[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 127 (Monday, July 2, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 39318-39319]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-16142]


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DEPARTMENT OF STATE

[Public Notice 7938]


30-Day Notice of Proposed Information Collection: DS-5513, 
Supplemental Questionnaire To Determine Entitlement for a U.S. 
Passport, 1405-XXXX

ACTION: Notice of request for public comment and submission to OMB of 
proposed collection of information.

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SUMMARY: The Department of State has submitted the following 
information collection request to the Office of Management and Budget 
(OMB) for approval in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 
1995.
     Title of Information Collection: Supplemental 
Questionnaire to Determine Entitlement for a U.S. Passport
     OMB Control Number: None
     Type of Request: Existing Collection in Use Without an OMB 
Control Number
     Originating Office: Bureau of Consular Affairs, Passport 
Services, Office of Project Management and Operational Support, Program 
Coordination (CA/PPT/PMO/PC)
     Form Number: DS-5513
     Respondents: Individuals applying for a U.S. passport
     Estimated Number of Respondents: 5,010
     Estimated Number of Responses: 5,010
     Average Hours per Response: 85 Minutes
     Total Estimated Burden: 7,098 hours
     Frequency: On occasion
     Obligation to Respond: Required to Obtain a Benefit

DATES: Submit comments to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for 
up to 30 days from July 2, 2012.

ADDRESSES: U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Consular Affairs, 
Passport Services, Office of Program Management and Operational 
Support, 2201 C Street NW., Washington, DC 20037.
    Direct comments to the Department of State Desk Officer in the 
Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs at the Office of 
Management and Budget (OMB). You may submit comments by the following 
methods:
     Email: [email protected]. You must include the 
DS form number, information collection title, and OMB control number in 
the subject line of your message.
     Fax: 202-395-5806. Attention: Desk Officer for Department 
of State.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: You may obtain copies of the proposed 
information collection and supporting documents from PPT Forms Officer, 
U.S. Department of State, 2100 Pennsylvania Ave. NW., Room 3031, 
Washington, DC 20037, who may be reached on 202-663-2457 or at 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: We are soliciting public comments to permit 
the Department to:
     Evaluate whether the proposed information collection is 
necessary to properly perform 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.

Abstract of Proposed Collection

    The primary purpose for soliciting this information is to establish 
entitlement for a U.S. Passport Book or Passport Card. The information 
may also be used in connection with issuing other travel documents or 
evidence of citizenship, and in furtherance of the Secretary's 
responsibility for the protection of U.S. nationals abroad.

Methodology

    The Supplemental Questionnaire to Determine Entitlement for a U.S. 
Passport is used to supplement an existing passport application and 
solicits information relating to the respondent's family and birth 
circumstances that is needed prior to passport issuance.

[[Page 39319]]

Additional Information

    The DS-5513 is questionnaire is designed to help determine the 
entitlement of passport applicants. The DS-5513 is not designed to 
replace the DS-11, Application for a U.S. Passport, but rather to 
supplement the application when the applicant initially submits 
evidence that is insufficient to meet his/her burden of proving 
entitlement. The Department estimates that such supplemental 
information will only be requested for a small number of applicants, 
estimated to be less than 0.5% of applications received annually. For 
information on what documentation is required when submitting a DS-11, 
please refer to page two of the instructions.
    The DS-5513 is largely based on the original Biographical 
Questionnaire for a U.S. Passport, posted on the Federal Register for 
public comment on February 24, 2011 (page 10421) and closed April 25, 
2011.
    Comments received from the original Federal Register posting were 
considered, and several suggestions were incorporated into the current 
version of the forms. The Department split the form into two shorter 
forms: the DS-5520 for identity questions and the DS-5513 for 
entitlement. Both revised forms assure applicants that failure to 
answer every question will not necessarily preclude passport issuance, 
as the responses to the questions in the forms are considered in their 
entirety.
    In response to comments regarding burden and privacy concerns, the 
proposed forms amend many of the questions to more accurately obtain 
the information the Department is seeking. For example, on the DS-5513, 
the questions concentrate around the time of the applicant's birth and 
there are no longer any questions seeking information about periods of 
time beyond the applicant's 18th birthday.
    The Department also received comments that expressed concern over 
the ability of an applicant who is adopted or elderly to answer the DS-
5513's questions on birth circumstances. The form asks a wide range of 
questions related to the circumstances and facts surrounding an 
applicant's birth in order to accommodate the various situations in 
which Americans are born, whether hospital, home birth, non-
institutional birth, etc. The Department realizes that most information 
an applicant supplies for this questionnaire surrounding his/her birth 
and early life will likely come from other sources and takes this into 
account during the adjudication process. In addition, many of these 
questions may not apply to some applicants; however, in those instances 
where the questions are relevant, the supplemental form gives the 
applicant an opportunity to provide additional information that may 
support passport issuance.

     Dated: May 9, 2012.
Barry J. Conway,
Acting Deputy Assistant Secretary for Passport Services, Bureau of 
Consular Affairs, Department of State.
[FR Doc. 2012-16142 Filed 6-29-12; 8:45 am]
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