[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 220 (Friday, November 14, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Pages 68343-68344]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-27040]



[[Page 68343]]

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DEPARTMENT OF STATE

[Public Notice: 8950]


Notice of Information Collection Under OMB Emergency Review: 
Affidavit of Relationship (AOR) for Minors From Honduras, El Salvador 
and Guatemala

ACTION: Notice of request for emergency OMB approval and public 
comment.

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SUMMARY: The Department of State has submitted the information 
collection request described below to the Office of Management and 
Budget (OMB) for review and approval in accordance with the emergency 
review procedures of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (5 CFR 
1320.13). The purpose of this notice is to allow for public comment 
from all interested individuals and organizations. Emergency review and 
approval of this collection has been requested from OMB by immediately. 
If granted, the emergency approval is only valid for 180 days. The 
Department plans to follow this emergency request with a submission for 
a 3 year approval through OMB's normal PRA clearance process (5 CFR 
1320.10).

ADDRESSES: Direct any comments on this emergency request to the 
Department of State Desk Officer in the Office of Information and 
Regulatory Affairs at the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) and to 
PRM/Admissions.
    All comments must be received by 10 days from publication of this 
Notice.
    You may submit comments to OMB 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.
    You may submit comments to PRM/Admissions by 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 8950'' in the Search bar. If necessary, use 
the Narrow by Agency filter option on the Results page.
     Email: PRM/Admissions (Sean Hantak: [email protected]). 
You must include Emergency Submission Comment on ``information 
collection title'' in the subject line of your message.
     Regular Mail: Send written comments to PRM/Admissions, 
2901 C Street NW., Room 6825, Washington DC 20520.
    You must include the DS form number (if applicable), information 
collection title, and OMB control number (if any) 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 Sean Hantak, PRM/Admissions, 2901 C Street NW., 
Rm 6825, Washington DC 20520 who may be reached at [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 
    Title of Information Collection: Affidavit of Relationship (AOR) 
for Minors from Honduras, El Salvador and Guatemala.
     OMB Control Number: ``None''.
     Type of Request: Emergency Review.
     Originating Office: PRM/A.
     Form Number: DS-7699.
     Respondents: Anchor parents in the U.S. with children in 
Honduras, El Salvador and Guatemala.
     Estimated Number of Respondents: 2,500.
     Estimated Number of Responses: 2,500.
     Average Time per Response: 60 minutes.
     Total Estimated Burden Time: 2,500 hours.
     Frequency: One time per form.
     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 of 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 Department of State Bureau of 
Population, Refugees, and Migration (PRM) is responsible for 
coordinating and managing the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program (USRAP). 
PRM coordinates within the Department of State, as well as with the 
Department of Homeland Security's U.S. Citizenship and Immigration 
Services (DHS/USCIS), in carrying out this responsibility. A critical 
part of the State Department's responsibility is determining which 
individuals, from among millions of refugees worldwide, will have 
access to U.S. resettlement consideration. PRM and DHS/USCIS are now 
assisting with the preparation of a White House directive to initiate 
an in-country program to provide a means for certain persons in the 
United States who are lawfully present (``anchor parents'') to claim a 
relationship with child(ren) in Honduras, El Salvador, and Guatemala 
and to assist the U.S. Department of State in determining whether those 
child(ren) are qualified to apply for access to the USRAP for family 
reunification purposes. This form also assists DHS/USCIS to verify 
parent-child relationships during refugee case adjudication. The main 
purpose of the DS-7699 is for the anchor parent to provide biographical 
information about his/her child(ren) in the qualifying countries who 
may subsequently seek access to the USRAP for verification by the U.S. 
government.
    Methodology: The collection of this information currently involves 
the limited use of electronic techniques. Anchor parents (respondents) 
in the United States will work closely with a resettlement agency 
during the completion of the AOR to ensure that the information is 
accurate. Anchor parents may visit any resettlement agency to complete 
an AOR. Sometimes anchors (respondents) do not have strong English-
language skills and benefit from having a face-to-face meeting with 
resettlement agency staff. The collection instrument (DS-7699) will be 
available electronically and responses will be completed 
electronically. Completed AORs will be printed out for ink signature by 
the respondents as well. The electronic copy will be submitted 
electronically to the Refugee Processing Center (RPC) for downloading 
into the Worldwide Refugee Admission Processing System (WRAPS), with 
the signed paper copy remaining with PRM's Resettlement and Placement 
Agency partners. Within the next three years, however, it is 
anticipated that AORs will be submitted electronically only, with 
electronic signatures, by the resettlement agency to the RPC.


[[Page 68344]]


    Dated: October 29, 2014.
Simon Henshaw
PDAS, Bureau of Population, Refugees and Migration, Department of 
State.
[FR Doc. 2014-27040 Filed 11-13-14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4710-33-P