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Please note that the OMB number and expiration date may not have been determined when this Information Collection Request and associated Information Collection forms were submitted to OMB. The approved OMB number and expiration date may be found by clicking on the Notice of Action link below.
View ICR - OIRA Conclusion
OMB Control No:
1615-0009
ICR Reference No:
201610-1615-001
Status:
Historical Active
Previous ICR Reference No:
201508-1615-001
Agency/Subagency:
DHS/USCIS
Agency Tracking No:
I-129
Title:
Petition for Nonimmigrant Worker
Type of Information Collection:
Extension without change of a currently approved collection
Common Form ICR:
No
Type of Review Request:
Regular
OIRA Conclusion Action:
Approved with change
Conclusion Date:
12/19/2016
Retrieve Notice of Action (NOA)
Date Received in OIRA:
10/25/2016
Terms of Clearance:
USCIS may continue to use the previously approved instrument through December 22, 2016. USCIS will begin using the 12/23/16 version of the form and instructions on December 23, 2016 and the 01/17/17 version as of January 17, 2017. Approved for two years only due to partial GPEA compliance.
Inventory as of this Action
Requested
Previously Approved
Expiration Date
12/31/2018
36 Months From Approved
12/31/2016
Responses
333,891
0
333,891
Time Burden (Hours)
1,631,400
0
1,631,400
Cost Burden (Dollars)
78,027,021
0
75,001,935
Abstract:
USCIS needs the information collected through this form and accompanying supplements to determine whether the foreign national beneficiary (ies) is(are) eligible for the nonimmigrant status being sought and that the petitioning employer is eligible to hire the foreign worker. The statutory authority is section 214(c)(1) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (Act) and the regulatory authority is 8 CFR 214.2 (h)(2)(i)(A), (l)(2)(i), (o)(2)(i), (p)(2)(i), (q)(2)(i), and (r)(3). A U.S. employer, or their agent, in some instances, may file a petition for nonimmigrant worker to employ foreign nationals under the following nonimmigrant classifications: H-1B, H-2A, H-2B, H-3, L-1, O-1, O-2, P-1, P-2, P-3, P-1S, P-2S, P-3S, Q-1, or R-1 nonimmigrant worker. The collection of this information is also required from a U.S. employer on a petition for an extension of stay or change of status for E-1, E-2, E-3, Free Trade H-1B1 Chile/Singapore nonimmigrants and TN (NAFTA workers) who are in the United States. A Form I-129 is not required to apply for an E-1 or E-2 nonimmigrant visa or admission as a TN nonimmigrant. A petition is only required to apply for a change to one of these classifications. The statutory authority for collecting information for the E-3s and H-1B1 classifications can be found in section 101(a)(15)(E)(iii) and (H)(i)(b1) of the Act. The additional regulatory authority for collection of this information for E-1s, E-2s, and TNs is found in 8 CFR 214.2(e)(1) and 8 CFR 214.6. In addition to this collection serving as the tool to collect data on the form and the supplements themselves, it also provides the avenue through which employers or agents submit documentary evidence to establish eligibility for the nonimmigrant classification being sought. Biometric information is required to be collected from a beneficiary in the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI) or if requested in accordance with 8 CFR 103.2(b)(9). DHS may collect and store for present or future use, by electronic or other means, the biometric information submitted by an individual. DHS may use this biometric information to conduct background and security checks, adjudicate the nonimmigrant petition, and perform other functions related to administering and enforcing the immigrant and nationality laws. USCIS uses the data collected on this form to determine eligibility for the requested nonimmigrant petition and/or requests to extend or change nonimmigrant status. (See USCIS response to Question 1 of this supporting statement, above). An employer uses this form to petition USCIS for an alien to temporarily enter as a nonimmigrant. An employer also uses this form to request an extension of stay or change of status on behalf of the alien worker. The form serves the purpose of standardizing requests for nonimmigrant workers, and ensuring that basic information required for assessing eligibility is provided by U.S. employers while seeking that beneficiaries be classified under certain nonimmigrant employment categories. It also assists USCIS in compiling information required by Congress annually to assess effectiveness and utilization of certain nonimmigrant classifications.
Authorizing Statute(s):
US Code:
8 USC 1101
Citations for New Statutory Requirements:
None
Associated Rulemaking Information
RIN:
Stage of Rulemaking:
Federal Register Citation:
Date:
1615-AC05
Final or interim final rulemaking
81 FR 82398
11/18/2016
Federal Register Notices & Comments
60-day Notice:
Federal Register Citation:
Citation Date:
81 FR 46951
07/19/2016
30-day Notice:
Federal Register Citation:
Citation Date:
81 FR 67371
09/30/2016
Did the Agency receive public comments on this ICR?
No
Number of Information Collection (IC) in this ICR:
2
IC Title
Form No.
Form Name
Biometrics Processing
Petition for Nonimmigrant Worker
I-129, I-129
Petition for Nonimmigrant Worker
ICR Summary of Burden
Total Approved
Previously Approved
Change Due to New Statute
Change Due to Agency Discretion
Change Due to Adjustment in Estimate
Change Due to Potential Violation of the PRA
Annual Number of Responses
333,891
333,891
0
0
0
0
Annual Time Burden (Hours)
1,631,400
1,631,400
0
0
0
0
Annual Cost Burden (Dollars)
78,027,021
75,001,935
0
0
3,025,086
0
Burden increases because of Program Change due to Agency Discretion:
No
Burden Increase Due to:
Burden decreases because of Program Change due to Agency Discretion:
No
Burden Reduction Due to:
Short Statement:
There has been an increase to the estimated cost burden previously reported for this collection of information. This increase is due to better estimates in out-pocket-expenses, including postage incurred by respondents, as well as an increase in the hourly wage rate for services such as document preparation. There is no change in the information being collected.
Annual Cost to Federal Government:
$320,535,360
Does this IC contain surveys, censuses, or employ statistical methods?
No
Is the Supporting Statement intended to be a Privacy Impact Assessment required by the E-Government Act of 2002?
No
Is this ICR related to the Affordable Care Act [Pub. L. 111-148 & 111-152]?
No
Is this ICR related to the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, [Pub. L. 111-203]?
No
Is this ICR related to the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA)?
No
Is this ICR related to the Pandemic Response?
Uncollected
Agency Contact:
Heather Young 202 272-1673 heather.l.young@uscis.dhs.gov
Common Form ICR:
No
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:
(a) It is necessary for the proper performance of agency functions;
(b) It avoids unnecessary duplication;
(c) It reduces burden on small entities;
(d) It uses plain, coherent, and unambiguous language that is understandable to respondents;
(e) Its implementation will be consistent and compatible with current reporting and recordkeeping practices;
(f) It indicates the retention periods for recordkeeping requirements;
(g) It informs respondents of the information called for under 5 CFR 1320.8 (b)(3) about:
(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;
(h) It was developed by an office that has planned and allocated resources for the efficient and effective management and use of the information to be collected.
(i) It uses effective and efficient statistical survey methodology (if applicable); and
(j) It makes appropriate use of information technology.
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.
Certification Date:
10/25/2016
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