OMB 48 MyAppointment EXT SS

SUPPORTING STATEMENT FOR
MyAppointment
OMB Control No.: 1615-0113
COLLECTION INSTRUMENT(S): No Form Number
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.
Under Section 103(a) of the Immigration and Nationality Act, USCIS collects information to
identify and communicate with applicants during the immigration benefits process and to
provide a scheduling system directly accessible by the public to facilitate the convenient
scheduling of required personal appointments.

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.
USCIS uses the information collected to schedule appointments for the respondents based
upon their need, location, and time desired. With the availability of this information, the
agency can efficiently manage the inflow of persons who require USCIS assistance on a case
previously filed have not received their Permanent Resident Card, would like to file an
application in person, need information or other services, or need a form.

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.
Respondents are able to access the appointment scheduling system on the USCIS main
webpage via the “Make an Appointment” link. The collection is 100% electronically
submitted to USCIS.

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 other process in place to capture this information; the system is not duplicated
elsewhere as the data requested is specific to the scheduling of an appointment by the
respondent.
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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.
This collection of information does not have an impact on small businesses or other small
entities as the respondents are individuals who wish to schedule an appointment.

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.
This process allows USCIS to efficiently manage its appointment scheduling. Through
this system, USCIS can effectively conduct interviews in a timely fashion and provide the
best possible service to its customers. Without this system in place, USCIS would need
to incur increased costs to have support staff in place to manually schedule and modify
interviews in support of applications and petitions filed by the public.

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
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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.
Describe efforts to consult with persons outside the agency to obtain their views on
the availability of data, frequency of collection, the clarity of instructions and
recordkeeping, disclosure, or reporting format (if any), and on the data elements to
be recorded, disclosed, or reported.
Consultation with representatives of those from whom information is to be obtained
or those who must compile records should occur at least once every 3 years - even if
the collection of information activity is the same as in prior periods. There may be
circumstances that may preclude consultation in a specific situation. These
circumstances should be explained.
•

On May 16, 2022, USCIS published a 60-day notice in the Federal Register at 87 FR
29759. USCIS did not receive comments after publishing that notice.

•

On August 10, 2022, USCIS published a 30-day notice in the Federal Register at 87 FR
48683. USCIS did receive one comment after publishing that notice. Please see comment
and USCIS response below. USCIS did not make any changes to the information
collection in response to this comment.
Comment: The self-service appointment scheduling system should not be continued in
its present form. It should instead be extended to all USCIS domestic field offices as well
to eliminate the absurd months-long delays in scheduling appointments through USCIS'
antiquated call center system. Care should be taken, however, to deflect those who
merely seek publicly available information (e.g. blank forms, status updates) to online
resources to maintain appointment availability for those who cannot be served except
through local office appointments. Changing several years ago from a self-service system
to the USCIS Contact Center system has caused significant delays in obtaining services.
Even emergency requests now typically take weeks. This change was a mistake and
should be undone moving forward--extend the proposed appointment scheduling system
to all domestic USCIS field offices.
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Response: USCIS understands the current backlog of immigration benefit requests
continues to drive high inquiry volumes at the Contact Center at a level that has outpaced staffing. As a result, wait times exceed desired levels due to an increase in demand
and the number of services provided through the USCIS Contact Center. However,
USCIS found that many requesters created an appointment in the past for questions they
could have answered themselves online or through contacting USCIS via telephone.
Thus, USCIS still believes that having appointments scheduled via the Contact Center
actually reduces the overall burden for requesters because requesters who would have
scheduled appointments to get their question resolved now do so via the Customer
Contact Center. Meanwhile, USCIS plans to continue to add support to the Customer
Contact Center to make it more responsive.
9.

Explain any decision to provide any payment or gift to respondents, other than
remuneration of contractors or grantees.
USCIS does not provide any payment for benefit sought.

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 Privacy Impact Assessments (PIA) associated with this information collection are:
•

DHS/USCIS/PIA-046 Customer Scheduling and Services

The System of Record Notices (SORN) associated with this information collection are:
•
11.

DHS/USCIS-007 Benefits Information System, October 19, 2016 81 FR 72069.

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 persons from whom the information is
requested, and any steps to be taken to obtain their consent.
There are no questions of a sensitive nature.

12.

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

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
Primary:
Individuals
or
Total

A

B

C (=AxB)

D

#. of
Respondents

#. of
Responses
per
Respondent

# of
Responses

Avg.
Burden
per
Response
(in
hours)

Form Name /
Form Number

InfoPass / No
Form Number

1,043,319

1

1,043,319

.1

1,043,319

E
(=CxD)

F

(=ExF)

Total
Annual
Burden
(in
hours)

Avg.
Hourly
Wage
Rate*

Total
Annual
Respondent
Cost

104,332

$35.54

3,707,959

104,332

3,707,959

* The above Average Hourly Wage Rate is the May 2017 Bureau of Labor Statistics average wage for all
occupations of $24.34 times the wage rate benefit multiplier of 1.46 (to account for benefits provided) equaling
$35.54. The selection of “All Occupations” was chosen as the expected respondents for this collection could
be expected to be from any occupation.

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
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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, start-up, operational or maintenance costs associated with this
collection of information. All costs to respondents are captured in the information
collections that require interviews.
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.
The cost to the Federal Government for managing the scheduling system to ensure it
functions as required is $63,708, which is calculated from one USCIS employee GS 13
Step 4 (Washington D.C. area annual salary $109,088 x 1.46 multiplier for benefits =
$159,269) spending 40% of their time ($159,269 x 40% = $63,708) managing the
process to ensure information collection processes occur and to provide support for any
updates necessary. The costs for the actual processing of interviews and all associated
activities are captured within the collections for which the interviews occur.

15.

Explain the reasons for any program changes or adjustments reporting in Items 13
or 14 of the OMB Form 83-I.
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There are no changes in the time or cost burden associated with this collection of
information. The name of the information collection has changed from InfoPass to
MyAppointment.
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.

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