Application for Benefits Under the Family Unity Program

OMB Control No: 1615-0005	ICR Reference No: 200805-1615-006
Status: Historical Active	Previous ICR Reference No: 200707-1615-046
Agency/Subagency: DHS/USCIS	Agency Tracking No:
Title: Application for Benefits Under the Family Unity Program
Type of Information Collection: No material or nonsubstantive change to a currently approved collection	Common Form ICR:  No
Type of Review Request: Regular
OIRA Conclusion Action: Approved without change	Conclusion Date: 05/13/2008
Retrieve Notice of Action (NOA)	Date Received in OIRA: 05/13/2008
Terms of Clearance:

	Inventory as of this Action	Requested	Previously Approved
Expiration Date	10/31/2008	10/31/2008	10/31/2008
Responses	6,000	0	6,000
Time Burden (Hours)	12,000	0	12,000
Cost Burden (Dollars)	3,120,000	0	3,120,000

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Abstract: The information collected will be used to determine whether the applicant meets the eligibility requirements for benefits under 8 CFR 245A, Subpart C. If the applicant fully demonstrates eligibility, the application will be approved, and USCIS will issue an employment authorization document and approval notice to the applicant.

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Authorizing Statute(s): US Code: 8 USC 1255a Name of Law: Immigration and Nationality Act

Citations for New Statutory Requirements: None

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Associated Rulemaking Information
RIN:	Stage of Rulemaking:	Federal Register Citation:	Date:
	Not associated with rulemaking

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Federal Register Notices & Comments
60-day Notice:	Federal Register Citation:	Citation Date:
	72 FR 17176	04/06/2007
30-day Notice:	Federal Register Citation:	Citation Date:
	72 FR 32304	06/12/2007
Did the Agency receive public comments on this ICR? No

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Number of Information Collection (IC) in this ICR: 1

IC Title Form No. Form Name Application for Benefits Under the Family Unity Program I-817 Application for Benefits Under the Family Unity Program

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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	6,000	6,000	0	0	0	0
Annual Time Burden (Hours)	12,000	12,000	0	0	0	0
Annual Cost Burden (Dollars)	3,120,000	3,120,000	0	0	0	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 a decrease of 68,000 burden hours previously reported for this information collection. Family unity was designed as a stop gap measure to allow the spouse and children of a legalization beneficiary to stay and work in the United States legally. Family unity eligible individuals must demonstrate they are eligible for classification as a family based immigrant. They demonstrate this by providing evidence that Form I-130 was filed on their behalf by a legalization beneficiary. As time goes by, the individuals who filed the earliest will have a visa number available and they may apply to adjust their status. As these individuals adjust their status, their number decreases. Accordingly the number of respondents submitting the Form I-817 decrease. There has also been a decrease of $17,680,000 in the annual cost burden. This can be attributed to a reduction in the number of respondents submitting the application fee and biometrics fee.

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Annual Cost to Federal Government: $0

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]? Uncollected

Is this ICR related to the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, [Pub. L. 111-203]? Uncollected

Is this ICR related to the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA)? Uncollected

Is this ICR related to the Pandemic Response? Uncollected

Agency Contact: Stephen Tarragon 202-272-8358 [email protected]

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Common Form ICR:  No

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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: 05/13/2008

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