60-Day Notice

[Federal Register: March 28, 2011 (Volume 76, Number 59)]

[Notices]

[Page 17145-17146]

From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

[DOCID:fr28mr11-70]

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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services

Agency Information Collection Activities: Business

Transformation--Automated Integrated Operating Environment (IOE), New

Information Collection; Comment Request

ACTION: 60-Day Notice of Information Collection Under Review: Business

Transformation--Integrated Operating Environment (IOE); OMB Control No.

1615-NEW.

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SUMMARY: USCIS is developing an automated Integrated Operating

Environment (IOE) to process benefit applications. The IOE will collect

information by asking sequential questions using ``wizard'' technology.

The IOE will allow immigration benefit requests to be filed directly

via the internet or ``e-filed.'' In accordance with the Paperwork

Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA) this notice provides the general public and

Federal agencies with notice that USCIS will be submitting this

information collection request to OMB and the public will have an

opportunity to review and comment.

DATES: Interested persons are invited to submit comments on or before

May 27, 2011.

ADDRESSES: Written comments and/or suggestions regarding the item(s)

contained in this notice, especially regarding the estimated public

burden and associated response time, should be directed to the

Department of Homeland Security (DHS), USCIS, Chief, Regulatory

Products Division, Office of the Executive Secretariat, 20

Massachusetts Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20529-2020. Comments may also

be submitted to DHS via facsimile to 202-272-0997 or via e-mail at

[email protected]. When submitting comments by e-mail, please be sure to

add ``Automated IOE'' in the subject box. Please do not submit requests

for individual case status inquiries to this address. If you are

seeking information about the status of your individual case, please

check ``My Case Status'' online at: https://egov.uscis.gov/cris/

Dashboard.do, or call the USCIS National Customer Service Center at 1-

800-375-5283. If you need a copy of this information collection

instrument, please visit the Web site at: http://www.regulations.gov/

or call the Regulatory Products Division at (202) 272-8377.

Background: U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) is

transforming its business processes and systems to improve operational

efficiency and customer service, and to strengthen the security and

integrity of the immigration system. As part of this effort, USCIS may

modify its data collection practices to eventually convert all data

collections to e-filing in the IOE. The intent of this change is to

improve the consistency and timeliness of its immigration benefit

adjudications, as well as to support identity management, evaluate

benefit eligibility, promote customer service, and manage national

security and benefit risk. This change will also serve to bring USCIS

into compliance with the Government Paperwork Elimination Act (GPEA),

Public Law 105-277, tit. XVII, section 1703, 112 Stat. 2681, 2681-749

(Oct. 21, 1998), 44 U.S.C. 3504 note, and the E-Government Act of 2002

(Pub. L. 107-347, 116 Stat. 2899, 44 U.S.C. 3601 note). GPEA provides

that Federal agencies use electronic forms, electronic filing, and

electronic submissions, when possible, to conduct agency business with

the public. The E-Government Act sought to promote the use of the

Internet by Federal Agencies through efforts like USCIS' Business

Transformation initiative.

The IOE will be implemented by USCIS and made available for the

public to submit requests over the next few years in increments that

USCIS has termed as ``releases'' and ``phases.'' As each phase is

implemented, DHS will announce each request that has been converted to

the IOE, if the IOE will be the sole filing option available, or if the

option of filing a paper form will remain available for that benefit

for all or certain groups that may seek to submit the applicable

request. In general, the IOE will follow the immigration ``lifecycle''

to first include nonimmigrant benefits, proceeding eventually to

applications for naturalization.

The first benefit type available in the automated IOE under Release

A, Phase 1, will be the Application to Extend/Change Nonimmigrant

Status. Beginning in December 2011, USCIS customers will be able to

apply for an extension or change of their nonimmigrant status using the

IOE or continue to use the current paper Form I-539 (OMB Control No.

1615-0003). In the future, however, USCIS may allow the current paper

Form I-539 to expire, eliminate the option of filing on a paper form,

and instead require this benefit application to be filed through the

automated IOE. USCIS is very interested in receiving comments

concerning mandatory e-filing of this benefit and any future benefits

that are added to the automated IOE. USCIS also welcomes comments on

which groups, individuals, or businesses for which it would be the most

appropriate for USCIS to require (or not require) electronic filing of

all benefit requests.

The supporting statement for this information collection contains a

more detailed description of the USCIS Business Transformation

initiative and wizard technology. The supporting statement can be

viewed at: http://www.regulations.gov/.

USCIS is also interested in public comment addressing the following

issues:

(1) Evaluate whether the proposed 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 agencies estimate of the burden of

the proposed 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: New information collection.

(2) Title of the Form/Collection: Business Transformation--

Automated Integrated Operating Environment (IOE).

(3) Agency form number, if any, and the applicable component of the

Department of Homeland Security

[[Page 17146]]

sponsoring the collection: No form number; U.S. Citizenship and

Immigration Services (USCIS).

(4) Affected public who will be asked or required to respond, as

well as a brief abstract: Primary: Individuals or households. As part

of the Business Transformation initiative, USCIS is developing an

automated Integrated Operating Environment (IOE). The IOE will use

wizard technology and will allow e-filing. Wizard technology gives

USCIS the ability to electronically interact with its customers by

guiding them through the application process and assisting them to file

complete and accurate benefit requests.

(5) An estimate of the total number of respondents and the amount

of time estimated for an average respondent to respond: 58,500

responses at an average of 2 hours and 15 minutes per response.

(6) An estimate of the total public burden (in hours) associated

with the collection: 131,625 annual burden hours.

The information collection request contains selected screen shots

that demonstrate the look and feel of the automated IOE, and a decision

tree to show the sequence of questions that the public will be asked by

the wizard and the order in which the questions will be asked. For

example, when the user answers the question ``What is your First

Name?'' then he or she will be prompted with the question: ``What is

your Given Name?'' If you need to review this information collection

instrument, please visit the Web site at: http://www.regulations.gov/.

Dated: March 23, 2011.

Sunday Aigbe,

Chief, Regulatory Products Division, Office of the Executive

Secretariat, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, Department of

Homeland Security.

[FR Doc. 2011-7186 Filed 3-25-11; 8:45 am]

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