83 FR 13807 - 60-Day Notice of Proposed Information Collection: Application for Nonimmigrant Visa

DEPARTMENT OF STATE

Federal Register Volume 83, Issue 62 (March 30, 2018)

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 83, Number 62 (Friday, March 30, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Pages 13807-13808]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2018-06496]


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DEPARTMENT OF STATE

[Public Notice 10260]


60-Day Notice of Proposed Information Collection: Application for 
Nonimmigrant Visa

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 
29, 2018.

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-2018-0002'' in the Search 
field. Then click the ``Comment Now'' button and complete the comment 
form.
     Email: [email protected].
    You must include the DS form number (if applicable), information 
collection title, and the OMB control number in any correspondence.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 
     Title of Information Collection: Application for 
Nonimmigrant Visa.
     OMB Control Number: 1405-0182.
     Type of Request: Revision of a Currently Approved 
Collection.
     Originating Office: Bureau of Consular Affairs, Visa 
Office (CA/VO).
     Form Number: DS-160 and DS-156.
     Respondents: All Nonimmigrant Visa Applicants.
     Estimated Number of Respondents: 14,000,000.
     Estimated Number of Responses: 14,000,000.
     Average Time per Response: 90 Minutes.
     Total Estimated Burden Time: 21,000,000 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 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 Online Application for Nonimmigrant Visa (DS-160) is used to 
collect biographical information from individuals seeking a 
nonimmigrant visa. The consular officer uses the information collected 
to determine the applicant's eligibility for a visa. Form DS-156 is 
required by regulation of all nonimmigrant visa applicants who do not 
use the Online Application for Nonimmigrant Visa (Form DS-160). Posts 
will use the DS-156 in limited circumstances when the DS-160 is 
unavailable, as outlined below, to elicit information necessary to 
determine an applicant's visa eligibility.

Methodology

    The DS-160 will be submitted electronically over an encrypted 
connection to the Department via the internet. The applicant will be 
instructed to print a confirmation page containing a bar coded record 
locator, which will be scanned at the time of processing. The 
Nonimmigrant Visa Application (DS-156) paper version will be used only 
in the following limited circumstances when applicants cannot access 
the DS-160:
     An applicant has an urgent medical or humanitarian travel 
need and the consular officer has received explicit permission from the 
Visa Office to accept form DS-156;
     The applicant is a student exchange visitor who must leave 
immediately in order to arrive on time for his/her course and the 
consular officer has explicit permission from the Visa Office to accept 
form DS-156;
     The applicant is a diplomatic or official traveler with 
urgent government business and form DS-160 has been unavailable for 
more than four hours; or
     Form DS-160 has been unavailable for more than three days 
and the officer receives explicit permission from the Visa Office.
    In order to obtain a copy of form DS-156, an applicant must contact 
the Embassy or consulate at which he or she is applying, and request a 
copy.

Additional Information

    This collection is being revised to include both nonimmigrant visa 
application methods: the online version (form DS-160) which is used by 
the vast majority of applications, and the paper version (form DS-156) 
which is used in limited circumstances. Currently, the online 
application and paper application are approved under two separate 
collections. With this renewal, the Department seeks to combine these 
into a single collection. Upon approval, the Department will seek to 
discontinue OMB Control Number 1405-0018, the existing collection for 
form DS-156.
    The Department also is revising the collection to add several 
additional questions for nonimmigrant visa applicants. One question 
lists multiple social media platforms and requires the applicant to 
provide any identifiers used by applicants for those platforms during 
the five years preceding the date of application. The platforms listed 
may be updated by the Department by adding or removing platforms. 
Additional platforms will be added only if collection is consistent 
with the uses described in the Supporting Statement and after Office of 
Management and Budget approval. In addition, the applicant will be 
given the option to provide information about any social media 
identifiers associated with any platforms other than those that are 
listed that the applicant has used in the last five years. The 
Department will collect this information from visa applicants for 
identity resolution and vetting purposes based on statutory visa 
eligibility standards; however, the Department intends not to routinely 
ask the question of applicants for specific visa classifications, such 
as most diplomatic and official visa applicants. Other questions seek 
five years of previously

[[Page 13808]]

used telephone numbers, email addresses, and international travel; 
whether the applicant has been deported or removed from any country; 
and whether specified family members have been involved in terrorist 
activities. Additionally, some E-nonimmigrant visa applicants will be 
asked whether the principal treaty trader was issued a visa. The ``Sign 
and Submit'' statement will provide applicants additional information 
related to correcting records within Federal Bureau of Investigation 
databases. Finally, the revised visa application forms will include 
additional information regarding the visa medical examination that some 
applicants may be required to undergo. Additional details of the 
changes are available in supporting documents.

Carl C. Risch,
Assistant Secretary, Bureau of Consular Affairs, Department of State.
[FR Doc. 2018-06496 Filed 3-29-18; 8:45 am]
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