This information collection is
necessary to implement section 641 of IIRIRA, 8 U.S.C. §1372, which
directs DHS to collect information relating to academic
nonimmigrant students (F-1), vocational nonimmigrant students
(M-1), and exchange visitors (J-1), as well as their dependents
(F-2, M-2 or J-2) , and provides for the collection of the required
fee to defray the costs of this program. Section 641 of IIRIRA
requires DHS to collect current information, on an ongoing basis,
from schools and exchange visitor program sponsors relating to F, J
and M nonimmigrants during the course of their stay in the United
States, using electronic reporting technology to the fullest extent
practicable. SEVP, an office of the DHS agency U.S. Immigration and
Customs Enforcement, implemented SEVIS to carryout out this
statutory requirement. SEVP uses the Form I-901, Fee Remittance for
Certain F, J and M Nonimmigrants, to provide a receipt to the F, J
or M nonimmigrant upon payment and to positively identify that a
particular F, J, or M nonimmigrant has paid the fee.
Approximately 99% of
participants now submit Form I-901 payment online (Those who submit
a paper Form I-901 incur the print and processing cost).
Previously, when SEVP’s Form I-901 processing staff identified an
error or omission on a Form I-901, it affected contact with the
F-1/M-1 nonimmigrant students or J-1exchange visitors via a letter
sent through the traditional international postal systems, a
process that could take up to 60 days to reach the addressee. By
augmenting SEVP’s Form I-901 data collection to include the F-1/M-1
nonimmigrant students and J-1 exchange visitors email address, SEVP
shorten the error correction window from 60 days to approximately
14 days.
On behalf of this Federal agency, I certify that
the collection of information encompassed by this request complies
with 5 CFR 1320.9 and the related provisions of 5 CFR
1320.8(b)(3).
The following is a summary of the topics, regarding
the proposed collection of information, that the certification
covers:
(i) Why the information is being collected;
(ii) Use of information;
(iii) Burden estimate;
(iv) Nature of response (voluntary, required for a
benefit, or mandatory);
(v) Nature and extent of confidentiality; and
(vi) Need to display currently valid OMB control
number;
If you are unable to certify compliance with any of
these provisions, identify the item by leaving the box unchecked
and explain the reason in the Supporting Statement.