Proposed Information Collection Activity; U.S. Repatriation Forms
The Administration for Children and Families (ACF) is requesting a 3-year extension of the U.S. Repatriation Program forms (OMB #0970-0474, expiration 1/31/2027). There are seve...
Office of Human Services Emergency Preparedness and Response, Administration for Children and Families, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
ACTION:
Request for public comments.
SUMMARY:
The Administration for Children and Families (ACF) is requesting a 3-year extension of the U.S. Repatriation Program forms (OMB #0970-0474, expiration 1/31/2027). There are several changes requested to the thirteen forms. Burden estimates have also been updated.
DATES:
Comments due December 1, 2026.
ADDRESSES:
In compliance with the requirements of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, ACF is soliciting public comment on the specific aspects of the information collection described above. You can obtain copies of the proposed collection of information and submit comments by emailing
infocollection@acf.hhs.gov.
Identify all requests by the title of the information collection.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Description:
The purpose of the U.S. Repatriation Program (Program) is to provide temporary assistance to eligible U.S. citizens and their dependents (repatriates) returned by the Department of State from a foreign country because of destitution, illness, war, threat of war, or a similar crisis, and who are without available resources, or (2) mental illness. Temporary assistance is provided upon their arrival in the United States and is available initially for up to 90 days from a repatriate's date of arrival in the United States. Temporary assistance is provided in the form of a service loan and is repayable to the U.S. Government.
Temporary assistance is defined in 42 U.S.C. 1313(c) as money payments, medical care, temporary lodging, transportation, and other goods and services necessary for the health or welfare of individuals, including guidance, counseling, and other welfare services provided to them within the United States upon their arrival in the United States. Other goods and services may include clothes, food, assistance with obtaining identification (driver's license, birth certificate), child care, and translation services.
The ACF Office of Human Services Emergency Preparedness and Response (OHSEPR), at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), administers the Program.
OHSEPR made changes to all thirteen forms to ensure the information collected aligns with Program statutes and regulations as well as the purpose and use of the form. Revisions include clarifying statutory authority and aligning data collection with policy. Forms were also simplified. These changes reduced the burden hours.
The following is a description of the proposed revisions:
The purpose of this form is for U.S. citizens and their dependents to request temporary assistance during an emergency repatriation incident. To reduce the burden of reviewing numerous forms to receive assistance, proposed revisions include the following:
Adding information about privacy and loan repayment
The purpose of this form is for states to request reimbursement for emergency repatriation expenditures. Proposed revisions include the following to align with deregulatory priorities:
The purpose of this form is for repatriates to request a waiver or deferral of their loan for temporary assistance received through the U.S. Repatriation Program. Proposed
( printed page 62736)
revisions include the following to align with deregulation changes:
The purpose of this form is for state and local service providers to submit reimbursement requests for providing temporary assistance to repatriates under the U.S. Repatriation Program. Proposed revisions include the following to align with deregulatory priorities and decrease fraud, waste, and abuse:
Adding information on supporting documentation for administrative costs
Updating information on where to submit form
Repatriation Repayment and Privacy Agreement (Form RR-05)
The purpose of this form is for repatriates to agree to accept temporary assistance under the U.S. Repatriation Program, to agree to repay HHS for temporary assistance, and to allow HHS to share personal information for benefits purposes. Proposed revisions include the following to align with deregulatory priorities and ACF priorities:
Adding information about automatic waivers for wrongful detainees and kin taking custody of unaccompanied minors
Refusal of Temporary Assistance (Form RR-06)
The purpose of this form is for repatriates to refuse to accept temporary assistance under the U.S. Repatriation Program after receiving information about the Program. Proposed revisions include adding the following to align with deregulation:
The purpose of this form is for repatriates to request an extension of temporary assistance beyond the initial 90-day eligibility period. Proposed revisions include the following to align with deregulatory priorities:
Removing questions on lawsuits, assets, fixed monthly expenses, and loans and liabilities
Needs Assessment Form (Form RR-09)
The purpose of this form is for repatriation case workers to collect information on the needs of repatriates. This is a new form. Information collected includes repatriation program case information, repatriate arrival information, repatriate background information, dependent information, contact information, engagement information, valid identification information, information on need for medical care and accessibility and functional assistance, information on need for temporary lodging, information on need for local transportation, information on need for cash assistance, information on need for food assistance, information on need for translation assistance, information on need for legal aid, information on need for vocational training assistance, information on need for childcare assistance, information on need for other assistance.
State Contact List
The purpose is to ensure current and accurate points-of-contact within states and territories for the U.S. Repatriation Program routine and emergency operations.
Proposed revisions include the following to reduce burden to the states:
Separately asking for the names of contacts by role and the state departments and agencies involved in repatriation
Repatriation Training and Technical Assistance Request
States, territories, counties, and local service providers may use this form to request training and technical assistance on the U.S. Repatriation Program via a web portal account. Proposed revisions include the following to reduce burden on the states:
Combining categories for “Emergency Repatriation—Financial Reimbursement” and “Routine Repatriation—Financial Reimbursement”
Combining categories for “Emergency Repatriation—Unaccompanied Minors” and “Routine Repatriation—Unaccompanied Minors”
Adding question on delivery preference
Post-Training Survey
The purpose of this survey is to receive feedback on trainings to improve the support for and customer experience of states, territories, and local service providers supporting the U.S. Repatriation Program. Proposed revisions include the following to reduce burden for respondents and focus on program improvement:
Removing questions on number of years in position
Changing training evaluation from questions to statements
Changing reference to “your position” to “your role” in regards to relevance of training
Changing question on training engagement from “interactive and engaging” to “engaging and supported my learning”
Changing question on material from “easy to understand” to “clear and easy to understand”
Changing question asking respondent to rate the quality of the multimedia to asking respondent whether the multimedia “supported my learning”
Removing question on training meeting expectations
Removing question on asking respondent to rate the quality of the training session
Removing question on how multimedia could be improved
Adding question on how prepared respondent feels to apply what they have learned
The purpose of this reporting template is for states to report whether they conducted any emergency repatriation operations over the reporting period, and if so, to report on emergency repatriation center operations, immediate support services and resources offered, coordination and information sharing, demobilization, and lessons learned. This is a new form.
Respondents:
States, territories, local social service providers, administrative staff, repatriates, and authorized representatives of repatriates.
Annual Burden Estimates:
( printed page 62737)
Instrument
Total number of
respondents
Total number of responses per
respondent
Average
burden hours
per response
Annual burden hours
Emergency Repatriation Eligibility Application
250
1
0.5
125
Emergency Repatriation Reimbursement Request
10
1
0.3
3
Loan Waiver and Deferral Application
25
1
0.5
12.5
Routine Repatriation Reimbursement Request
55
2
0.3
33
Repatriation Repayment and Privacy Agreement
800
1
0.17
136
Refusal of Temporary Assistance
50
1
0.05
2.5
Temporary Assistance Extension Request
125
1
0.3
37.5
Emergency Repatriation Request for Cost Approval and Federal Support
5
10
0.3
15
Repatriation State Contact List
55
1
0.17
9.35
Repatriation Training and Technical Assistance Request Form
Comments:
The Department specifically requests comments on (a) whether the proposed 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 estimate of the burden of the proposed collection of information; (c) the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and (d) ways to minimize the burden of the collection of information on respondents, including through the use of automated collection techniques or other forms of information technology. Consideration will be given to comments and suggestions submitted within 60 days of this publication.
42 U.S.C. 1313(c)
45 CFR part 75