80 FR 11720 - 60-Day Notice of Proposed Information Collection: Affidavit of Relationship (AOR) for Minors Who are Nationals of El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras

DEPARTMENT OF STATE

Federal Register Volume 80, Issue 42 (March 4, 2015)

The Department of State is seeking Office of Management and Budget (OMB) approval for the information collection described below. In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, we are requesting comments on this collection from all interested individuals and organizations. The purpose of this notice is to allow 60 days for public comment preceding submission of the collection to OMB.

[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 42 (Wednesday, March 4, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 11720-11721]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2015-04506]


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DEPARTMENT OF STATE

[Public Notice: 9051]


60-Day Notice of Proposed Information Collection: Affidavit of 
Relationship (AOR) for Minors Who are Nationals of El Salvador, 
Guatemala, and Honduras

ACTION: Notice of request for public comment.

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SUMMARY: The Department of State is seeking Office of Management and 
Budget (OMB) approval for the information collection described below. 
In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, we are 
requesting comments on this collection from all interested individuals 
and organizations. The purpose of this notice is to allow 60 days for 
public comment preceding submission of the collection to OMB.

DATES: The Department will accept comments from the public up to May 4, 
2015.

ADDRESSES: Direct any comments on this request to Sean Hantak, Program 
Officer, Department of State, Bureau of Population, Refugees and 
Migration, Office of Admissions, 2025 E Street NW., Washington DC, 
20522.
    You may submit comments by any of the following methods:
     Web: Persons with access to the Internet may use the 
Federal Docket Management System (FDMS) to comment on this notice by 
going to www.Regulations.gov. You can search for the document by 
entering ``Public Notice 9051'' in the Search bar. If necessary, use 
the Narrow by Agency filter option on the Results page.
     Email: PRM/Admissions (Sean Hantak: [email protected]). 
You must include ``Comment on Affadavit of Relationship'' in the 
subject line of the message.
     Mail: Send written comments to PRM/Admissions, 2025 E 
Street NW., 8th Floor, Washington DC 20520.
     Fax: 202-453-9393. Attention: Sean Hantak.
    You must include the DS form number (if applicable), information 
collection title, and the OMB control number in any correspondence.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Direct requests for additional 
information regarding the collection listed in this notice, including 
requests for copies of the proposed collection instrument and 
supporting documents to Sean Hantak, PRM/Admissions, 2025 E Street NW., 
8th Floor, Washington DC 20520 who may be reached at 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 
     Title of Information Collection: DS-7699 Affidavit of 
Relationship (AOR) for Minors Who are Nationals Of El Salvador, 
Guatemala, and Honduras.
     OMB Control Number: 1405-0217.
     Type of Request: Extension of a Currently Approved 
Collection.
     Originating Office: PRM/A.
     Form Number: DS-7699.
     Respondents: Anchor parents in the U.S. with children in 
El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras.
     Estimated Number of Respondents: 2,500.
     Estimated Number of Responses: 2,500.
     Average Time per Response: 60 minutes per response.
     Total Estimated Burden Time: 2,500 hours.
     Frequency: Once per respondent.
     Obligation to Respond: Required to Obtain or Retain a 
Benefit.
    We are soliciting public comments to permit the Department to:

[[Page 11721]]

     Evaluate whether the proposed information collection is 
necessary for the proper functions of the Department.
     Evaluate the accuracy of our estimate of the time and cost 
burden for this proposed collection, including the validity of the 
methodology and assumptions used.
     Enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the 
information to be collected.
     Minimize the reporting burden on those who are to respond, 
including the use of automated collection techniques or other forms of 
information technology.
    Please note that comments submitted in response to this Notice are 
public record. Before including any detailed personal information, you 
should be aware that your comments as submitted, including your 
personal information, will be available for public review.

Abstract of Proposed Collection

    The Department of State Bureau of Population, Refugees, and 
Migration (PRM) is responsible for coordinating and managing the U.S. 
Refugee Admissions Program (USRAP). PRM coordinates within the 
Department of State, as well as with the Department of Homeland 
Security's U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (DHS/USCIS), in 
carrying out this responsibility. A critical part of the State 
Department's responsibility is determining which individuals, from 
among millions of refugees worldwide, will have access to U.S. 
resettlement consideration. PRM and DHS/USCIS are now assisting with 
the preparation of a White House directive to initiate an in-country 
program to provide a means for certain persons who are lawfully present 
in the United States to claim a relationship with child(ren) in 
Honduras, El Salvador, and Guatemala and to assist the U.S. Department 
of State in determining whether those child(ren) are qualified to apply 
for access to the USRAP for family reunification purposes. This form 
also assists DHS/USCIS to verify parent-child relationships during 
refugee case adjudication. The main purpose of the DS-7699 is for the 
U.S. based parent to provide biographical information about his/her 
child(ren) in the qualifying countries who may subsequently seek access 
to the USRAP for verification by the U.S. government.

Methodology

    This information collection currently involves the limited use of 
electronic techniques. Parents (respondents) in the United States will 
work closely with a resettlement agency during the completion of the 
AOR to ensure that the information is accurate. Anchor parents may 
visit any resettlement agency to complete an AOR. Sometimes respondents 
do not have strong English-language skills and benefit from having a 
face-to-face meeting with resettlement agency staff. The DS-7699 form 
will be available electronically and responses will be completed 
electronically. Completed AORs will be printed out for ink signature by 
the respondents as well. The electronic copy will be submitted 
electronically to the Refugee Processing Center (RPC) for downloading 
into the Worldwide Refugee Admissions Processing System (WRAPS), with 
the signed paper copy remaining with PRM's Reception and Placement 
Agency partners.

    Dated: February 26, 2015.
Simon Henshaw,
Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary, Bureau of Population, Refugees 
and Migration, Department of State.
[FR Doc. 2015-04506 Filed 3-3-15; 8:45 am]
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