[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 171 (Tuesday, September 6, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Page 53039]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-17637]


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DEPARTMENT OF STATE

[Public Notice: 5180]


60-Day Notice of Proposed Information Collection: Form DS-71, 
Affidavit of Identifying Witness; OMB No. 1405-0088

ACTION: Notice of request for public comments.

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SUMMARY: The Department of State is seeking Office of Management and 
Budget (OMB) approval for the information collection described below. 
The purpose of this notice is to allow 60 days for public comment in 
the Federal Register preceding submission to OMB. We are conducting 
this process in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995.
     Title of Information Collection: Affidavit of Identifying 
Witness.
     OMB Control Number: 1405-0088.
     Type of Request: Revision of a Currently Approved 
Collection.
     Originating Office: Bureau of Consular Affairs, Department 
of State, Passport Services, Office of Field Operations, Field 
Coordination Division. CA/PPT/FO/FC.
     Form Number: DS-71.
     Respondents: Individuals or Households.
     Estimated Number of Respondents: 140,000.
     Estimated Number of Responses: 140,000.
     Average Hours per Response: 1/12 (5 min.).
     Total Estimated Burden: 11,700.
     Frequency: On occasion.
     Obligation to Respond: Required to Obtain a Benefit.

DATES: The Department will accept comments from the public up to 60 
days from September 6, 2005.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments by any of the following methods:
     E-mail: [email protected]. You must include the DS 
form number (if applicable), information collection title, and OMB 
control number in the subject line of your message.
     Mail (paper, disk, or CD-ROM submissions): Susan 
Cowlishaw, U.S. Department of State, CA/PPT/FO/FC, 2100 Pennsylvania 
Avenue, NW., 3rd Floor/Room 3040/SA-29, Washington, DC 20037.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Direct requests for additional 
information regarding the collection listed in this notice, including 
requests for copies of the proposed information collection and 
supporting documents, to Susan Cowlishaw, U.S. Department of State, CA/
PPT/FO/FC, 2100 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW., 3rd Floor/Room 3040/SA-29, 
Washington, DC 20037, who may be reached on (202) 261-8957 or 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: We are soliciting public comments to permit 
the Department to:
     Evaluate whether the proposed information collection is 
necessary for the proper performance of our functions.
     Evaluate the accuracy of our estimate of the burden of the 
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 
technology.

Abstract of Proposed Collection

    The Affidavit of Identifying Witness (Form DS-71) is used by the 
Department of State in making a determination of the applicant's 
eligibility to be documented as a citizen or a non-citizen national of 
the United States. The form is used by Acceptance Agents and Consular 
Officers to collect information for the purpose of establishing the 
identity of a passport applicant who has not submitted adequate 
evidence with his/her passport application. The primary purpose for 
soliciting the information is to establish identity and entitlement to 
issuance of a U.S. passport, and to properly administer and enforce the 
laws pertaining to issuance thereof. Lack of identity information may 
result in the refusal to issue a U.S. passport. Inaccurate identity 
evidence could possibly result in issuance of a passport to a non-U.S. 
citizen or to anyone using an assumed identity.

Methodology

    The Affidavit of Identifying Witness (Form DS-71) is used in 
conjunction with the Application for a U.S. Passport (Form DS-11). 
Along with the DS-71, the customer's insufficient or unacceptable 
identity documents are recorded. The identifying witness completes the 
form for a person applying for a passport who is unable to properly 
identify himself or herself at the acceptance facility/passport agency 
in the presence of the Acceptance Agent/Consular Officer.

    Dated: August 18, 2005.
Ann Barrett,
Acting Deputy Assistant Secretary for Passport Services, Bureau of 
Consular Affairs, Department of State.
[FR Doc. 05-17637 Filed 9-2-05; 8:45 am]
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