[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 70 (Tuesday, April 12, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 21643-21644]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-08391]


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DEPARTMENT OF STATE

[Public Notice: 9514]


Notice of Information Collection Under OMB Emergency Review: 
Adoptive Family Relief Act Refund Application

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 April 29, 
2016. 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 both the 
Department of State Desk Officer in the Office of Information and 
Regulatory Affairs at the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) and to 
the Legislation and Regulation Division in the Department of State's 
Visa Office.
    All public comments must be received by April 25, 2016. 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 the Visa Office by the following 
methods:
     Web: Persons with access to the Internet may comment on 
this notice by going to www.Regulations.gov. You can search for the 
document by entering ``Docket Number: DOS-2016-0020'' in the Search 
field. Then click the ``Comment Now'' button and complete the comment 
form.
     Email: [email protected]. You must include 
Emergency Submission Comment on ``information collection title'' in the 
subject line of your message.

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 Taylor Mauck, who may be reached at 202-485-
7635 or at [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 
     Title of Information Collection: Adoptive Family Relief 
Act Refund Application.
     OMB Control Number: None.
     Type of Request: Emergency Review.
     Originating Office: CA/VO/L/R.
     Form Number: DS-7781.
     Respondents: Immigrant Visa Petitioners.
     Estimated Number of Respondents: 600.
     Estimated Number of Responses: 600.
     Average Time per Response: 5 Minutes.
     Total Estimated Burden Time: 50 Hours.
     Frequency: Once.
     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 Adoptive Family Relief Act (Pub. L. 114-70) amended section 
221(c) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA), 8 U.S.C. 1201(c), 
to allow for the waiver or refund certain immigrant visa fees for a 
lawfully adopted child, or a child coming to the United States to be 
adopted by a United States citizen, subject to criteria prescribed by 
the Secretary of State. Over 350 American families have successfully 
adopted children from the Democratic Republic of the Congo. However, 
since September 25, 2013, they have not been able to bring their 
adoptive children home to the United States because the Democratic 
Republic of the Congo suspended the issuance of ``exit permits'' for 
these children. As the permit suspension drags on, however, American 
families are repeatedly paying visa renewal and related fees, while 
also continuing to be separated from their adopted children.
    The waiver or refund provides support and relief to American 
families seeking to bring their adoptive children from the Democratic 
Republic of Congo to the United States, and would also provide relief 
to similarly situated adoptive families should barriers arise in other 
countries in the future. See 161 Cong. Rec. S2796-01.
    This form will collect information to determine the extra fees 
these families have paid and refund them in accordance with the 
Adoptive Family Relief Act. This is an emergency collection in order to 
immediately alleviate the financial burden on families who need 
multiple visas and those families are still waiting for refunds.

Methodology

    The form DS-7781 will be hosted on the Department of State Web site 
to be

[[Page 21644]]

printed, filled out, and eventually sent to the Consular Section where 
the adoption case was originally processed.

    Dated: March 21, 2016.
Edward Ramotowski,
Deputy Assistant Secretary, Bureau of Consular Affairs, Department of 
State.
[FR Doc. 2016-08391 Filed 4-11-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4710-06-P