[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 245 (Friday, December 22, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Pages 60756-60757]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-27579]


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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services

[OMB Control Number 1615-0111]


Agency Information Collection Activities; Revision of a Currently 
Approved Collection: Petition for a CNMI-Only Nonimmigrant Transitional 
Worker, Form I-129CW

AGENCY: U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, Department of 
Homeland Security.

ACTION: 60-day notice.

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SUMMARY: The Department of Homeland Security (DHS), U.S. Citizenship 
and Immigration (USCIS) invites the general public and other Federal 
agencies to comment upon this proposed revision of a currently approved 
collection of information. In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction 
Act (PRA) of 1995, the information collection notice is published in 
the Federal Register to obtain comments regarding the nature of the 
information collection, the categories of respondents, the estimated 
burden (i.e. the time, effort, and resources used by the respondents to 
respond), the estimated cost to the respondent, and the actual 
information collection instruments.

DATES: Comments are encouraged and will be accepted for 60 days until 
February 20, 2018.

ADDRESSES: All submissions received must include the OMB Control Number 
1615-0111 in the body of the letter, the agency name and Docket ID 
USCIS-2012-0011. To avoid duplicate submissions, please use only one of 
the following methods to submit comments:
    (1) Online. Submit comments via the Federal eRulemaking Portal 
website at http://www.regulations.gov under e-Docket ID number USCIS-
2012-0011;
    (2) Mail. Submit written comments to DHS, USCIS, Office of Policy 
and Strategy, Chief, Regulatory Coordination Division, 20 Massachusetts 
Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20529-2140.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: USCIS, Office of Policy and Strategy, 
Regulatory Coordination Division, Samantha Deshommes, Chief, 20 
Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20529-2140, telephone number 
202-272-8377 (This is not a toll-free number. Comments are not accepted 
via telephone message). Please note contact information provided here 
is solely for questions regarding this notice. It is not for individual 
case status inquiries. Applicants seeking information about the status 
of their individual cases can check Case Status Online, available at 
the USCIS website at http://www.uscis.gov, or call the USCIS National 
Customer Service Center at 800-375-5283 (TTY 800-767-1833).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Comments

    You may access the information collection instrument with 
instructions, or additional information by visiting the Federal 
eRulemaking Portal site at: http://www.regulations.gov and enter USCIS-
2012-0011 in the search box. Regardless of the method used for 
submitting comments or material, all submissions will be posted, 
without change, to the Federal eRulemaking Portal at http://www.regulations.gov, and will include any personal information you 
provide. Therefore, submitting this information makes it public. You 
may wish to consider limiting the amount of personal information that 
you provide in any voluntary submission you make to DHS. DHS may 
withhold information provided in comments from public viewing that it 
determines may impact the privacy of an individual or is offensive. For 
additional information, please read the Privacy Act notice that is 
available via the link in the footer of http://www.regulations.gov.
    Written comments and suggestions from the public and affected 
agencies 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: Revision of a Currently 
Approved Collection.
    (2) Title of the Form/Collection: Petition for a CNMI-Only 
Nonimmigrant Transitional Worker.
    (3) Agency form number, if any, and the applicable component of the 
DHS sponsoring the collection: Form I-129CW; USCIS.
    (4) Affected public who will be asked or required to respond, as 
well as a brief abstract: Primary: Individuals or households; Business 
or other for-profit. USCIS uses the data collected on this form to 
determine eligibility for the requested immigration benefits. An 
employer uses this form to petition USCIS for an alien to temporarily 
enter as a nonimmigrant into the CNMI to perform services or labor as a 
CNMI-Only Transitional Worker (CW-1). An employer also uses this form 
to request an extension of stay or change of status on behalf of the 
alien worker. The form serves the purpose of standardizing requests for 
these benefits, and ensuring that the basic information required to 
determine eligibility, is provided by the petitioners.
    USCIS collects biometrics from aliens present in the CNMI at the 
time of requesting initial grant of CW-1 status. The information is 
used to verify the alien's identity, background information and 
ultimately adjudicate their request for CW-1 status.
    The CW-1 classification is unique in that Form I-129CW is a 
petition for the CW-1 classification as well as a ``grant of status.'' 
A ``grant of status'' allows beneficiaries lawfully present in the CNMI 
to change status directly from their CNMI classification or DHS-issued 
parole to the CW-1 classification. See 8

[[Page 60757]]

CFR 214.2(w)(1)(v). When a beneficiary is granted CW-1 status, the 
adjudicating officer is granting admission and status to the 
beneficiary without requiring the beneficiary to depart the CNMI, 
obtain a visa abroad, and seek admission with CBP. Because we are 
granting the CW-1 status to the beneficiary, we use biometrics to make 
a determination of admissibility prior to adjudicating the Form I-129CW 
petition. The checks are used to confirm identity and ensure that CW-1 
status is not granted to anyone who is inadmissible. As the CW program 
progresses, the need to take biometrics in most cases has diminished, 
as the Form I-129CW is increasingly used for extension of status of 
persons who had already had their biometrics taken at the initial grant 
stage rather than for initial grants of status in the CNMI, but the 
authority will continue to be used in those initial grant cases that do 
arise.
    (5) An estimate of the total number of respondents and the amount 
of time estimated for an average respondent to respond: The estimated 
total number of respondents for the information collection Form I-129CW 
is 3,749 and the estimated hour burden per response is 3 hours.
    (6) An estimate of the total public burden (in hours) associated 
with the collection: The total estimated annual hour burden associated 
with this collection is 11,247 hours.
    (7) An estimate of the total public burden (in cost) associated 
with the collection: The estimated total annual cost burden associated 
with this collection of information is $459,252.50.

    Dated: December 19, 2017.
Samantha Deshommes,
Chief, Regulatory Coordination Division, Office of Policy and Strategy, 
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, Department of Homeland 
Security.
[FR Doc. 2017-27579 Filed 12-21-17; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 9111-97-P