82 FR 11237 - Agency Information Collection Activities: Electronic Visa Update System

DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY
U.S. Customs and Border Protection

Federal Register Volume 82, Issue 33 (February 21, 2017)

U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) of the Department of Homeland Security will be submitting the following information collection request to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and approval in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act: Electronic Visa Update System (EVUS). This is a proposed extension and revision of an information collection that was previously approved. CBP is proposing that this information collection be extended with a revision to the information collected. This document is published to obtain comments from the public and affected agencies.

[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 33 (Tuesday, February 21, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Pages 11237-11238]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2017-03343]


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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

U.S. Customs and Border Protection

[1651-0139]


Agency Information Collection Activities: Electronic Visa Update 
System

AGENCY: U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Department of Homeland 
Security

ACTION: 60-Day notice and request for comments; revision of an existing 
collection of information.

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SUMMARY: U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) of the Department of 
Homeland Security will be submitting the following information 
collection request to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for 
review and approval in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act: 
Electronic Visa Update System (EVUS). This is a proposed extension and 
revision of an information collection that was previously approved. CBP 
is proposing that this information collection be extended with a 
revision to the information collected. This document is published to 
obtain comments from the public and affected agencies.

DATES: Written comments should be received on or before April 24, 2017 
to be assured of consideration.

ADDRESSES: All submissions received must include the OMB Control Number 
1651-0139 in the subject line and the agency name. To avoid duplicate 
submissions, please use only one of the following methods to submit 
comments:
    (1) Email. Submit comments to: ([email protected]). The email 
should include the OMB Control number in the subject line.
    (2) Mail. Submit written comments to CBP PRA Officer, U.S. Customs 
and Border Protection, Office of Trade, Regulations and Rulings, 
Economic Impact Analysis Branch, 10th Floor, 90 K St NE., Washington, 
DC 20229-1177.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Requests for additional PRA 
information should be directed to Paperwork Reduction Act Officer, U.S. 
Customs and Border Protection, Regulations and Rulings, Office of 
Trade, 90 K Street NE., 10th Floor, Washington, DC 20229-1177, or via 
email ([email protected]). Please note that the contact information 
provided here is solely for questions regarding this notice. 
Individuals seeking information about other CBP programs should contact 
the CBP National Customer Service Center at 877-227-5511, (TTY) 1-800-
877-8339, or CBP Web site at https://www.cbp.gov/. For additional help: 
https://help.cbp.gov/app/home/search/1.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: CBP invites the general public and other 
Federal agencies to comment on proposed and/or continuing information 
collections pursuant to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 
3501 et seq.). The comments should address: (a) Whether the collection 
of information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions 
of the agency, including whether the information shall have practical 
utility; (b) the accuracy of the agency's estimates of the burden of 
the collection of information; (c) ways to enhance the quality, 
utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; (d) ways to 
minimize the burden including the use of automated collection 
techniques or the use of other forms of information technology; and (e) 
the annual cost burden to respondents or record keepers from the 
collection of information (total capital/startup costs and operations 
and maintenance costs). The comments that

[[Page 11238]]

are submitted will be summarized and included in the CBP request for 
OMB approval. All comments will become a matter of public record. In 
this document, CBP is soliciting comments concerning the following 
Information collection:
    Title: Electronic Visa Update System.
    OMB Number: 1651-0139.
    Form Number: N/A.
    Abstract: The Electronic Visa Update System (EVUS) provides a 
mechanism through which visa information updates can be obtained from 
certain nonimmigrant aliens in advance of their travel to the United 
States. This provides CBP access to updated information without 
requiring aliens to apply for a visa more frequently. The EVUS 
requirements apply to nonimmigrant aliens who hold a passport issued by 
an identified country containing a U.S. nonimmigrant visa of a 
designated category. EVUS enrollment is currently limited to 
nonimmigrant aliens who hold unrestricted, maximum validity B-1 
(business visitor), B-2 (visitor for pleasure), or combination B-1/B-2 
visas, which are generally valid for 10 years, contained in a passport 
issued by the People's Republic of China.
    EVUS provides for greater efficiencies in the screening of 
international travelers by allowing DHS to identify nonimmigrant aliens 
who may be inadmissible before they depart for the United States, 
thereby increasing security and reducing traveler delays upon arrival 
at U.S. ports of entry. EVUS aids DHS in facilitating legitimate travel 
while also enhancing public safety and national security.

Proposed Changes

    DHS proposes to add the following optional question to EVUS: 
``Please enter information associated with your online presence--
Provider/Platform--Social media identifier.'' A social media identifier 
is any name, or ``handle,'' used by the individual on one or more 
platforms. The optional social media question on the EVUS enrollment 
will include a drop down menu of options for selection. This data will 
be used for vetting purposes, as needed, providing highly trained CBP 
officers with timely visibility into publicly available information on 
the platforms associated with the social media identifier(s) 
voluntarily provided by the applicant, along with other information and 
tools CBP officers regularly use in the performance of their duties. 
The officer will review said platforms in a manner consistent with the 
privacy settings the applicant has chosen to adopt for those platforms. 
It will also help distinguish between individuals with similar 
characteristics, such as similar names, and provide an additional means 
to contact an applicant if needed. Respondents who choose not to answer 
this question can still submit an EVUS enrollment without a negative 
interpretation or inference. The question will be clearly marked as 
optional.
    Current Actions: This submission is being made to extend the 
expiration date with a change to the information collected as a result 
of adding an optional question about social media to EVUS. There are no 
changes to the burden hours.
    Type of Review: Revision.
    Affected Public: Individuals.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 3,595,904.
    Estimated Number of Responses per Respondent: 1.
    Estimated Total Annual Responses: 3,595,904.
    Estimated Time per Response: 25 minutes.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 1,499,492.

    Dated: February 15, 2017.
 Seth Renkema,
 Branch Chief, Economic Impact Analysis Branch, U.S. Customs and Border 
Protection.
[FR Doc. 2017-03343 Filed 2-17-17; 8:45 am]
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