SUPPORTING STATEMENT
(Form I-515A)
Justification.
When an academic student (F-1), vocational student (M-1), exchange visitor (J-1), or dependent (F-2, M-2 or J-2) is admitted to the United States as a nonimmigrant alien under section 101(a)(15) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (Act), he or she is required to have certain documentation. If the student or exchange visitor or dependent is missing documentation, he or she is provided with the Form I-515A, Notice to Student or Exchange Visitor. The Form I-515A provides a list of the documentation the student or exchange visitor or dependent will need to provide to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) office within 30 days of admission. The Form I-515A is necessary to ensure that students, exchange visitors, or dependents who are otherwise eligible to be admitted into the United States, are not prevented from entering because they do not have the proper documentation in their possession.
The Form I-515A is used by DHS to allow an F, M or J alien who is without proper documentation for entry into the United States, to enter temporarily for a 30-day period. To extend the authorized duration of the visit, the F, M, or J alien must obtain the required documents and submit them to the SEVP office within the 30-day period.
Use of the Form I-515A provides the most efficient means for collecting the required data. This form is completed at a port-of-entry and provided to the alien so that the alien knows what documents need to be presented to DHS within 30-days.
A search of DHS’ automated forms tracking system was accomplished and revealed no duplication. There is no similar data collected that can be used for this purpose.
This collection of information does not affect small entities.
The Form I-515A allows temporary admittance to an F, M, and J, nonimmigrant alien for a 30-day period to allow him or her to obtain and submit the proper documentation for an extension of stay. Without the use of this information collection, a student or exchange visitor or their accompanying spouse and/or child(ren) would not be admitted into the United States for the initial 30-day period. This would seriously deter potential foreign applicants to U.S. academic institutions and exchange visitor programs and would have significant negative economic consequences to those educational and exchange entities.
This information collection requires respondents to prepare and submit their response immediately, within 30 days of arrival to the United States. The use of the Form I-515A constitutes a benefit to the respondent and a calculated risk to the United States. The alternatives to this collection are denial of admission or removal of the individual from the United States when the 30-day period expires.
On April 4, 2006, DHS published a notice in the Federal Register at 71 FR 16822, allowing for a 60-day comment period. The DHS has not received any comments for this information collection.
DHS does not provide payments or gifts to respondents in exchange for a benefit sought.
There is no assurance of confidentiality in this process.
There are no questions of a sensitive nature.
Annual Reporting Burden:
Number of Respondents 8,300
Number of responses per respondent 1
Total annual responses 8,300
Hours per response .166
Total annual reporting burden (hours) 1,378
Annual Reporting Burden
The total annual reporting burden hours are 1,378. This figure was derived by multiplying the number of respondents (8,300) x frequency of response (1) x 10 minutes (.166) processing time per response. This calculation is based on DHS experience with the process.
There are no capital or start-up costs associated with this information collection. There is no fee associated with this form.
14. Annualized Cost Analysis:
a. Printing Cost $ 1,660
b. Collecting and Processing $ 304,112
c. Total Cost to Program $ 305,772
d. Fee Charge, if any $ 0
e. Total Annual Cost to Government $ 305,772
The estimated cost to the government is $305,772. This figure is calculated by using the number of respondents (8,300) x frequency of processing (1) x average time 55 minutes (0.916) required to collect, validate and process information x ($40) average hourly rate for clerical, officer, and managerial time with benefits. In addition, this figure includes the estimated overhead cost for printing, stocking, and distributing the form which is $1,660.
The estimated annual public cost is $13,778. This is based on the number of respondents 8,300 x 10 minutes (.166) per response x $10 (average hourly rate).
There has been an increase of 382 burden hours previously reported for this collection of information.
DHS does not intend to employ the use of statistics or the publication thereof for this information collection.
DHS will display the expiration date of OMB approval of this information collection.
DHS does not request an exception to the certification of this information collection. See attached Item 19 of Form OMB 83-I.
Collection of Information Employing Statistical Methods.
Not Applicable.
Certification and Signature.
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.
___________________________________ __________________
Director,
Regulatory Management Division,
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services.
| File Type | application/msword |
| File Title | SUPPORTING STATEMENT |
| Author | ANDREA FLEET |
| Last Modified By | user_template |
| File Modified | 2006-06-07 |
| File Created | 2006-03-29 |