The following is a message posted to the IAJGS Records Access Alert mailing list and is republished here with permission:

The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Service (USCIS) part of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security has proposed regulations and invites the public to comment on the proposed extension of a currently approved collection of information. The purpose of the notice is to obtain comments regarding the nature of the information collection, the categories of respondents, the estimated burden (time, effort, and resources) used by the respondents the cost to the respondent and actual information collection instruments.

See: https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2021-11-30/pdf/2021-26031.pdf

Comments will be accepted until January 31, 2022. All submissions must include OMB Control Number 1615-0096 in the body of the letter, the agency name and Docket ID USCIS-2006-0013. Submit comments via the Federal eRulemaking Portal website at https://www.regulations.gov under eDocket ID number USCIS–2006–0013.

Further information contact is: USCIS, Office of Policy and Strategy, Regulatory Coordination Division, Samantha Deshommes, Chief, telephone number (240) 721–3000

You may access the information collection instrument with instructions or additional information by visiting the Federal eRulemaking Portal site at: https://www.regulations.gov and entering USCIS–2006–0013 in the search box. All submissions will be posted, without change, to the Federal eRulemaking Portal at https://www.regulations.gov , and will include any personal information you provide.

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.

Among items in this information collection are:

* Agency form number, if any, and the applicable component of the DHS sponsoring the collection: G–1041 and G–1041A; USCIS.

* Affected public who will be asked or required to respond, as well as a brief abstract: Primary: Individuals or households. The Genealogy Program is necessary to provide a timelier response to requests for genealogical and historical records. Form G–1041 is provided as a convenient means for persons to provide data necessary to perform a search of historical agency indices. Form G–1041A provides a convenient means for persons to identify a particular record desired under the Genealogy Program. The forms provide rapid identification of such requests and ensures expeditious handling. Persons such as researchers, historians, and social scientists seeking ancestry information for genealogical, family history and heir location purposes will use Forms G–1041 and G– 1041A.

* 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 G–1041 is 3,847 and the estimated hour burden per response is 0.5 hour. The estimated total number of respondents for the information collection G–1041A is 2,920 and the estimated hour burden per response is 0.5 hour.

* An estimate of the total public burden (in hours) associated with the collection: The total estimated annual hour burden associated with this collection of information $439,855.

To access the USCIS Genealogy Program go to: https://www.uscis.gov/records/genealogy

To read past IAJGS Public Records Access Alerts on USCIS andG-1041 and G-1041A go to the archives of the IAJGS Records Access Alert at: http://lists.iajgs.org/mailman/private/records-access-alerts/. You must be registered to access the archives. To register go to: http://lists.iajgs.org/mailman/listinfo/records-access-alerts and follow the instructions to enter your email address, full name and which genealogical organization with whom you are affiliated You will receive an email response that you have to reply to or the subscription will not be finalized.

Jan Meisels Allen
Chairperson, IAJGS Public Records Access Monitoring Committee