SUPPORTING STATEMENT
Request for Certification of Military or Naval Service
(Form N-426)
A. Justification:
Under 8 CFR part 328 and section 329 of the Immigration and Nationality Act (Act), certain aliens applying to become naturalized United States citizens on the basis of honorable service in the U.S. Armed Forces are required to file Form N-426, Request for Certification of Military or Naval Service with Form N-400, Application for Naturalization, to verify such military or naval service.
2. The Form N-426 is used by naturalization applicants to document honorable service in the U.S. Armed Forces. The form is filed with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). The Department of Defense (DOD) record centers check and certify the applicant's military or naval service information provided on Form N-426. USCIS reviews the form as part of the process to determine the applicant's eligibility for naturalization.
The use of this form provides the most efficient means for collecting and processing the required data. This form resides on the USCIS Web site and can be completed electronically. This form has been designated for e-filing under the Business Transformation initiative.
A review of the Forms Inventory Report revealed no duplication of effort, and there is no other similar information currently available that can be used for this purpose.
This collection of information does not have an impact on small businesses or other small entities.
If this information is not collected, USCIS will be unable to verify the applicant's record of honorable military or naval service to satisfy the statutory requirements for naturalization. Without this form, it would be very difficult and burdensome for the applicant to provide this information. The form facilitates the information collection process, enabling USCIS to determine the applicant's eligibility for naturalization.
7. The special circumstances contained in item 7 of the supporting statement are not applicable to this information collection.
8. On May 10, 2011 USCIS published a 60-day notice in connection with this information collection in the Federal Register at 76 FR 27078. USCIS did not receive any comments in connection with the 60-day notice. On August 1, 2011, USCIS published a 30-day notice in the Federal Register at 76 FR 45844. USCIS has not received any comments on the 30-day notice to the date.
9. USCIS does not provide payments or gifts to respondents in exchange for a benefit sought.
10. There is no assurance of confidentiality. The system of record notice associated with this information collection is the Alien File and Central Index System Systems of Records, which was published in the Federal Register on January 16, 2007, at 72 FR 1755. The privacy impact assessment associated with this information collection is Integrated Digitization Document Management Program.
11. There are no questions of a sensitive nature.
12. Annual Reporting Burden:
Number of Respondents: 45,000
Number of Responses per Respondent: 1
Total Annual Response: 45,000
Hours per Response: .333
Total Annual Reporting Burden: 14,985
Total annual reporting burden hours are 14,985. This figure was derived by multiplying the number of respondents 45,000 x (1) frequency of response x .333 hours (20 minutes) per response.
13. 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 no fee charge associated with the collection of this information.
14. Annualized Cost Analysis:
Printing Cost $ 4,140
Collecting and Processing $ 2,025,000
Total Cost to Program $ 2,029,140
Fee Charge $ 0
Total Cost to Government $ 2,029,140
Government Cost
The estimated annual cost to the Government is $2,029,140. This figure is calculated by multiplying the estimated number of respondents 45,000 x 1 hour (USCIS time required to collect and process information) x $40 (suggested average hourly rate for clerical, officer, and managerial time with benefits). This estimate also includes the number of respondents 45,000 x .25 (15 minutes) (DOD time required to verify and complete information on the application) x $20 (suggested average hourly rate for verifiers with benefits). In addition, the cost includes estimated overhead cost for printing, stocking, distributing and processing of this form.
The estimated annual public burden cost is $460,640. This is based on the number of respondents 45,000 x (1) number of responses x .333 (20 minutes) per response x $30.74 (average hourly rate).
15. There is no increase or decrease in the annual burden hours previously reported for this information collection. There is no increase or decrease in the annual burden cost previously reported for this information collection. There is no additional data being captured for this information collection
16. USCIS does not intend to employ the use of statistics or the publication thereof for this collection of information.
17. USCIS will display the expiration date for this information collection.
18. USCIS does not request an exception to the certification of this information collection.
Collection of Information Employing Statistical Methods.
C. Certification and Signature.
_______________________________________ ____________
Sunday Aigbe, Date
Chief,
Regulatory Products Division,
Office of the Executive Secretariat,
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services,
Department of Homeland Security.
| File Type | application/msword |
| File Title | SUPPORTING STATEMENT |
| Author | Sherry Atkins |
| Last Modified By | Evadne Hagigal |
| File Modified | 2012-01-25 |
| File Created | 2012-01-25 |