Freedom of Information/Privacy Act Request

OMB Control No: 1615-0102	ICR Reference No: 201903-1615-005
Status: Historical Active	Previous ICR Reference No: 201703-1615-002
Agency/Subagency: DHS/USCIS	Agency Tracking No: G-639
Title: Freedom of Information/Privacy Act Request
Type of Information Collection: Revision of a currently approved collection	Common Form ICR:  No
Type of Review Request: Regular
OIRA Conclusion Action: Approved with change	Conclusion Date: 06/20/2019
Retrieve Notice of Action (NOA)	Date Received in OIRA: 04/03/2019
Terms of Clearance:

	Inventory as of this Action	Requested	Previously Approved
Expiration Date	06/30/2022	36 Months From Approved	04/30/2020
Responses	207,273	0	163,000
Time Burden (Hours)	131,825	0	40,750
Cost Burden (Dollars)	2,445,820	0	859,450

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Abstract: FOIA requests may be submitted in any written form. However, Form G-639 and the Freedom of Information Act Immigration Records SysTem (FIRST) e-filing process are convenient tools for individuals to provide the data necessary for identification of a particular record requested under FOIA. Submitting a FOIA request via Form G-639 or FIRST ensure expeditious handling of this type of request.

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Authorizing Statute(s): US Code: 5 USC 552 Name of Law: Administrative Procedures 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:
	83 FR 63665	12/11/2018
30-day Notice:	Federal Register Citation:	Citation Date:
	84 FR 5459	02/21/2019
Did the Agency receive public comments on this ICR? Yes

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Number of Information Collection (IC) in this ICR: 2

IC Title Form No. Form Name Freedom of Information/Privcy Act Request G-639 Freedom of Information/Privacy Act Request Freedom of Information Act Immigration Records SysTem (FIRST)

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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	207,273	163,000	0	41,455	2,818	0
Annual Time Burden (Hours)	131,825	40,750	0	20,727	70,348	0
Annual Cost Burden (Dollars)	2,445,820	859,450	0	364,804	1,221,566	0

Burden increases because of Program Change due to Agency Discretion: Yes

Burden Increase Due to: Miscellaneous Actions

Burden decreases because of Program Change due to Agency Discretion: No

Burden Reduction Due to:

Short Statement: The estimated annual time burden to respondents for this collection of information has increased. USCIS has made a programmatic change to include an e-filing instrument to this information collection, which added a new respondent population and a new estimated time burden for completing an e-filed response. Additionally, USCIS increased the estimated time burden per response and increased the estimated number of respondents for the G-639 paper filing instrument. Although USCIS did make revisions to the content of Form G-639, the increase in the estimated time burden per response was not as a result of those changes. Rather, the agency reevaluated its estimate of the time burden per response and concluded that the previously reported time burden should be increased. The estimated annual cost burden to respondents for this collection of information has increased. USCIS has revised its estimate of the average cost for notary services and the percentage of the respondent population that might pay that cost. Respondents may need to pay costs for notary services regardless of the information collection instrument they choose to use when submitting a FOIA/Privacy Act request.

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Annual Cost to Federal Government: $8,311,582

Does this IC contain surveys, censuses, or employ statistical methods? No

Does this ICR request any personally identifiable information (see OMB Circular No. A-130 for an explanation of this term)? Please consult with your agency's privacy program when making this determination.     Yes

Does this ICR include a form that requires a Privacy Act Statement (see 5 U.S.C. §552a(e)(3))? Please consult with your agency's privacy program when making this determination.     Yes

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: Kerstin Jager 214 489-8022 [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: 04/03/2019

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