[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 9 (Wednesday, January 14, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 1928-1930]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-00404]
[[Page 1928]]
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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY
Agency Information Collection Activities: Case Assistance Form
(Ombudsman Form DHS-7001 and Instructions)
AGENCY: Office of the Citizenship and Immigration Services Ombudsman,
DHS.
ACTION: 30-Day Notice and request for comments; Extension without
change of a currently approved collection, 1601-0004.
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SUMMARY: The Department of Homeland Security, Office of the Citizenship
and Immigration Services Ombudsman, will submit the following
Information Collection Request (ICR) to the Office of Management and
Budget (OMB) for review and clearance in accordance with the Paperwork
Reduction Act of 1995 (Pub. L. 104-13, 44 U.S.C. Chapter 35). DHS
previously published this information collection request (ICR) in the
Federal Register on Friday, October 17, 2014 at 79 FR 62450 for a 60-
day public comment period. No comments were received by DHS. The
purpose of this notice is to allow additional 30-days for public
comments.
DATES: Comments are encouraged and will be accepted until February 13,
2015. This process is conducted in accordance with 5 CFR 1320.1.
ADDRESSES: Interested persons are invited to submit written comments on
the proposed information collection to the Office of Information and
Regulatory Affairs, Office of Management and Budget. Comments should be
addressed to OMB Desk Officer, Department of Homeland Security and sent
via electronic mail to [email protected] or faxed to (202)
395-5806.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Citizenship and Immigration Services
(CIS) Ombudsman was created under section 452 of the Homeland Security
Act of 2002 (Pub. L. 107-296) to: (1) Assist individuals and employers
in resolving problems with the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration
Services (USCIS); (2) to identify areas in which individuals and
employers have problems in dealing with USCIS; and (3) to the extent
possible, propose changes in the administrative practices of USCIS to
mitigate problems. This form is used by an applicant who is
experiencing problems with USCIS during the processing of an
immigration benefit.
The information collected on this form will allow the CIS Ombudsman
to identify the problem such as: (1) A case problem which is a request
for information about a case that was filed with USCIS (``case
problem''); or (2) the identification of a systemic issue that may or
may not pertain to an individual case which the individual, attorney or
employer is seeking to bring to the attention of the CIS Ombudsman
(``trend''). For case problems, the CIS Ombudsman will refer case
specific issues to the Customer Assistance Office for USCIS for further
research, and review.
For trends received, the CIS Ombudsman notes the systemic issue
identified in the correspondence which may or may not be incorporated
into future recommendations submitted to the Director of USCIS pursuant
to section 452(d)(4) of Public Law 107-296.
The use of this form provides the most efficient means for
collecting and processing the required data. The CIS Ombudsman is now
employing the use of information technology in collecting and
processing information by offering the option for electronic submission
of the DHS Form 7001 through the Ombudsman Case Assistance Online
System. Per PRA requirements, a fillable PDF version of the form is
provided on the Ombudsman's Web site. The PDF form can be completed
online, printed out and sent to the Ombudsman's office at the address
indicated on the form. It is noted on the form that using the paper
method can result in significant processing delays for the Ombudsman's
office to provide the requested case assistance. After approval of the
changes to form detailed in this supporting statement, the online form
will be updated and posted on the Ombudsman's Web site at http://www.dhs.gov/case-assistance for electronic online submission of the
form.
The assurance of confidentiality provided to the respondents for
this information collection is provided by: (a) The CIS Ombudsman
statute and mandate as established by Homeland Security Act Section
452; (b) the Privacy Impact Assessment for the Office of the
Citizenship & Immigration Services Ombudsman (CISOMB) Virtual Ombudsman
System (March 19, 2010) and the (c) Systems of Records Notice: 9110-9B
Department of Homeland Security, Office of the Secretary [Docket No.
DHS-2009-0146] Privacy Act of 1974; Department of Homeland Security
Citizenship and Immigration Services Ombudsman--001 Online Ombudsman
Form DHS-7001 System of Records. The DHS Privacy Office will receive
the entire package of documents for this information collection to
assure authorization for renewal of the collection.
The CISOMB Form DHS-7001 and the Online Ombudsman Form DHS-7001
system is constructed in compliance with all applicable DHS Privacy
Office, DHS CIO, DHS Records Management, and OMB regulations regarding
data collection, use, storage, and retrieval. The proposed public use
data collection system is therefore intended to be distributed for
public use primarily by electronic means with limited paper
distribution and processing of paper forms.
The CISOMB Form DHS-7001 (PDF) and the Online Ombudsman Form DHS-
7001 (Ombudsman Case Assistance Online System) has been constructed in
compliance with regulations and authorities under the purview of the
DHS Privacy Office, DHS CIO, DHS Records Management, and OMB
regulations regarding data collection, use, sharing, storage,
information security and retrieval of information.
In accordance with the Privacy Act of 1974, the Department of
Homeland Security is giving notice that it proposes to renew the
Department of Homeland Security system of records notice titled,
``Department of Homeland Security Citizenship and Immigration Services
Ombudsman--001 Online Ombudsman Form DHS-7001 and Ombudsman Case
Assistance Online System of Records.'' This system of records will
continue to ensure the efficient and secure processing of information
to aid the Citizenship and Immigration Services Ombudsman in providing
assistance to individuals, employers, and their representatives in
resolving problems with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services;
identify areas in which individuals, employers, and their
representatives have problems working with U.S. Citizenship and
Immigration Services; and to the extent possible, propose changes to
mitigate problems pursuant to 6 U.S.C. 272. This system will continue
to be included in the Department of Homeland Security's inventory of
record systems.
There has been an increase of 6,200 in the estimated annual burden
hours previously reported for this information collection. The increase
in burden hours is a reflection of agency estimates. There is no change
in the information being collected, however there have been cosmetic
changes to the form including punctuation, formatting, sequencing of
information, and text changes to make the form more understandable and
streamlined for use by respondents. The number of response fields has
been reduced from 13 to 12 and arranged in a way that streamlines
completion, submission and processing of the form.
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The title of the form has changed from ``Case Problem Submission
Worksheet (CIS Ombudsman Form DHS-7001)'' to ``Case Assistance Form
(Ombudsman Form DHS-7001)''. The name of the system has changed from
``Virtual Ombudsman System'' to ``Ombudsman Case Assistance Online''.
The following narrative explains the changes made on the form and the
corresponding instructions:
The Original 7001 form had the sections arranged in the following
order:
1--Name: Please identify the individual or employer encountering
difficulties with USCIS (applicant/beneficiary/petitioner).
2--Contact Information: Please provide information on the
individual or employer encountering difficulties with USCIS (applicant/
beneficiary/petitioner).
3--Date of Birth.
4--Country of Birth and Citizenship.
5--Alien Registration Number (A-Number); The A-number appears in
the following format: A123-456-789.
6--Person Preparing This Form: Please indicate who is completing
this form.
7--Applications/Petitions Filed: List all applications and/or
petitions pending with USCIS related to your case inquiry.
8--Type of Immigration Benefit: Please provide the type of
immigration benefit sought from USCIS.
9--Reason for Inquiry: Please indicate if any of the options apply.
Provide a description in section 10.
10--Description: Describe the difficulties experienced with USCIS.
Attach additional pages if needed.
11--Prior Actions Taken: Check all that apply: Please describe the
response USCIS provided and attach any relevant correspondence.
12--Consent: If you are the beneficiary of an immigration petition,
consent of the individual who submitted the petition on your behalf is
required. The petitioner must sign.
13--Attorney or Accredited Representative: Please complete this
section if you are an attorney, a representative of an organization, an
accredited representative, or anyone else preparing this form on behalf
of the individual or employer encountering difficulties with USCIS.
The Amended 7001 has the sections arranged in the following order:
1. Name: Please identify the name of the individual or employer
(applicant/beneficiary/petitioner) encountering or difficulties with
USCIS. Do not enter the attorney/law firm's name here.
2. Date of Birth: Country of Birth: Country of Citizenship:
3. Alien Registration Number (A-Number); The A-number appears in
the following format: A123-456-789.
4. Contact Information: Please provide the contact information of
the individual or employer (applicant/beneficiary/petitioner)
encountering difficulties with USCIS. Please include the primary E-Mail
address for the Ombudsman to provide updates.
5. Applications/Petitions Filed: List all applications and/or
petitions pending with USCIS related to your case inquiry.
6. Type of Immigration Benefit Sought: Please provide the type of
immigration benefit sought from USCIS.
7. Reason for Inquiry/Case Assistance Request: Check all that
apply. Provide a description in section 8 and add documentation related
to your inquiry.
8. Description of your Case Problem: Describe the difficulties
experienced with USCIS including all responses USCIS provided. Attach
relevant correspondence concerning actions taken to resolve the issue
before submitting with the Ombudsman's Office including: Receipt
notices; requests for evidence; decisions; notices and any other
correspondence from USCIS about your case. Attach additional pages if
needed.
9. Prior Actions Taken to Remedy the Problem: Check all that apply
and provide the additional information requested for each selection in
the space provided. Note that if selecting Option a ``Visited USCIS My
Case Status at www.uscis.gov'', you must indicate what additional
actions (b through g) were taken to remedy the problem before
submitting the form to the Ombudsman
a. Visited USCIS My Case Status at www.uscis.gov and
b. Contacted the National Customer Service Center (NCSC) for
information and/or assistance regarding this case at their toll-free
number 1-800-375-5283. Provide SRMT Number:
c. Attended an InfoPass Appointment with USCIS.
Provide InfoPass Number:
d. Sent an Email to USCIS. Provide date email sent: Provide USCIS
Email address:
e. Contacted a U.S. Government Department or Agency for assistance.
Provide name and contact information:
f. Contacted a U.S. Congressional Representative for assistance.
Provide name and contact information:
g. Other. Please describe.
10. Person Preparing This Form: Please indicate who is completing
this form.
11. Attorney or Accredited Representative: Please complete this
section if you are an attorney, a representative of an organization, an
accredited representative, or anyone else preparing this form on behalf
of the individual or employer encountering difficulties with USCIS.
Please attach copy of your Form G-28
12. Consent: Please note that if you are the beneficiary of an
immigration petition, consent of the individual or employer that
submitted the petition on your behalf is required. The petitioner must
sign.
The instructions have been updated to reflect the electronic
submission options as detailed in the previous paragraphs.
Instructions for electronic submission will be posted on the CIS
Ombudsman Web site at www.dhs.gov/cisombudsman. The electronic version
of the form will be developed by DHS OCIO (Office of the Chief
Information Officer) based upon the approved version of the amended
7001 as described herein.
There is no change in the terms of clearance from the previously
approved collection have been addressed by updates to the: (a) Privacy
Impact Assessment for the Office of the Citizenship & Immigration
Services Ombudsman (CISOMB) Virtual Ombudsman System (March 19, 2010);
and the (b) Systems of Records Notice: 9110-9B Department of Homeland
Security, Office of the Secretary [Docket No. DHS-2009-0146] Privacy
Act of 1974; Department of Homeland Security Citizenship and
Immigration Services Ombudsman--001 Virtual Ombudsman System (March
2010) to reflect the name change to Online Ombudsman Form DHS-7001
System of Records.
The Office of Management and Budget is particularly interested in
comments which:
1. Evaluate whether the proposed collection of information is
necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the agency,
including whether the information will have practical utility;
2. Evaluate the accuracy of the agency's estimate of the burden of
the proposed collection of information, including the validity of the
methodology and assumptions used;
3. Enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to
be collected; and
4. Minimize the burden of the collection of information on those
who are to respond, including through the use of appropriate automated,
electronic, mechanical, or other technological collection techniques or
other forms of information technology, e.g., permitting electronic
submissions of responses.
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Analysis
Agency: Office of the Citizenship and Immigration Services
Ombudsman, DHS.
Title: Case Assistance Form (Ombudsman Form DHS-7001and
Instructions).
OMB Number: 1601-0004.
Frequency: Annually.
Affected Public: Individuals or household.
Number of Respondents: 8,800.
Estimated Time per Respondent: 1 hour.
Total Burden Hours: 8,800.
Dated: January 5, 2015.
Carlene C. Ileto,
Executive Director, Enterpirse Business Management Office.
[FR Doc. 2015-00404 Filed 1-13-15; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 9110-9B-P