Agency Information Collection Activities: Comment Request

DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE

Immigration and Naturalization Service

Agency Information Collection Activities: Comment Request

ACTION: Request OMB Emergency Approval; Petition for Nonimmigrant

Filing Fee Exemption.

The Department of Justice, Immigration and Naturalization Service

(INS) has submitted an emergency information collection request (ICR)

utilizing emergency review procedures, to the Office of Management and

Budget (OMB) for review and clearance in accordance with section

1320.13(a)(1) of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995. The INS has

determined that it cannot reasonably comply with the normal clearance

procedures under this part because normal clearance procedures are

reasonably likely to prevent or disrupt the collection of information.

Therefore, OMB approval has been requested by November 20, 1998. If

granted, the emergency approval is only valid for 180 days. ALL

comments and/or questions pertaining to this pending request for

emergency approval MUST be directed to OMB, Office of Information and

Regulatory Affairs, Attention: Mr. Stuart Shapiro, 202-395-7316,

Department of Justice Desk Officer, Washington, DC 20503. Comments

regarding the emergency submission of this information collection may

also be submitted via facsimile to Mr. Shapiro at 202-395-6974.

During the first 60 days of this same period, a regular review of

this information collection is also being undertaken. During the

regular review period, the INS requests written comments and

suggestions from the public and affected agencies concerning this

information collection. Comments are encouraged and will be accepted

until January 19, 1999. During 60-day regular review, ALL comments and

suggestions, or questions regarding additional information, to include

obtaining a copy of the information collection instrument with

instructions, should be directed to Mr. Richard A. Sloan, 202-514-3291,

Director, Policy Directives and Instructions Branch, Immigration and

Naturalization Service, U.S. Department of Justice, Room 5307, 425 I

Street, NW., Washington, DC 20536. Written comments and suggestions

from the public and affected agencies concerning the proposed

collection of information should address one or more of the following

four points:

(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 agencies 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

submission of responses.

Overview of this information collection:

(1) Type of Information Collection: New information collection.

(2) Title of the Form/Collection: Petition for Nomimmigrant Filing

Fee Exemption.

(3) Agency form number, if any, and the applicable component of the

Department of Justice sponsoring the collection: Form I-129W. Office of

Adjudications, Immigration and Naturalization Service.

(4) Affected public who will be asked or required to respond, as

well as a brief abstract: Primary: Business or other for-profit. This

addendum to Form I-129 will be used by the INS to determine if an H-1B

petitioner is exempt from the additional filing fee of $500, as

provided by the American Competitiveness and Workforce Improvement Act

of 1998.

(5) An estimate of the total number of respondents and the amount

of time estimated for an average respondent to respond: 100,000

responses at 15 minutes (.25) hours per response.

(6) An estimate of the total public burden (in hours) associated

with the collection: 25,000 annual burden hours.

If additional information is required contact: Mr. Robert B.

Briggs, Clearance Officer, United States Department of Justice,

Information Management and Security Staff, Justice Management Division,

Suite 850, Washington Center, 1001 G Street, NW., Washington, DC 20530.

Dated: November 13, 1998.

Robert B. Briggs,

Department Clearance Officer, United States Department of Justice.

[FR Doc. 98-30865 Filed 11-17-98; 8:45 am]

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