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[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 201 (Friday, October 17, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Pages 62450-62452]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-24770]

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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

[Docket No. DHS-2014-0060 ]

Agency Information Collection Activities: Case Assistance Form 
(Ombudsman Form DHS-7001 and Instructions)

AGENCY: Office of the Citizenship and Immigration Services Ombudsman, 
DHS.

ACTION: 60-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 Inspector 
General, Office of Audits, 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).

DATES: Comments are encouraged and will be accepted until December 16, 
2014. This process is conducted in accordance with 5 CFR 1320.1

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments, identified by docket number DHS-
2014-0060, by one of the following methods:
     Federal eRulemaking Portal: http://www.regulations.gov. 
Please follow the instructions for submitting comments.
     Email: [email protected]. Please include docket number 
DHS-2014-0060 in the subject line of the message .

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Citizenship and Immigration Services 
(CIS) Ombudsman was created under section 452 of the Homeland Security 
Act of 2002 (Public Law 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

[[Page 62451]]

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.
    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:

[[Page 62452]]

    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.

Analysis

    Agency: Office of the Citizenship and Immigration Services 
Ombudsman, DHS.
    Title: Case Assistance Form (Ombudsman Form DHS-7001 and 
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: October 6, 2014.
Carlene C. Ileto,
Executive Director, Enterprise Business Management Office.
[FR Doc. 2014-24770 Filed 10-16-14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 9110-9B-P
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