[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 242 (Monday, December 17, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 74725-74726]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-30346]


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DEPARTMENT OF STATE

[Public Notice 8121]


60-Day Notice of Proposed Information Collection: Statement of 
Exigent/Special Family Circumstances for Issuance of a U.S. Passport to 
a Minor Under Age 16

ACTION: Notice of request for public comment.

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SUMMARY: The Department of State is seeking Office of Management and 
Budget (OMB) approval for the information collection described below. 
In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, we are 
requesting comments on this collection from all interested individuals 
and organizations. The purpose of this notice is to allow 60 days for 
public comment preceding submission of the collection to OMB.

DATES: The Department will accept comments from the public up to 
February 15, 2013.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments by any of the following methods:
     Web: Persons with access to the Internet may use the 
Federal Docket Management System (FDMS) to comment on this notice by 
going to www.Regulations.gov. You can search for the document by 
entering ``Public Notice '' in the 
Search bar. If necessary, use the Narrow by Agency filter option on the 
Results page.
     Email: [email protected].
     Mail: PPT Forms Officer, U.S. Department of State, 2100 
Pennsylvania Avenue NW., Room 3030, Washington, DC 20037.
     Fax: (202) 663-2410.
     Hand Delivery or Courier: PPT Forms Officer, U.S. 
Department of State,

[[Page 74726]]

2100 Pennsylvania Avenue NW., Room 3030, Washington, DC 20037.
    You must include the DS form number (if applicable), information 
collection title, and the OMB control number in any correspondence.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Direct requests for additional 
information regarding the collection listed in this notice, including 
requests for copies of the proposed collection instrument and 
supporting documents, to PPT Forms Officer, U.S. Department of State, 
2100 Pennsylvania Avenue NW., Room 3030, Washington, DC 20037, who may 
be reached on (202) 663-2457 or at [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
     Title of Information Collection: Statement of Exigent/
Special Family Circumstances for Issuance of a U.S. Passport to a Minor 
under Age 16.
     OMB Control Number: None.
     Type of Request: New Collection.
     Originating Office: Bureau of Consular Affairs, Passport 
Services, Office of Program Management and Operational Support, Program 
Coordination Division (CA/PPT/PMO/PC).
     Form Number: DS-5525.
     Respondents: Individuals or Households.
     Estimated Number of Respondents: 327,600 respondents per 
year.
     Estimated Number of Responses: 327,600 responses per year.
     Average Time per Response: 30 minutes .
     Total Estimated Burden Time: 163,800 hours per year.
     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 information collected on the DS-5525, ``Statement of Exigent/
Special Family Circumstances for Issuance of a U.S. Passport to a Minor 
under Age 16'', is used in conjunction with the DS-11, ``Application 
for a U.S. Passport''. The DS-5525 can serve as the statement 
describing exigent or special family circumstances, which is required 
if written consent of the non-applying parent or guardian cannot be 
obtained when the passport application is executed for a minor under 
age 16. The statement must explain the reason for the request.
    The legal authority permitting this information assists the 
Department of State to administer the regulations in 22 CFR 51.27 
requiring that both parents and/or any guardian consent to the issuance 
of a passport to a minor under age 16, except where one parent has sole 
custody. This regulation was mandated by Section 236 of the Admiral 
James W. Nance and Meg Donovan Foreign Relations authorization Act, 
Fiscal Year 2000 and 2001 (enacted by Public Law 106-113, Div. B, 
Section 1000(a)(7)), and helps to prevent international child 
abduction.

Methodology

    Passport Services collects information from U.S. citizens and non-
citizen nationals when they complete and submit the DS-5525, 
``Statement of Exigent/Special Family Circumstances for Issuance of a 
U.S. Passport to a Minor under Age 16''. Passport applicants can either 
download the DS-5525 from the Internet or obtain the form from an 
Acceptance Facility/Passport Agency. The form must be completed, 
signed, and submitted along with the applicant's DS-11, ``Application 
for a U.S. Passport''.

    Dated: November 28, 2012.
Brenda S. Sprague,
Deputy Assistant Secretary for Passport Services, Bureau of Consular 
Affairs, Department of State.
[FR Doc. 2012-30346 Filed 12-14-12; 8:45 am]
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