82 FR 39487 - 60-Day Notice of Proposed Information Collection: Affidavit of Relationship (AOR) for Minors Who Are Nationals of El Salvador, Guatemala, or Honduras

DEPARTMENT OF STATE

Federal Register Volume 82, Issue 159 (August 18, 2017)

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 82, Number 159 (Friday, August 18, 2017)]
[Notices]
[Pages 39487-39488]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2017-17507]


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DEPARTMENT OF STATE

[Public Notice: 10055]


60-Day Notice of Proposed Information Collection: Affidavit of 
Relationship (AOR) for Minors Who Are Nationals of El Salvador, 
Guatemala, or 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 
October 17, 2017.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments by any of 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-2017-0029'' in the Search 
field. Then click the ``Comment Now'' button and complete the comment 
form.
     Email: [email protected].
     Regular Mail: Send written comments to: Monica Greco, PRM/
Office of Admissions, 2025 E Street NW., Washington, DC 20522.

[[Page 39488]]

    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 Monica Greco, PRM/Office of Admissions, 2025 E 
Street NW., Washington, DC 20522, who may be reached on 202-453-9251 or 
at [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 
     Title of Information Collection: Affidavit of Relationship 
(AOR) for Minors Who Are Nationals of El Salvador, Guatemala, and 
Honduras.
     OMB Control Number: 1405-0217.
     Type of Request: Revision of a Currently Approved 
Collection.
     Originating Office: PRM/A.
     Form Number: DS-7699.
     Respondents: Lawfully present parents in the U.S. with 
children in El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras.
     Estimated Number of Respondents: 5,000.
     Estimated Number of Responses: 5,000.
     Average Time per Response: 120 minutes per response.
     Total Estimated Burden Time: 10,000 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:
     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. The Central American Minors 
(CAM) Program allows certain parents lawfully present in the United 
States to request a refugee resettlement interview for unmarried 
children under 21 years of age, and certain eligible family members 
from El Salvador, Guatemala, or Honduras. Previously, qualifying 
children and eligible family members who were denied refugee status 
under the CAM program were considered for parole into the United States 
on a case-by-case basis by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services 
(USCIS). Following the USCIS announcement that it will no longer 
consider or authorize parole under the CAM program, the Department of 
State will revise the Affidavit of Relationship (AOR) for Minors Who 
Are Nationals of El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras (DS-7699) to 
reflect this change in policy. The DS-7699 will continue to assist DHS/
USCIS to verify parent-child and other family 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) and other eligible family members who may subsequently seek 
access to the USRAP for verification by the U.S. government.
    Methodology: This information collection currently involves 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. Parents may visit any 
resettlement agency located in a U.S. community 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 completed electronically. Completed 
AORs will be printed out for ink signature by the respondents. The 
electronic copy will then be submitted electronically to the Refugee 
Processing Center (RPC) and downloaded into the Worldwide Refugee 
Admissions Processing System (WRAPS). The signed paper copy will remain 
with PRM's Reception and Placement Agency partners.

    Dated: August 15, 2017.
Simon Henshaw,
Acting Assistant Secretary, Bureau of Population, Refugees, and 
Migration, Department of State.
[FR Doc. 2017-17507 Filed 8-17-17; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4710-33-P