Fee Remittance Form for Certain F, J and M Nonimmigrants

OMB Control No: 1653-0034	ICR Reference No: 201908-1653-001
Status: Received in OIRA	Previous ICR Reference No: 201802-1653-002
Agency/Subagency: DHS/USICE	Agency Tracking No: I-901
Title: Fee Remittance Form for Certain F, J and M Nonimmigrants
Type of Information Collection: Revision of a currently approved collection	Common Form ICR:  No
Type of Review Request: Regular	Date Submitted to OIRA: 03/02/2020

	Requested	Previously Approved
Expiration Date	36 Months From Approved	07/31/2022
Responses	725,270	780,556
Time Burden (Hours)	156,658	168,600
Cost Burden (Dollars)	0	0

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Abstract: 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.

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Authorizing Statute(s): US Code: 8 USC 1372(e)(2) Name of Law: Aliens and Nationality    PL: Pub.L. 104 - 208 641 Name of Law: IIRIRA    PL: Pub.L. 107 - 296 471 Name of Law: Homeland Security Act

Citations for New Statutory Requirements: None

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Associated Rulemaking Information
RIN:	Stage of Rulemaking:	Federal Register Citation:	Date:
1653-AA74	Final or interim final rulemaking	84 FR 23930	05/23/2019

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Federal Register Notices & Comments
60-day Notice:	Federal Register Citation:	Citation Date:
	83 FR 33762	07/17/2018
30-day Notice:	Federal Register Citation:	Citation Date:
	84 FR 23930	05/23/2019
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 Fee Remittance Form for Certain F, J and M Nonimmigrants I-901 FEE REMITTANCE FOR CERTAIN F, J AND M NONIMMIGRANTS

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ICR Summary of Burden

	Total Request	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	725,270	780,556	0	-55,286	0	0
Annual Time Burden (Hours)	156,658	168,600	0	-11,942	0	0
Annual Cost Burden (Dollars)	0	0	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: Yes

Burden Reduction Due to: Miscellaneous Actions

Short Statement: 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 shortened the error correction window from 60 days to approximately 14 days. Timely Form I-901 error correction, and the successful processing of the I-901 fee before the F-1/M-1 nonimmigrant students or J-1 exchange visitors arrives at a consulate interview is imperative, as proof of Form I-901 payment is necessary at the visa screening process. SEVP instituted a responsive web design that makes it possible for nonimmigrants to access the FMJ Fee site in a manner best suited to the nonimmigrant’s specific device. Prior to this upgrade accessing the FMJ Fee site on a cell phone resulted in a page the same size as when accessing via a desktop; it was difficult to read and navigate. Now, FMJ Fee adjusts to any screen making the experience more user-friendly. The two most frequently used features (Pay the I-901 Fee and Check Status) are in larger print, and with a green background, to make it easier for the user to see and navigate the content. Also, SEVP made the Form I-901 easier to complete. For example, now when entering Date-of-Birth information, the cursor automatically moves to the next box as the nonimmigrant fills in date, month and year. The Fee Transfer request feature saves the nonimmigrant time because now there is no need to provide a payment receipt. Instead, the nonimmigrant accesses FMJ Fee, finds the I-901 payment, and requests that SEVP transfer the I-901 payment associated with one school to another school. Through these technical updates, SEVP has reduced form completion time to 5 minutes.

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Annual Cost to Federal Government: $157,177,500

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.     No

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? No

Agency Contact: Scott Elmore 202 732-2601 [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: 03/02/2020

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