SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

• Title of Information Collection: Application for a U.S. Passport.
• OMB Control Number: 1405-0004.
• Type of Request: Renewal of a Currently Approved Collection.
• Originating Office: Bureau of Consular Affairs, Passport Services, Office of Program Management and Operational Support (CA/PPT/S/PMO).
• Form Number: DS-11.
• Respondents: Individuals or Households.
• Estimated Number of Respondents: 12,669,500.
• Estimated Number of Responses: 12,669,500.
• Average Time per Response: 85 minutes.
• Total Estimated Burden Time: 17,948,460 hours.
• Frequency: On occasion.
• 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 Application for a U.S. Passport (form DS-11) solicits data necessary for Passport Services to issue a United States passport (book and/or card format) pursuant to authorities granted to the Secretary of State by 22 U.S.C. 211a et seq., and Executive Order 11295 (August 5, 1966) for the issuance of passports to U.S. nationals. The issuance of U.S. passports requires the determination of identity, nationality, and entitlement with reference to the provisions of Title III of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) (8 U.S.C. 1401-1504), the 14th Amendment to the Constitution of the United States, other applicable treaties and laws, and implementing regulations at 22 CFR parts 50 and 51. The specific regulations pertaining to the Application for a U.S. Passport are at 22 CFR 51.20 through 51.28.

Response to Public Comments

There were no comments submitted in response to the 60-day Notice.

Changes Since Last Renewal

In addition to plain language changes and general format changes, the following content changes have been made to the collection:

The Acts or Conditions statement on the form was revised to add an applicant statement, affirming that he or she is not required to register as a sex offender, in accordance with International Megan's Law (34 U.S.C. 21501 et seq., and 22 U.S.C. 212b). To comply with E.O. 14168, “ Defending Women from Gender Ideology Extremism and Restoring Biological Truth to the Federal Government,” the Department updated the form to replace the term “gender” with “sex.” The U.S. Passport conforms with the standards set by the E.O. and the International Civil Aviation Organization, which among other things determine the various fields on the passport's biographical data page. Consistent with the E.O., the revised DS-11 will request the applicant's biological sex at birth, male “M” or female “F.” Amendments to the fields and instructions (section 3) have been made to reflect this.

Methodology

Passport Services collects information from U.S. citizens and non-citizen nationals when they complete and submit the Application for a U.S. Passport (form DS-11). Passport applicants can either download the DS-11 from the internet or obtain one from an acceptance facility/passport agency or U.S. embassy/consulate abroad. The form must be completed and executed at an acceptance facility, passport agency, or U.S. embassy/consulate (if abroad), and submitted with evidence of citizenship and identity.

90 FR 9652