30-Day Notice

[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 199 (Friday, October 14, 2011)]

[Notices]

[Pages 63941-63942]

From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]

[FR Doc No: 2011-26653]

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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

Citizenship and Immigration Services

Agency Information Collection Activities: Business

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

Information Collection; Comment Request

ACTION: 30-Day notice of information collection under review: Business

Transformation--Electronic Immigration System (ELIS).

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SUMMARY: In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA),

on March 28, 2011, USCIS published a 60-day notice in the Federal

Register at 76 FR 1745, seeking comment on USCIS's information

collection request for the Automated Integrated Operating Environment

(IOE). The comment period expired May 27, 2011. USCIS is reviewing all

comments received and will address those comments in a separate notice.

USCIS has decided to change the name of the IOE to the USCIS

``Electronic Immigration System'' (ELIS). This notice provides the

general public and Federal agencies with notice of the name change to

the information collection request. The name change does not materially

change the collection that was posted for comment.

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

November 14, 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 ``USCIS ELIS'' 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 USCIS ELIS. 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 in to 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 promotes the use of the Internet by federal

agencies through efforts like USCIS' Business Transformation

initiative.

The USCIS ELIS will be implemented by USCIS and made available in

increments for the public to submit various benefit requests over the

next few years USCIS has termed these increments ``releases'' and

``phases.'' As each phase is implemented, DHS will announce each

benefit request type that has been converted to an e-filing format in

the USCIS ELIS, if the USCIS ELIS 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 USCIS ELIS will follow

the immigration ``lifecycle'' to first include nonimmigrant benefits,

proceeding eventually to applications for naturalization.

The first benefit type available in the automated USCIS ELIS 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 USCIS ELIS 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 USCIS ELIS. USCIS is very interested in

receiving comments concerning mandatory e-filing of this benefit and

any future benefits that are added to the automated ELIS. 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

[[Page 63942]]

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--USCIS

Electronic Immigration System (ELIS).

(3) Agency Form Number, if any, and the Applicable Component of the

Department of Homeland Security 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 Electronic Immigration System (USCIS ELIS). The USCIS ELIS

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 USCIS ELIS, 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: October 11, 2011.

Sunday Aigbe,

Chief, Regulatory Products Division, Office of the Executive

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

Homeland Security.

[FR Doc. 2011-26653 Filed 10-13-11; 8:45 am]

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