Agency Information Collection Activities; Revision of a Currently Approved Collection: Medical Certification for Disability Exceptions

AGENCY: U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, Department of Homeland Security. SUMMARY: The Department of Homeland Security (DHS), U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) will be submitting the following information collection request to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and clearance in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995. The purpose of this notice is to allow an additional 30 days for public comments. DATES: Comments are encouraged and will be accepted until July 6, 2026. ADDRESSES: Written comments and/or suggestions regarding the item(s) contained in this notice, especially regarding the estimated public burden and associated response time, must be submitted via the Federal eRulemaking Portal website at http://www.regulations.gov under e-Docket ID number USCIS-2008-0021. All submissions received must include the OMB Control Number 1615-0060 in the body of the letter, the agency name and Docket ID USCIS-2008-0021. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Comments The information collection notice was previously published in the Federal Register on August 29, 2025, at 90 FR 42256, allowing for a 60-day public comment period. USCIS did receive comments in connection with the 60-day notice. 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-2008-0021 in the search box. Comments must be submitted in English, or an English translation must be provided. The comments submitted to USCIS via this method are visible to the Office of Management and Budget and comply with the requirements of 5 CFR 1320.12(c). 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: Medical Certification for Disability Exceptions. (3) Agency form number, if any, and the applicable component of the DHS sponsoring the collection: N-648; USCIS. (4) Affected public who will be asked or required to respond, as well as a brief abstract: Primary: Business or other for-profit. USCIS uses Form N-648 to substantiate a claim for an exception to the requirements of section 312(a) of the Act. Only medical doctors, doctors of osteopathy, or clinical psychologists licensed to practice in the United States are authorized to certify Form N-648. By certifying the form, the doctor states that an applicant filing an Application for Naturalization, Form N-400, is unable to complete the English and/or civics requirements because of a physical or developmental disability or mental impairment(s). (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 N-648 (Medical Professional) is 78,557 and the estimated hour burden per response is 2.4 hours; the estimated total number of respondents for the information collection N-648 (applicant) is 78,557 and the estimated hour burden per response is 8.0 hours. (6) An estimate of the total public burden (in hours) associated with the collection: The estimated total annual hour burden associated with this collection is 816,993 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 $71,508,866. Dated: June 3, 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.