[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 133 (Thursday, July 12, 2007)]
[Notices]
[Pages 38095-38096]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E7-13569]


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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

Immigration and Customs Enforcement


Agency Information Collection Activities: Comment Request

ACTION: 60-day notice of information collection under review; the 
Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS), OMB Control 
No. 1653-0038.

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    The Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Immigration and Customs 
Enforcement (USICE), has submitted the following information collection 
request for review and clearance in accordance with the Paperwork 
Reduction Act of 1995. The information collection is published to 
obtain comments from the public and affected agencies. Comments are 
encouraged and will be accepted for sixty days until September 10, 
2007.
    Written comments and suggestions regarding items contained in this 
notice, and especially with regard to the estimated public burden and 
associated response time should be directed to the Department of 
Homeland Security (DHS); Lee Shirkey, Program Manager, Records 
Management Branch; U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, 425 I 
Street, NW., Room 1122, Washington, DC 20536; (202) 353-2266. These 
comments and suggestions concerning the continued 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: Extension of currently approved 
information collection.
    (2) Title of the form/collection: Petition for Approval of School 
for Attendance by Nonimmigrant Student and Certificate of Eligibility 
for Nonimmigrant Student Status.
    (3) Agency form number, if any, and the applicable component of the 
Department of Homeland Security sponsoring the collection: Forms I-17 
and I-20/Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP).
    (4) Affected public who will be asked or required to respond, as 
well as a brief abstract: Primary. Approximately 30,000 designated 
school officials (DSOs) representing some 8,300 academic and vocational 
institutions. Section 641 of the Illegal Immigration Reform and 
Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996 (IIRIRA), Public Law 104-208, Div. 
C (Sept. 30, 1996; see attachment (1)) requires the creation of a 
program to collect current information, on an ongoing basis, from 
schools and exchange visitor programs relating to nonimmigrant F, M or 
J foreign students and exchange visitors during the course of their 
stay in the United States (U.S.), using electronic reporting technology 
to the fullest extent practicable. It further requires Federal approval 
and authorization of schools and exchange visitor programs 
participating in such enrollment. The information collection about 
nonimmigrants mandated by IIRIRA includes the identity and current 
address in the United States of the alien, the nonimmigrant 
classification of the alien, the date on which a visa under the 
classification was issued or extended or the date on which a change to 
such classification was approved by the Department of Homeland Security

[[Page 38096]]

(DHS), the current academic status of the alien, including whether the 
alien is maintaining status as a full-time student, or whether an 
exchange visitor is satisfying the terms and conditions of his or her 
program, and any disciplinary action taken by the institution or 
exchange visitor program sponsor against the alien as a result of a 
conviction of a crime. The Uniting and Strengthening America by 
Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct 
Terrorism (USA PATRIOT) Act of 2001, Public Law 107-56 (October 26, 
2001), subsequently amended IIRIRA and added the requirement that 
information be collected on the date of entry and port-of-entry. On 
October 30, 2001, the President issued Homeland Security Directive No. 
2 (Directive 2) requiring DHS to conduct periodic, ongoing review of 
all institutions certified to accept nonimmigrant students. On May 14, 
2002 the Enhanced Border Security and Visa Entry Reform Act of 2002 
(Border Security Act), Public Law 107-173, 116 Stat. 543 (May 14, 
2002), was enacted. It required DHS to recertify all schools approved 
for attendance by F or M nonimmigrant students within two years of the 
passage of the Border Security Act. Further, it mandates that DHS 
conduct an additional recertification of these schools every two years 
following. Data collection requirements for SEVP certification, 
oversight and recertification of schools authorized to enroll F or M 
nonimmigrant students are not specified in the aforementioned 
legislation, but are enumerated in 8 CFR 214.3 and 214.4. The Student 
and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP), a component of U.S. Immigration 
and Customs Enforcement (ICE), is the program mandated by these laws to 
carry out these responsibilities.
    (5) An estimate of the total number of respondents and the amount 
of time estimated for an average respondent to respond annually:

 
 
 
Respondents...............................  30,000.
Time for student management reporting.....  6.8 hours.
Time for management of SEVP certification.  2.3 hours.
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    Average time per respondent...........  9.1 hours.
 

    (6) An estimate of the total public burden (in hours) associated 
with the collection: 273,000.
    Comments and/or questions; requests for a copy of the proposed 
information collection instrument, with instructions; or inquiries for 
additional information should be directed to: Lee Shirkey, Program 
Manager, Records Management Branch; U.S. Immigration and Customs 
Enforcement, 425 I Street, NW., Room 1122, Washington, DC 20536; (202) 
616-2266.

    Dated: July 9, 2007.
Lee Shirkey,
Program Manager, Records Management Branch, U.S. Immigration and 
Customs Enforcement, Department of Homeland Security.
 [FR Doc. E7-13569 Filed 7-11-07; 8:45 am]
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