1615-0087_N-600K Supp Stmt 2015-5-29

SUPPORTING STATEMENT FOR

Application for Citizenship and Issuance of Certificate under Section 322

OMB Control No.: 1615-0087

COLLECTION INSTRUMENT(S): N-600K

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.

The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) requires the information collected on the Application for Citizenship and Issuance of Certificate of Citizenship Under Section 322, Form N-600K to make a determination on whether the applicant has met the citizenship eligibility requirements under section 322 of the Immigration Nationality Act (the Act). Upon approval of the application, the child is declared to be a citizen of the United States and is issued a certificate of citizenship by USCIS.

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.

The data collected on this form is used by USCIS to determine eligibility for the requested immigration benefit of citizenship. The form serves the purpose of standardizing requests for the benefit, and will ensure that the basic information required to assess eligibility is provided by the applicants.

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.

Form N-600K is available at www.uscis.gov/n-600k and has partial Government Paperwork Elimination Act (GPEA) compliance as they can be accessed, completed and saved electronically. Supporting documents and/or fees must be submitted with the form and cannot currently be submitted electronically.

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.

This collection of information is unique to USCIS and is not conducted elsewhere. Any information that is shared with other agencies, or any information collected by other agencies that is used by USCIS to adjudicate the benefit sought in this collection, is noted in Question 2 above.

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.

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.

Section 322 of the Act provides for the issuance of a Certificate of Citizenship to adopted minors or biological children who regularly reside outside the United States and whose United States citizen parent(s) wish to have them acquire United States citizenship. The Form N-600K is used to demonstrate that the child meets certain eligibility conditions while under the age of 18 years. Since Form N-600K provides an organized framework for establishing the authenticity of such eligibility, it is essential for providing prompt, consistent and correct processing of such applications for citizenship. If the information is not collected the applicant cannot show that he or she has met all of the eligibility requirements for citizenship and receipt of a certificate of citizenship.

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 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 December 9, 2014 USCIS published a 60-day notice in the Federal Register at 79 FR 73095. USCIS did not receive comments after publishing that notice. On April 8, 2015, USCIS published a 30-day notice in the Federal Register at 80 FR 18857. USCIS did not receive comments.

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 System of Record Notices associated with this information collection are DHS-USCIS-007 – Benefits Information System September 29, 2008 73 FR 56596 and DHS/USCIS-001 - Alien File, Index, and National File Tracking System of Records June 13, 2011, 76 FR 34233. The associated Privacy Impact Assessment is DHS/USCIS/PIA-015 USCIS Computer Linked Application Information Management System (CLAIMS 4), September 5, 2008.

11. 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:

• 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	Form Name (Form Number)	No. of Respondents	No. of Responses per Respondent	Avg. Burden per Response (in hours)	Total Annual Burden (in hours)	Avg. Hourly Wage Rate *	Total Annual Respondent Cost
Individuals or Households	Application for Citizenship and Issuance of Certificate Under Section 322 (N-600K)	3,242	1	1.583 (1 hour 35 minutes)	5,132	$31.26	$160,426
Individuals and Households	Passport-style Photographs	3,242	1	0.50	1,621	$31.26	$50,672
Total		3,242			6,753		$211,098

*  The above Average Hourly Wage Rate is derived from the May 2013 Bureau of Labor Statistics Mean Hourly Wage for “All Occupations”.  The wage rate of $31.26 is calculated from the base average wage rate of $22.33 times the wage rate benefit multiplier of 1.4.  The selection of “All Occupations” represents the possibility that respondents can be employed in any type of work; the collection is not targeting any specific category of employment.

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 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.

The cost to the respondent for obtaining any necessary documents, postage, attorney fees and other incurred expenses is estimated to $397,145. This is calculated as an estimated 25% of the respondents incurring an estimated cost of $490. The estimated cost per respondent is $397,145 / 3,242 = $122.50.

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.

Annualized Cost Analysis:

a. Printing Cost $ 3,580

b. Collecting and Processing $ 1,917,320

c. Total Cost to the Government $ 1,920,900

Government Cost

USCIS establishes its fees using an activity-based costing model to assign costs to an adjudication based on its relative adjudication burden and use of USCIS resources. Fees are established at an amount that is necessary to recover these assigned costs, plus an amount to recover unassigned overhead (which includes the clerical, officer, and managerial time with benefits) and immigration benefits provided for free. As a consequence of USCIS immigration fees being based on resource expenditures related to the benefit in question, USCIS uses the fee associated with an information collection as a reasonable measure of the collection’s costs to USCIS. USCIS has established the fee for Form N-600K at $600 for a biological child and $550 for an adopted child.

The estimated cost of the program to USCIS is calculated by multiplying the estimated number of respondents (2,756 for biological children and 486 for adopted children) x (1) frequency of response x ($600 for biological children and $550 for adopted children) fee charge, to calculate the total estimated cost to USCIS ($1,920,900). The fee charges include the average hourly rate for clerical, officer, and managerial time with benefits, and the estimated annual overhead cost for printing, stocking, distributing and processing of this form ($3,580.

15. Explain the reasons for any program changes or adjustments reporting in Items 13 or 14 of the OMB Form 83-I.

There is no change to the hour burden for this collection, and there are no changes to the form or instructions.

Data collection Activity/Instru-ment	Program Change (cost currently on OMB Inventory)	Program Change (New)	Difference	Adjustment (cost currently on OMB Inventory)	Adjustment (New)	Difference
N-600K				$0	$397,145	$397,145
Total(s)				$0	$397,145	$397,145

USCIS has estimated the cost to respondents and is updating the reporting of this cost in the current submission.

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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