[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 90 (Wednesday, May 11, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Pages 24834-24835]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-9460]


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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services


Agency Information Collection Activities: Comment Request; 
Revised Information Collection

ACTION: Request OMB emergency approval; Application To Replace 
Permanent Resident Card, Form I-90.

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    The Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Citizenship and 
Immigration Services (USCIS) has submitted an emergency information 
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)(ii) and (a)(2)(iii) of the Paperwork Reduction 
Act of 1995. USCIS 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. USCIS is requesting emergency review from 
OMB of this information collection to ensure compliance with the 
Enhanced Security and Visa Entry Reform Act of 2002 (BSA), 8 U.S.C. 
1732(b)(1), which requires travel and entry documents to contain 
certain features. Emergency review and approval of this ICR ensures 
that the applicant may apply for this benefit utilizing the revised 
information collection.
    Permanent residents must file Form I-90, Application to Replace 
Permanent Resident Card to renew or replace their Form I-551, Permanent 
Resident Card. The Form I-551 has many uses, one of which is as an 
entry document for permanent residents returning to the United States 
after a trip abroad. Effective October 26, 2004, section 303 of the BSA 
requires that travel and entry documents be machine readable, tamper 
resistant, and use biometric identifiers. To comply with the BSA, USCIS 
is amending the instructions to the Form I-90 to request applicants to 
appear at a USCIS Application Support Centers (ASCs) and provide USCIS 
with the necessary biometric information. Such information includes a 
photograph, signature and fingerprints. USCIS will collect and store 
this biometric information electronically for production of a tamper-
resistant Form I-551 in compliance with the BSA. Moreover, USCIS plans 
to maintain the information in a national database, enhancing national 
security and public safety. As a result, DHS anticipates that this will 
reduce the number of future visits applicants will be required to make 
to an ASC throughout the entire immigration process. In order to 
provide this service, USCIS will charge applicants a $70 biometrics 
fee.
    For the aforementioned reasons, the USCIS is requesting emergency 
OMB review and approval of this information collection request by May 
23, 2005. 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 direct to OMB, Office of Information and 
Regulatory Affairs, 725-17th Street, NW., Suite 10235, Washington, DC 
20503; Attention: Department of Homeland Security Desk Officer. 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, USCIS requests written comments and suggestions from the 
public and affected agencies concerning this information collection. 
Comments are encouraged and will be accepted until July 11, 2005. 
During the 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 Director, Regulatory Management Division (202) 272-8733, 
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, Department of Homeland 
Security, 111 Massachusetts Avenue, NW., 3rd Floor, Washington, DC 
20529.
    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: Revised information collection.
    (2) Title of the Form/Collection: Application to Replace Permanent 
Resident Card.
    (3) Agency form number, if any, and the applicable component of 
Department of Homeland Security: Form I-90 U.S. Citizenship and 
Immigration Services.
    (4) Affected public who will be asked or required to respond, as 
well as a brief abstract: Primary: Individuals. This form is used by a 
permanent resident to obtain a replacement Form I-551 when: the 
previous card has been lost, stolen, destroyed, or mutilated; the 
existing card will be expiring within 6 months; the bearer's name or 
other biographic existing card will be expiring within 6 months; the 
bearer's name or other biographic information has been legally changed; 
the applicant is taking up actual U.S. residence after having been a 
commuter or is permanent resident taking up commuter status; the 
applicant has been automatically converted to permanent resident 
status; the previous card was issued but never received; the bearer of 
the card reached the age of 14 years, unless the existing card will 
expire prior to the bearer's 16th birthday; or the existing card bears 
incorrect data on account of USCIS error. The Form I-551 serves as 
evidence of registration, status, identity, and employment 
authorization, and may be used to return to the United States after a 
trip abroad. This information collection amends the instructions to the 
Form I-90 to direct applicants to file the form at the California 
Lockbox address, pay a biometric capture fee of $70 in addition to the 
application fee when filing the form, and appear at an ASC for 
biometric capture and the submission of initial evidence.
    (5) An estimate of the total number of respondents and the amount 
of time estimated for an average respondent to respond: 1,000,000 
responses at 55 minutes per response.
    (6) An estimate of the total public burden (in hours) associated 
with the collection: 916,000 annual burden hours.
    If you have comments, suggestions, or need a copy of the draft 
form, please visit the USCIS Web site at http://

[[Page 24835]]

www.uscis.gov. Also you may contact: Director, Regulatory Management 
Division, (202) 272-8377, United States Department of Homeland 
Security, 111 Massachusetts Avenue, NW., 3rd Floor, Washington, DC 
20529.

    Dated: May 6, 2005.
Richard A. Sloan,
Director, Regulatory Management Division, United States of Homeland 
Security, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services.
[FR Doc. 05-9460 Filed 5-9-05; 2:18 pm]
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