.S. Government, Terrorist grounds, Adverse Foreign Policy Consequence, Communist or Totalitarian Affiliation; whether an individual might be inadmissible under INA 212 (a)(2)(A)(i)(I) – Conviction or Commission of a Crime Involving Moral Turpitude (CIMT) or INA 212(a)(2)(A)(i)(II), (B), or (C) – Controlled Substance Violations, Multiple Criminal Convictions, or Controlled Substance Traffickers, or; whether an individual might be inadmissible under INA 212 (a)(2)(D)(i) and (ii) – coming to the United Sates solely, principally, or incidentally to engage in prostitution, or an unlawful commercialized vice.

12. Provide estimates of the hour burden of the collection of information. The statement should:

• Indicate the number of respondents, frequency of response, annual hour burden, and an explanation of how the burden was estimated. Unless directed to do so, agencies should not conduct special surveys to obtain information on which to base hour burden estimates. Consultation with a sample (fewer than 10) of potential respondents is desirable. If the hour burden on respondents is expected to vary widely because of differences in activity, size, or complexity, show the range of estimated hour burden, and explain the reasons for the variance. Generally, estimates should not include burden hours for customary and usual business practices.

• If this request for approval covers more than one form, provide separate hour burden estimates for each form and aggregate the hour burdens in Item 13 of OMB Form 83-I.

• Provide estimates of annualized cost to respondents for the hour burdens for collections of information, identifying and using appropriate wage rate categories. The cost of contracting out or paying outside parties for information collection activities should not be included here. Instead, this cost should be included in Item 14

Type of Respondent	Form Name / Form Number	No. of Respondents	No. of Responses per Respondent	Avg. Burden per Response (in hours)	Total Annual Burden (in hours)	Avg. Hourly Wage Rate	Total Annual Respondent Cost
Individuals or households	Application to Adjust Status from Temporary to Permanent Resident	165	1	1	165	30.44	5,022
Total		165	1	1	165		5,022

*The above Average Hourly Wage Rate is calculated from the May 2011 Bureau of Labor Statistics average wage for “All Occupations” of $21.74 times the wage rate benefit multiplier of 1.4 equaling $30.44.

13. Provide an estimate of the total annual cost burden to respondents or record keepers resulting from the collection of information. (Do not include the cost of any hour burden shown in Items 12 and 14).

• The cost estimate should be split into two components: (a) a total capital and start-up cost component (annualized over its expected useful life); and (b) a total operation and maintenance and purchase of services component. The estimates should take into account costs associated with generating, maintaining, and disclosing or providing the information. Include descriptions of methods used to estimate major cost factors including system and technology acquisition, expected useful life of capital equipment, the discount rate(s), and the time period over which costs will be incurred.

Capital and start-up costs include, among other items, preparations for collecting information such as purchasing computers and software; monitoring, sampling, drilling and testing equipment; and record storage facilities.

• If cost estimates are expected to vary widely, agencies should present ranges of cost burdens and explain the reasons for the variance. The cost of purchasing or contracting out information collection services should be a part of this cost burden estimate. In developing cost burden estimates, agencies may consult with a sample of respondents (fewer than 10), utilize the 60-day pre-OMB submission public comment process and use existing economic or regulatory impact analysis associated with the rulemaking containing the information collection, as appropriate.

• Generally, estimates should not include purchases of equipment or services, or portions thereof, made: (1) prior to October 1, 1995, (2) to achieve regulatory compliance with requirements not associated with the information collection, (3) for reasons other than to provide information or keep records for the government or (4) as part of customary and usual business or private practices.

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 item 14. There is a fee charge of $1,020 per application plus a biometric fee of $85 associated with the collection of this information.

14. Provide estimates of annualized cost to the Federal government. Also, provide a description of the method used to estimate cost, which should include quantification of hours, operational expenses (such as equipment, overhead, printing, and support staff), and any other expense that would not have been incurred without this collection of information. Agencies also may aggregate cost estimates from Items 12, 13, and 14 in a single table.

Annualized Cost Analysis:

a. Collecting and Processing $182,325

b. Total Annual Cost to the Government $182,325

Government Cost

The estimated cost of the program to the Government is calculated by using the estimated number of respondents 165 multiplied by the $1,020 fee charge (which includes the suggested average hourly rate for clerical, officer, and managerial time with benefits, plus a percent for the estimated overhead cost for printing, stocking, distributing and processing of this form); plus the number of respondents 165 multiplied by the $85 biometrics fee.

15. Explain the reasons for any program changes or adjustments reporting in Items 13 or 14 of the OMB Form 83-I.

There has been a decrease of 539 in the burden hours previously reported for this information collection. This is as a result of the decrease in the number of respondents from 704 to 165. The decrease in the number of respondents is based on updated FY 2012 statistical data and the resulting adjustment in agency estimates.

16. For collections of information whose results will be published, outline plans for tabulation, and publication. Address any complex analytical techniques that will be used. Provide the time schedule for the entire project, including beginning and ending dates of the collection of information, completion of report, publication dates, and other actions.

This information collection will not be published for statistical purposes.

17. If seeking approval to not display the expiration date for OMB approval of the information collection, explain the reasons that display would be inappropriate.

USCIS will display the expiration date for OMB approval of this information collection.

18. Explain each exception to the certification statement identified in Item 19, "Certification for Paperwork Reduction Act Submission," of OMB 83-I.

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

B. Collections of Information Employing Statistical Methods.

There is no statistical methodology involved with this collection.

7