Petition for a Nonimmigrant Worker

OMB Control No: 1615-0009	ICR Reference No: 202412-1615-006
Status: Received in OIRA	Previous ICR Reference No: 202412-1615-005
Agency/Subagency: DHS/USCIS	Agency Tracking No: I-129
Title: Petition for a Nonimmigrant Worker
Type of Information Collection: No material or nonsubstantive change to a currently approved collection	Common Form ICR:  No
Type of Review Request: Regular	Date Submitted to OIRA: 12/30/2024

	Requested	Previously Approved
Expiration Date	12/31/2027	12/31/2027
Responses	572,606	572,606
Time Burden (Hours)	3,032,605	3,039,383
Cost Burden (Dollars)	149,694,919	149,694,919

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Abstract: USCIS uses Form I-129 and accompanying supplements to determine whether the petitioner and foreign national beneficiary(ies) is (are) eligible for the nonimmigrant classification. A U.S. employer, or 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. The non-substantial change is adding the electronic filing option.

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Authorizing Statute(s): US Code: 8 USC 1101

Citations for New Statutory Requirements: US Code: 8 USC 1101

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Associated Rulemaking Information
RIN:	Stage of Rulemaking:	Federal Register Citation:	Date:
1615-AC70	Final or interim final rulemaking	89 FR 103054	12/18/2024

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Federal Register Notices & Comments

Did the Agency receive public comments on this ICR? No

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

IC Title Form No. Form Name Petition for a Nonimmigrant Worker (e-file) I-129 e-file Petition for a Nonimmigrant Worker Petition for a Nonimmigrant Worker (paper) I-129 (paper) Petition for a Nonimmigrant Worker

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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	572,606	572,606	0	0	0	0
Annual Time Burden (Hours)	3,032,605	3,039,383	0	-6,778	0	0
Annual Cost Burden (Dollars)	149,694,919	149,694,919	0	0	0	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: Yes

Burden Reduction Due to: Miscellaneous Actions

Short Statement: The overall change in burden estimates reflects changes to this information collection resulting from changes made as part of two final rules published on December 18, 2024, Modernizing H-1B Requirements, Providing Flexibility in the F-1 Program, and Program Improvements Affecting Other Nonimmigrant Workers (RIN 1615-AC70) and Modernizing H-2 Program Requirements, Oversight, and Worker Protections (RIN 1615-AC76). Changes from the H-1B Final Rule - RIN 1615-AC70 resulted in a time burden increase per response for completing the base Form I-129 (paper-filings) changing the burden from 2.487 hours to 2.55 hours per response totaling 1,345,395 annual hours. Changes from the H-2 Final Rule - RIN 1615-AC76 resulted in a time burden increase per response for completing the H Classification Supplement to Form I-129 (paper filings), from 2.07 hours to 2.3 hours per response totaling 982,061 annual hours changing the total annual hours to 3,032,605.

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Annual Cost to Federal Government: $3,434,894,298

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? No

Agency Contact: Kim Bouknight-Makle 240 850-8945 [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: 12/30/2024

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