[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 35 (Tuesday, February 22, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Pages 8740-8741]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-4272]


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DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE


Immigration and Naturalization Service

AGENCY: Request OMB Emergency Approval; Application for Naturalization.

ACTION:  Agency Information Collection Activities: Proposed Collection; 
Comment Request

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    The Department of Justice, Immigration and Naturalization Service 
(INS) has submitted the following information collection request 
utilizing emergency review procedures to the Office of Management and 
Budget (OMB) for review and clearance in accordance with the Paperwork 
Reduction Act of 1995. The INS has determined that it cannot reasonably 
comply with the normal clearance

[[Page 8741]]

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 February 25, 2000. 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 202-385-6974.
    The information collection was previously published in the Federal 
Register on January 8, 1999 at 64 FR 1219-1238, allowing for a 60-day 
public comment period on a proposed revision. Numerous comments were 
received prompting further program evaluation of the Form N-400 
(Application for Naturalization). Accordingly, to prevent the 
disruption of this information collection, OMB approved the 
continuation without change of the current information collection, 
rather than the revision of the Form N-400.
    It should be noted that the INS is in the process of continuing the 
evaluation and the revision of the Form N-400 program, to include 
system changes to allow for data entry of the information from the new 
form into the tracking system. Upon completion of the new Form N-400, 
another notice announcing the revision of the Form N-400 will be 
published in the Federal Register to solicit and obtain public comment. 
Until such action is taken, the public is instructed to continue to use 
the current Form N-400 (dated 1-15-99). Questions regarding the 
proposed revision of the Form N-400 should be directed to Gerard Casale 
of the Information Services Division on (202) 514-0788.
    With publication of this notice, the INS is continuing the approval 
process of the current information collection by allowing an additional 
30 days for public comments. Comments are encouraged and will be 
accepted until March 23, 2000. This process is conducted in accordance 
with 5 CFR 1320.10.
    Written comments and/or suggestions regarding the items contained 
in this notice, especially regarding the estimated public burden and 
associated response time, should be directed to the Office of 
Management and Budget, Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, 
Attention: Stuart Shapiro, Department of Justice Desk Officer, Room 
10235, Washington, DC 20530; 202-395-7316.
    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 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 
submission of responses.

Overview of this Information Collection

    (1) Type of Information Collection: Reinstatement of a previously 
approved collection.
    (2) Title of the Form/Collection: Application for Naturalization.
    (3) Agency form number, if any, and the applicable component of the 
Department of Justice sponsoring the collection: Form N-400, Office of 
Naturalization Operations, Immigration and Naturalization Service.
    (4) Affected public who will be asked or required to respond, as 
well as a brief abstract: Primary: Individuals or Households. The 
information collected is used by the INS to determine eligibility for 
naturalization.
    (5) An estimated of the total number of respondents and the amount 
of time estimated for an average respondent to respond: 700,000 
responses at 4 hours and 30 minutes per response.
    (6) An estimate of the total public burden (in hours) associated 
with the collection: 3,031,000 annual burden hours.
    If you have additional comments, suggestions, or need a copy of the 
proposed information collection instrument with instructions, or 
additional information, please contact 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. Additionally, comments and/or 
suggestions regarding the item(s) contained in this notice, especially 
regarding the estimated public burden and associated response time may 
also be directed to Mr. Richard A. Sloan.
    If additional information is required contact: Mr. Robert B. 
Briggs, Clearance Office, 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: February 19, 2000.
Richard A. Sloan,
Department Clearance Officer, Department of Justice, Immigration and 
Naturalization Service.
[FR Doc. 00-4272 Filed 2-17-00; 4:14 pm]
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