Expedited Office of Management and Budget Review and Public Comment: Unaccompanied Alien Children Sponsor Application Packet
The Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR), Administration for Children and Families (ACF), Department of Health and Human Services, requests expedited review, from the Office of ...
Office of Refugee Resettlement, Administration for Children and Families, Department of Health and Human Services.
ACTION:
Request for Public Comments.
SUMMARY:
The Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR), Administration for Children and Families (ACF), Department of Health and Human Services, requests expedited review, from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), of an information collection from ORR and invites public comments on the proposed collection. This information collection ensures that ORR obtains and documents critical information needed to assess sponsor suitability, identify potential safety risks, and support the safe and timely release of unaccompanied alien children to suitable sponsors.
DATES:
Comments due January 4, 2027.
ADDRESSES:
In compliance with the requirements of the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA), 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:
ACF is requesting that OMB grant 180-days of approval for this request under procedures for expedited processing (
see5 CFR 1320.13). In compliance with PRA, ACF will request review under normal procedures within 180 days of approval for this request. Any edits resulting from public comment will be incorporated into the submission under normal procedures.
ORR proposes to revise two existing instruments to align their PDF and digital versions, improve question organization and instructions, and present related conditional follow-up questions within the primary application forms. Selected information is already requested through the Sponsor Assessment (Form S-5), Affidavit of Support (Form SAP-8), Home Study Assessment (S-6), and existing application instructions. The approved respondent burden remains unchanged.
These instruments support implementation of ORR's Foundational Rule, 45 CFR part 410. Under 45 CFR 410.1202(a) and (b), prospective sponsors must complete an application package, and ORR must assess whether a prospective sponsor can provide for the child's physical and mental well-being before releasing the child.
1. Authorization for Release of Information (Form SAP-2):
This instrument obtains authorization and identifying information used to conduct background checks and support sponsor suitability assessments. The revisions reorganize identity, contact, and address-history information; clarify instructions; and add structured prompts concerning current and past living arrangements.
2. Sponsor Application (Form SAP-3):
This instrument collects information used to assess prospective sponsors and support the safe release of children. The revisions organize income, employment, and prior-sponsorship information; clarify household and alternative-caregiver questions; and add structured follow-up fields and identity-verification photograph requirements.
Respondents:
ORR grantee and contractor staff; other
Annual Burden Estimates
Instrument
Total number of respondents
Total number of responses per respondent
Average
burden hours
per response
Total burden hours
Annual burden hours
Authorization for Release of Information (Form SAP-2)
183,588
1
0.50
91,794
91,794
Sponsor Application (Form SAP-3)
76,569
1
1.50
114,854
114,854
Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours
206,648
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.
Use this for formal legal and research references to the published document.
91 FR 69851
Web Citation
Suggested Web Citation
Use this when citing the archival web version of the document.
“Expedited Office of Management and Budget Review and Public Comment: Unaccompanied Alien Children Sponsor Application Packet,” thefederalregister.org (November 5, 2026), https://thefederalregister.org/documents/2026-22610/expedited-office-of-management-and-budget-review-and-public-comment-unaccompanied-alien-children-sponsor-application-pac.
5 CFR 1320.13
8 U.S.C. 1232