**SUPPORTING STATEMENT**

**Immigrant Petition by Alien Entrepreneur**

**Form I-526**

**OMB No. 1615-0026**

A.  **JUSTIFICATION:**

1\. Under section 203(b)(5) of the Immigration Nationality Act,
qualified immigrants seeking to enter the United States for the purpose
of engaging in a commercial enterprise, must petition the U.S.
Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) by filing Form I-526,
Immigrant Petition by Alien Entrepreneur.

1.  2\. The data collected on this form will be used by the USCIS to
    determine eligibility for qualified aliens to enter the United
    States for entrepreneurial enterprises. The form serves the purpose
    of standardizing requests for the benefit, and ensuring that basic
    information required to determine eligibility is provided by
    applicants.

3\. The use of this form currently provides the most efficient means for
collecting and processing the required data. This form has been
designated for e-filing under the Business Transformation Project.

1.  4\. A review of the USCIS's Forms Inventory Report revealed no
    duplication of effort, and there is no other similar information
    currently available which can be used for this purpose.

    5\. This collection of information does not have an impact on small
    businesses or other small entities.

    6\. Without the use of this information collection, an alien may not
    apply and the USCIS may not determine an alien's eligibility for
    special immigrant status.

    7\. There are no special circumstances applicable to this
    information collection.

8\. USCIS published a 60 Day Notice requesting comments on April 11,
2008 at 73 FR 19860. USCIS did not receive any comments.

5.  9\. The USCIS does not provide payments or gifts to respondents in
    exchange for a benefit sought.

    10\. There is no assurance of confidentiality.

    11\. There are no questions of a sensitive nature.

    12\. [Annual Reporting Burden]{.underline}:

    0.  a\. Number of Respondents 1,368

        b\. Number of Responses per Respondent 1

        c\. Total Annual Responses 1,368

        d\. Hours per Response 1.25

        e\. Total Annual Reporting Burden 1,710

**The total annual reporting burden for this information collection is
1,710.** This figure was derived by multiplying the number of
respondents (1,368) x frequency of response (1) x 1 hour and 15 minutes
(1.25). This estimate is based on prior USCIS experience with the
program.

1.  13\. There are no capital or start-up costs associated with this
    information collection. However, there is a fee charge of \$1,435
    associated with the filing of this information collection.

    14\. [Annualized Cost Analysis]{.underline}:

    0.  a\. Printing Cost \$ 615

        b\. Collection and Processing Cost \$ 1,962,465

        c\. Total Cost to Program \$ 1,963,080

        d\. Fee Charge \$ 1,963,080

        e\. Total Cost to Government \$ 0

        **Public Cost**

**The estimated annual public cost is \$ 1,980,180.** This is based on
the number of respondents 1,368 x 1 number of response x 1.25 hours (1
hour and 15 minutes) per response x \$10 (average hourly rate); plus the
number of respondents (1,368 x fee charge of \$1,435).

**Government Cost**

The estimated cost of the program to the Government is calculated by
multiplying the estimated number of respondents (1,368) multiplied (x)
by the suggested \$1,435 fee charge (which includes the suggested
average hourly rate for clerical, officer, and managerial time with
benefits); plus a percent for the estimated overhead cost for printing,
stocking, distributing and processing of this form.

1.  15\. There has been no increase in the burden hours previously
    reported for this information collection.

    16\. USCIS does not intend to employ the use of statistics or the
    publication thereof for this information collection.

    17\. The USCIS will display of the expiration date of the OMB
    approval for this information collection.

    18\. The USCIS does not request an exception to the certification of
    this information collection.

    **B. Collection of Information Employing Statistical Methods.**

Not Applicable.

**C. Certification and Signatures.**

**PAPERWORK CERTIFICATION**

In submitting this request for OMB approval, I certify that the
requirements of the Privacy Act and OMB directives have been complied
with including paperwork regulations, statistical standards or
directives, and any other information policy directives promulgated
under 5 CFR 1320.

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\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_

**Stephen Tarragon** Date

[Acting Chief]{.underline},

[Regulatory Management Division]{.underline},

[U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Service]{.underline}.