[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 129 (Tuesday, July 7, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 38796-38797]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-16615]


=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF STATE

[Public Notice: 9181]


30-Day Notice of Proposed Information Collection; Affidavit of 
Relationship

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

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

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 30 days for 
public comment.

DATES: Submit comments directly to the Office of Management and Budget 
(OMB) up to August 6, 2015.

ADDRESSES: 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 the 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: 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 Sumitra Siram, Program Officer, PRM/Office of 
Admissions, 2025 E Street NW., Washington, DC 20522-0908, who may be 
reached on 202-453-9250 or at [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
     Title of Information Collection: Affidavit of 
Relationship.
     OMB Control Number: 1405-0206.
     Type of Request: Extension of a Currently Approved 
Collection.

[[Page 38797]]

     Originating Office: Office of Admissions, Bureau of 
Population, Refugees and Migration (PRM/A).
     Form Number: DS-7656.
     Respondents: Persons admitted to the United States as 
refugees or granted asylum in the United States who are claiming a 
relationship with family members overseas (spouse, unmarried children 
under age 21, and/or parents) in order to assist the U.S. Government in 
determining whether those family members are qualified to apply for 
admission to the United States via the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program 
under the family reunification access priority.
     Estimated Number of Respondents: 2,500.
     Estimated Number of Responses: 2,500.
     Average Time per Response: 60 Minutes.
     Total Estimated Burden Time: 2,500.00 Hours.
     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 Affidavit of Relationship (AOR) will be required by the 
Department of State to establish qualifications for access to the 
Priority-3 (P-3) Family Reunification category of the United States 
Refugee Admissions Program (USRAP) by persons of certain nationalities 
who are family members of qualifying ``anchors'' (persons already 
admitted to the U.S. as refugees or who were granted asylum in the 
United States., including persons who may now be lawful permanent 
residents or U.S. citizens). Qualifying family members of U.S.-based 
anchors include spouse, unmarried children under age 21, and parents. 
Eligible nationalities are determined on an annual basis following 
careful review of several factors, including the United Nations High 
Commissioner for Refugees' annual assessment of refugees in need of 
resettlement, prospective or ongoing repatriation efforts, and U.S. 
foreign policy interests. The P-3 category, along with the other 
categories of cases that have access to USRAP, is outlined in the 
annual Proposed Refugee Admissions--Report to Congress, which is 
submitted on behalf of the President in fulfillment of the requirements 
of section 207(d) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 
1157), and authorized by the annual Presidential Determination for 
Refugee Admissions. Having an AOR filed on a potential applicant's 
behalf by an eligible anchor relative will be one of the criteria for 
access to this program. The AOR also informs the anchor relative that 
DNA evidence of all claimed parent-child relationships between the 
anchor relative and parents and/or unmarried children under 21 will be 
required as a condition of access to P-3 processing and that the costs 
will be borne by the anchor relative or his/her family members who may 
apply for access to refugee processing, or their derivative 
beneficiaries, as the case may be. Successful applicants may be 
eligible for reimbursement of DNA test costs.

Methodology

    This information collection currently involves the limited use of 
electronic techniques. Anchors in the United States may visit any 
resettlement agency throughout the United States to complete the AOR. 
Resettlement agencies are organizations that work under a cooperative 
agreement with the Department of State. In order to file an AOR, an 
individual must be at least 18 years of age and have been admitted to 
the United States as a refugee or granted asylum in the United States 
no more than five years prior to the filing of the AOR. The DS-7656 
form will be available electronically and responses will be completed 
electronically with the aid of resettlement agency staff. Completed 
AORs will be printed out for ink signature by the respondents and will 
be scanned and submitted electronically to the Refugee Processing 
Center (RPC) by the resettlement agencies for downloading into the 
Worldwide Refugee Admissions Processing System (WRAPS) for data entry 
and case processing. A signed paper copy of the AOR will remain with 
resettlement agencies.

    Dated: June 24, 2015.
Simon Henshaw,
Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary, Bureau of Population, Refugees 
and Migration, Department of State.
[FR Doc. 2015-16615 Filed 7-6-15; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4710-33-P