82 FR 20956 - Notice of Information Collection Under OMB Emergency Review: Supplemental Questions for Visa Applicants
DEPARTMENT OF STATE Federal Register Volume 82, Issue 85 (May 4, 2017)
Federal Register Volume 82, Issue 85 (May 4, 2017)
| Page Range | 20956-20957 | |
| FR Document | 2017-08975 |
[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 85 (Thursday, May 4, 2017)] [Notices] [Pages 20956-20957] From the Federal Register Online [www.thefederalregister.org] [FR Doc No: 2017-08975] ======================================================================= ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF STATE [Public Notice: 9984] Notice of Information Collection Under OMB Emergency Review: Supplemental Questions for Visa Applicants ACTION: Notice of request for emergency OMB approval and public comment. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: The Department of State has submitted the information collection request described below to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and approval in accordance with the emergency review procedures of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995. The purpose of this notice is to allow for public comment from all interested individuals and organizations. Emergency review and approval of this collection has been requested from OMB by May 18. If granted, the emergency approval is only valid for 180 days. ADDRESSES: Direct any comments on this emergency request to both the Department of State Desk Officer in the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs at the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) and to Bureau of Consular Affairs, Visa Office. All public comments must be received by May 18. You may submit comments to OMB by the following methods:Email: [email protected]. You must include the DS form number (if applicable), information collection title, and OMB control number in the subject line of your message. Fax: 202-395-5806. Attention: Desk Officer for Department of State. You may submit comments to Bureau of Consular Affairs, Visa Office by the following methods: You may submit comments to Bureau of Consular Affairs, Visa Office by the following methods: Web: Persons with access to the Internet may comment on this notice by going to www.Regulations.gov. You can search for the document by entering ``Docket Number: DOS-2017-0019'' in the Search field. Then click the ``Comment Now'' button and complete the comment form. Email: [email protected]. You must include Emergency Submission Comment on ``Supplemental Questions for Visa Applicants'' in the subject line of your message. 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 [email protected]. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Title of Information Collection: Supplemental Questions for Visa Applicants. OMB Control Number: New. Type of Request: Emergency Review. [[Page 20957]] Originating Office: Bureau of Consular Affairs, Visa Office (CA/VO). Form Number: DS-5535. Respondents: Immigrant and nonimmigrant visa applicants who have been determined to warrant additional scrutiny in connection with terrorism or other national security-related visa ineligibilities. Estimated Number of Respondents: 65,000 respondents. Estimated Number of Responses: 65,000 responses. Average Time per Response: 60 minutes. Total Estimated Burden Time: 65,000 annual hours. Frequency: Once per respondent's application. Obligation to Respond: Required to Obtain or Retain a Benefit. We are soliciting public comments to permit the Department to: 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 of 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 records. 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 proposes requesting the following information, if not already included in an application, from a subset of visa applicants worldwide, in order to more rigorously evaluate applicants for terrorism or other national security-related visa ineligibilities: Travel history during the last fifteen years, including source of funding for travel; Address history during the last fifteen years; Employment history during the last fifteen years; All passport numbers and country of issuance held by the applicant; Names and dates of birth for all siblings; Name and dates of birth for all children; Names and dates of birth for all current and former spouses, or civil or domestic partners; Social media platforms and identifiers, also known as handles, used during the last five years; and Phone numbers and email addresses used during the last five years. Most of this information is already collected on visa applications but for a shorter time period, e.g. five years rather than fifteen years. Requests for names and dates of birth of siblings and, for some applicants, children are new. The request for social media identifiers and associated platforms is new for the Department of State, although it is already collected on a voluntary basis by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) for certain individuals. Regarding travel history, applicants may be requested to provide details of their international or domestic (within their country of nationality) travel, if it appears to the consular officer that the applicant has been in an area while the area was under the operational control of a terrorist organization as defined in section 212(a)(3)(B)(vi) of the Immigration and Nationality Act, 8 U.S.C. 1182(a)(3)(B)(vi). Applicants may be asked to recount or explain the details of their travel, and when possible, provide supporting documentation. This information collection implements the directive of the President, in the Memorandum for the Secretary of State, the Attorney General, the Secretary of Homeland Security of March 6, 2017, to implement additional protocols and procedures focused on ``ensur[ing] the proper collection of all information necessary to rigorously evaluate all grounds of inadmissibility or deportability, or grounds for the denial of other immigration benefits.'' Consular posts worldwide regularly engage with law enforcement and intelligence community partners to identify sets of post applicant populations warranting increased scrutiny. The additional information collected will facilitate consular officer efforts to immediately apply more rigorous evaluation of these applicants for potential visa ineligibilities. In accordance with existing authorities, visas may not be denied on the basis of race, religion, ethnicity, national origin, political views, gender, or sexual orientation. The estimated number of respondents represents the estimate of relevant State Department officials that 0.5% of U.S. visa applicants worldwide, or in the range of 65,000 individuals per annum, will present a threat profile, based on individual circumstances and information they provide, that will lead U.S. consular officers at posts around the world to conclude the applicant warrants enhanced screening that takes into account the information that is proposed to be collected. The estimate will be updated in the next request to continue collecting the information based on experience reported by overseas posts. Failure to provide requested information will not necessarily result in visa denial, if the consular officer determines the applicant has provided a credible explanation why he or she cannot answer a question or provide requested supporting documentation, such that the consular officer is able to conclude that the applicant has provided adequate information to determine the applicant's eligibility to receive the visa. The collection of social media platforms and identifiers will not be used to deny visas based on applicants' race, religion, ethnicity, national origin, political views, gender, or sexual orientation. Methodology Department of State consular officers at visa-adjudicating posts worldwide will ask the proposed additional questions to resolve an applicant's identity or to vet for terrorism or other national security related visa ineligibilities when the consular officer determines that the circumstances of a visa applicant, a review of a visa application, or responses in a visa interview indicate a need for greater scrutiny. The additional questions may be sent electronically to the applicant or be presented orally or in writing at the time of the interview. Consular officers will not request user passwords and will not attempt to subvert any privacy controls the applicants may have implemented on social media platforms. Consular officers are directed not to engage or interact with individuals on or through social media; not to violate or attempt to violate individual privacy settings; and not to use social media or assess an individual's social media presence beyond established Department guidance. David T. Donahue, Acting Assistant Secretary, Bureau of Consular Affairs, Department of State. [FR Doc. 2017-08975 Filed 5-3-17; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4710-06-P
![20956 Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 85 / Thursday, May 4, 2017 / Notices
that other than the fact the proposed Paper Comments request described below to the Office of
rule text does not reference manual • Send paper comments in triplicate Management and Budget (OMB) for
order handling or the Public Automated to Secretary, Securities and Exchange review and approval in accordance with
Routing (‘‘PAR’’) workstation (because Commission, 100 F Street NE., the emergency review procedures of the
C2 is entirely electronic) all of the Washington, DC 20549–1090. Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995. The
proposed rule changes are based on and purpose of this notice is to allow for
All submissions should refer to File
identical to CBOE Rule 6.53C(d)(i)–(ii). public comment from all interested
Number SR–C2–2017–016. This file
individuals and organizations.
C. Self-Regulatory Organization’s number should be included on the
Emergency review and approval of this
Statement on Comments on the subject line if email is used. To help the
collection has been requested from OMB
Proposed Rule Change Received From Commission process and review your
by May 18. If granted, the emergency
Members, Participants, or Others comments more efficiently, please use
approval is only valid for 180 days.
The Exchange neither solicited nor only one method. The Commission will
post all comments on the Commission’s ADDRESSES: Direct any comments on
received comments on the proposed this emergency request to both the
rule change. Internet Web site (http://www.sec.gov/
rules/sro.shtml). Copies of the Department of State Desk Officer in the
III. Date of Effectiveness of the submission, all subsequent Office of Information and Regulatory
Proposed Rule Change and Timing for amendments, all written statements Affairs at the Office of Management and
Commission Action with respect to the proposed rule Budget (OMB) and to Bureau of
change that are filed with the Consular Affairs, Visa Office.
Because the foregoing proposed rule All public comments must be
change does not: (i) Significantly affect Commission, and all written
communications relating to the received by May 18.
the protection of investors or the public You may submit comments to OMB
interest; (ii) impose any significant proposed rule change between the
by the following methods:
burden on competition; and (iii) become Commission and any person, other than
• Email: oira_submission@
operative for 30 days from the date on those that may be withheld from the
omb.eop.gov. You must include the DS
which it was filed, or such shorter time public in accordance with the
form number (if applicable), information
as the Commission may designate, it has provisions of 5 U.S.C. 552, will be
collection title, and OMB control
become effective pursuant to Section available for Web site viewing and
number in the subject line of your
19(b)(3)(A) of the Act 20 and Rule 19b– printing in the Commission’s Public
message.
4(f)(6) thereunder.21 Reference Room, 100 F Street NE., • Fax: 202–395–5806. Attention: Desk
At any time within 60 days of the Washington, DC 20549 on official Officer for Department of State.
filing of the proposed rule change, the business days between the hours of You may submit comments to Bureau
Commission summarily may 10:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. Copies of the of Consular Affairs, Visa Office by the
temporarily suspend such rule change if filing also will be available for following methods:
it appears to the Commission that such inspection and copying at the principal • You may submit comments to
action is: (i) Necessary or appropriate in office of the Exchange. All comments Bureau of Consular Affairs, Visa Office
the public interest; (ii) for the protection received will be posted without change; by the following methods:
of investors; or (iii) otherwise in the Commission does not edit personal • Web: Persons with access to the
furtherance of the purposes of the Act. identifying information from Internet may comment on this notice by
If the Commission takes such action, the submissions. You should submit only going to www.Regulations.gov. You can
Commission shall institute proceedings information that you wish to make search for the document by entering
to determine whether the proposed rule available publicly. All submissions ‘‘Docket Number: DOS–2017–0019’’ in
change should be approved or should refer to File Number SR–C2– the Search field. Then click the
disapproved. 2017–016 and should be submitted on ‘‘Comment Now’’ button and complete
or before May 25, 2017. the comment form.
IV. Solicitation of Comments
For the Commission, by the Division of • Email: PRA_BurdenComments@
Interested persons are invited to Trading and Markets, pursuant to delegated state.gov. You must include Emergency
submit written data, views, and authority.22 Submission Comment on
arguments concerning the foregoing, Eduardo A. Aleman, ‘‘Supplemental Questions for Visa
including whether the proposed rule Assistant Secretary. Applicants’’ in the subject line of your
change is consistent with the Act. message.
[FR Doc. 2017–08981 Filed 5–3–17; 8:45 am]
Comments may be submitted by any of You must include the DS form
BILLING CODE 8011–01–P
the following methods: number (if applicable) information
Electronic Comments collection title, and the OMB control
number in any correspondence.
• Use the Commission’s Internet DEPARTMENT OF STATE
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
comment form (http://www.sec.gov/ [Public Notice: 9984] Direct requests for additional
rules/sro.shtml); or
• Send an email to rule-comments@ information regarding the collection
Notice of Information Collection Under listed in this notice, including requests
sec.gov. Please include File Number SR– OMB Emergency Review:
C2–2017–016 on the subject line. for copies of the proposed collection
Supplemental Questions for Visa instrument and supporting documents
Applicants
pmangrum on DSK3GDR082PROD with NOTICES
20 15 U.S.C. 78s(b)(3)(A).
to PRA_BurdenComments@state.gov.
21 17 CFR 240.19b–4(f)(6). As required under Rule Notice of request for emergency
ACTION: SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
19b–4(f)(6)(iii), the Exchange provided the OMB approval and public comment. • Title of Information Collection:
Commission with written notice of its intent to file Supplemental Questions for Visa
the proposed rule change, along with a brief SUMMARY: The Department of State has
description and the text of the proposed rule
Applicants.
change, at least five business days prior to the date submitted the information collection • OMB Control Number: New.
of filing of the proposed rule change, or such • Type of Request: Emergency
shorter time as designated by the Commission. 22 17 CFR 200.30–3(a)(12). Review.
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![Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 85 / Thursday, May 4, 2017 / Notices 20957
• Originating Office: Bureau of • Names and dates of birth for all individual circumstances and
Consular Affairs, Visa Office (CA/VO). current and former spouses, or civil or information they provide, that will lead
• Form Number: DS–5535. domestic partners; U.S. consular officers at posts around
• Respondents: Immigrant and • Social media platforms and the world to conclude the applicant
nonimmigrant visa applicants who have identifiers, also known as handles, used warrants enhanced screening that takes
been determined to warrant additional during the last five years; and into account the information that is
scrutiny in connection with terrorism or • Phone numbers and email proposed to be collected. The estimate
other national security-related visa addresses used during the last five
will be updated in the next request to
ineligibilities. years.
continue collecting the information
• Estimated Number of Respondents: Most of this information is already
collected on visa applications but for a based on experience reported by
65,000 respondents.
• Estimated Number of Responses: shorter time period, e.g. five years rather overseas posts. Failure to provide
65,000 responses. than fifteen years. Requests for names requested information will not
• Average Time per Response: 60 and dates of birth of siblings and, for necessarily result in visa denial, if the
minutes. some applicants, children are new. The consular officer determines the
• Total Estimated Burden Time: request for social media identifiers and applicant has provided a credible
65,000 annual hours. associated platforms is new for the explanation why he or she cannot
• Frequency: Once per respondent’s Department of State, although it is answer a question or provide requested
application. already collected on a voluntary basis supporting documentation, such that
• Obligation to Respond: Required to by the Department of Homeland the consular officer is able to conclude
Obtain or Retain a Benefit. Security (DHS) for certain individuals. that the applicant has provided
We are soliciting public comments to Regarding travel history, applicants may adequate information to determine the
permit the Department to: be requested to provide details of their applicant’s eligibility to receive the visa.
• Evaluate whether the proposed international or domestic (within their The collection of social media platforms
information collection is necessary for country of nationality) travel, if it and identifiers will not be used to deny
the proper functions of the Department. appears to the consular officer that the visas based on applicants’ race, religion,
• Evaluate the accuracy of our applicant has been in an area while the
ethnicity, national origin, political
estimate of the time and cost burden of area was under the operational control
views, gender, or sexual orientation.
this proposed collection, including the of a terrorist organization as defined in
validity of the methodology and section 212(a)(3)(B)(vi) of the Methodology
assumptions used. Immigration and Nationality Act, 8
• Enhance the quality, utility, and U.S.C. 1182(a)(3)(B)(vi). Applicants may Department of State consular officers
clarity of the information to be be asked to recount or explain the at visa-adjudicating posts worldwide
collected. details of their travel, and when will ask the proposed additional
• Minimize the reporting burden on possible, provide supporting questions to resolve an applicant’s
those who are to respond, including the documentation. identity or to vet for terrorism or other
use of automated collection techniques This information collection national security related visa
or other forms of information implements the directive of the ineligibilities when the consular officer
technology. President, in the Memorandum for the determines that the circumstances of a
Please note that comments submitted Secretary of State, the Attorney General, visa applicant, a review of a visa
in response to this Notice are public the Secretary of Homeland Security of application, or responses in a visa
records. Before including any detailed March 6, 2017, to implement additional interview indicate a need for greater
personal information, you should be protocols and procedures focused on
scrutiny. The additional questions may
aware that your comments as submitted, ‘‘ensur[ing] the proper collection of all
information necessary to rigorously be sent electronically to the applicant or
including your personal information, be presented orally or in writing at the
will be available for public review. evaluate all grounds of inadmissibility
or deportability, or grounds for the time of the interview. Consular officers
Abstract of Proposed Collection denial of other immigration benefits.’’ will not request user passwords and will
The Department proposes requesting Consular posts worldwide regularly not attempt to subvert any privacy
the following information, if not already engage with law enforcement and controls the applicants may have
included in an application, from a intelligence community partners to implemented on social media platforms.
subset of visa applicants worldwide, in identify sets of post applicant Consular officers are directed not to
order to more rigorously evaluate populations warranting increased engage or interact with individuals on
applicants for terrorism or other scrutiny. The additional information or through social media; not to violate
national security-related visa collected will facilitate consular officer or attempt to violate individual privacy
ineligibilities: efforts to immediately apply more settings; and not to use social media or
• Travel history during the last fifteen rigorous evaluation of these applicants assess an individual’s social media
years, including source of funding for for potential visa ineligibilities. In presence beyond established
travel; accordance with existing authorities, Department guidance.
• Address history during the last visas may not be denied on the basis of
fifteen years; race, religion, ethnicity, national origin, David T. Donahue,
• Employment history during the last
pmangrum on DSK3GDR082PROD with NOTICES
political views, gender, or sexual Acting Assistant Secretary, Bureau of
fifteen years; orientation. Consular Affairs, Department of State.
• All passport numbers and country The estimated number of respondents [FR Doc. 2017–08975 Filed 5–3–17; 8:45 am]
of issuance held by the applicant; represents the estimate of relevant State BILLING CODE 4710–06–P
• Names and dates of birth for all Department officials that 0.5% of U.S.
siblings; visa applicants worldwide, or in the
• Name and dates of birth for all range of 65,000 individuals per annum,
children; will present a threat profile, based on
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Document Created: 2017-05-04 01:49:04
Document Modified: 2017-05-04 01:49:04
| Category | Regulatory Information | |
| Collection | Federal Register | |
| sudoc Class | AE 2.7: GS 4.107: AE 2.106: | |
| Publisher | Office of the Federal Register, National Archives and Records Administration | |
| Section | Notices | |
| Action | Notice of request for emergency OMB approval and public comment. | |
| 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 [email protected] | |
| FR Citation | 82 FR 20956 |
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