Notice2026-18690
Agency Information Collection Activities; Extension, Without Change, of a Currently Approved Collection: Application for Waiver of the Foreign Residence Requirement of Section 212(e) of the Immigration and Nationality Act
Primary source
Metadata and text below are from the Federal Register, a public-domain U.S. government work. Always verify the official published version before relying on it for any legal matter.
Published
September 14, 2026
Issuing agencies
Homeland Security DepartmentU.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services
Abstract
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS), U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) invites the general public and other Federal agencies to comment upon this proposed extension. 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.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 91 Issue 176 (Monday, September 14, 2026)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 91, Number 176 (Monday, September 14, 2026)]
[Notices]
[Pages 58149-58150]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2026-18690]
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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services
[OMB Control Number 1615-0030]
Agency Information Collection Activities; Extension, Without
Change, of a Currently Approved Collection: Application for Waiver of
the Foreign Residence Requirement of Section 212(e) of the Immigration
and Nationality Act
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 Services (USCIS) invites the general public and other
Federal agencies to comment upon this proposed extension. 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
November 13, 2026.
ADDRESSES: All submissions received must include the OMB Control Number
1615-0069 in the body of the letter, the agency name and Docket ID
USCIS-2008-0012. Submit comments via the Federal eRulemaking Portal
website at <a href="https://www.regulations.gov">https://www.regulations.gov</a> under e-Docket ID number USCIS-
2008-0012.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: USCIS, Office of Policy and Strategy,
Regulatory Coordination Division, John R. Pfirrmann-Powell, Acting
Deputy Chief, telephone number (240) 721-3000 (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 <a href="https://www.uscis.gov">https://www.uscis.gov</a>, or call the USCIS Contact Center at 800-375-5283 (TTY
800-767-1833).
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
[[Page 58150]]
Comments
You may access the information collection instrument with
instructions or additional information by visiting the Federal
eRulemaking Portal site at: <a href="https://www.regulations.gov">https://www.regulations.gov</a> and entering
USCIS-2008-0012 in the search box. Comments must be submitted in
English, or an English translation must be provided. All submissions
will be posted, without change, to the Federal eRulemaking Portal at
<a href="https://www.regulations.gov">https://www.regulations.gov</a>, 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 <a href="https://www.regulations.gov">https://www.regulations.gov</a>.
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: Extension, Without Change, of a
Currently Approved Collection.
(2) Title of the Form/Collection: Application for Waiver of the
Foreign Residence Requirement of Section 212(e) of the Immigration and
Nationality Act.
(3) Agency form number, if any, and the applicable component of the
DHS sponsoring the collection: I-612; USCIS.
(4) Affected public who will be asked or required to respond, as
well as a brief abstract: Primary: Individuals or households. This
information collection is necessary and may be submitted only by an
alien who believes that compliance with foreign residence requirements
would impose exceptional hardship on his or her spouse or child who is
a citizen of the United States, or a lawful permanent resident; or that
returning to the country of his or her nationality or last permanent
residence would subject him or her to persecution on account of race,
religion, or political opinion. Certain aliens admitted to the United
States as exchange visitors are subject to the foreign residence
requirements of section 212(e) of the Immigration and Nationality Act
(the Act). Section 212(e) of the Act also provides for a waiver of the
foreign residence requirements in certain instances.
(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 I-612 is
7,200 and the estimated hour burden per response is .15 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 1,080 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 $882,000.
Dated: August 25, 2026.
John R. Pfirrmann-Powell,
Acting Deputy Chief, Regulatory Coordination Division, Office of Policy
and Strategy, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, Department of
Homeland Security.
[FR Doc. 2026-18690 Filed 9-11-26; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 9111-97-P
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