[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 125 (Wednesday, June 29, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 42390-42391]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-15400]


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DEPARTMENT OF STATE

[Public Notice 9618]


30-Day Notice of Proposed Information Collection: Application for 
a U.S. Passport

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 information 
collection described below to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) 
for approval. 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 July 29, 2016.

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, by mail to PPT Forms Officer, U.S. Department of 
State, CA/PPT/S/L/LA 44132 Mercure Cir, P.O. Box 1227 Sterling, VA 
20166-1227, by phone at (202) 485-6373, or by email at 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 
     Title of Information Collection: Application for a U.S. 
Passport.
     OMB Control Number: 1405-0004.
     Type of Request: Revision of a Currently Approved 
Collection.
     Originating Office: Bureau of Consular Affairs, Passport 
Services, Office of Legal Affairs and Law Enforcement Liaison (CA/PPT/
S/L/LA).
     Form Number: DS-11.
     Respondents: Individuals.
     Estimated Number of Respondents: 11,763,831.
     Estimated Number of Responses: 11,763,831.
     Average Time Per Response: 85 minutes.
     Total Estimated Burden Time: 16,665,427 hours.
     Frequency: On Occasion.
     Obligation to Respond: Required to Obtain 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 DS-11 solicits data necessary 
for Passport Services to issue a United States passport (book and/or 
card format) pursuant to authorities granted to the Secretary of State 
by 22 U.S.C. 211a et seq. and Executive Order (E.O.) 11295 (August 5, 
1966) for the issuance of passports to U.S. nationals.
    The issuance of U.S. passports requires the determination of 
identity, nationality, and entitlement with reference to the provisions 
of Title III of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) (8 U.S.C. 
1401-1504), the 14th

[[Page 42391]]

Amendment to the Constitution of the United States, other applicable 
treaties and laws, and implementing regulations at 22 CFR parts 50 and 
51. The specific regulations pertaining to the Application for a U.S. 
Passport are at 22 CFR 51.20 through 51.28.
    Methodology: The information collected on the DS-11 is used to 
facilitate the issuance of passports to U.S. citizens and nationals. 
The primary purpose of soliciting the information is to establish 
citizenship, identity, and entitlement to the issuance of the U.S. 
passport or related service, and to properly administer and enforce the 
laws pertaining to the issuance thereof.
    Passport Services collects information from U.S. citizens and non-
citizen nationals when they complete and submit the Application for a 
U.S. Passport. Passport applicants can either download the DS-11 from 
the internet or obtain one from an Acceptance Facility/Passport Agency. 
The form must be completed and executed at an acceptance facility or 
passport agency, and submitted with evidence of citizenship and 
identity.
    Additional Information: The proposed renewal of the DS-11 includes 
an advisory on the instruction that lawful permanent resident cards 
(green cards) that are submitted with Form DS-11 will be forwarded to 
U.S. Citizen and Immigration Services if the applicant is found to be a 
U.S. citizen. This advisory is consistent with an arrangement between 
the Department of State and the Department of Homeland Security, as 
green cards are property of the Department of Homeland Security.
    The proposed renewal of Form DS-11 also includes new instruction to 
applicants requiring submission of a photocopy of the applicant's 
evidence of U.S. citizenship, in addition to the official or certified 
copy that is currently required. The official or certified copy will 
continue to be used to determine whether the applicant has a valid 
claim to U.S. citizenship. The photocopy will be retained by the 
Department so that the Department has a complete and accurate record of 
what the applicant submitted with his or her U.S. passport application. 
Currently, evidence of U.S. citizenship is only annotated on the 
application, and a certified copy is generally not retained. The 
Department considered different alternatives to having the applicant 
submit a photocopy in addition to the official or certified copy; 
however, none of these alternatives were logistically feasible or cost 
effective. Based on a resource analysis study, the additional costs for 
labor, equipment, supplies, facility modifications and obtaining 
additional space makes it not feasible for the Department to make 
photocopies of primary citizenship evidence without significantly 
affecting agency operations and passport processing times. The 
Department determined that adding the requirement for a photocopy of 
the applicant's evidence of U.S. citizenship is the only feasible way 
to create a complete record of the documentation submitted with 
applications. The Department also believes that retaining copies of 
applicant's evidence of U.S. citizenship will help the Department 
develop and deliver online passport applicant services. Applicants 
currently submit a photocopy of their photo identification.
    The Privacy Act statement has been amended to clarify that an 
applicant's failure to provide his or her Social Security number may 
result in the denial of an application, consistent with 22 U.S.C 
2714a(f) which authorizes the Department to deny U.S. passport 
applications when the applicant failed to include his or her Social 
Security number. These requirements and the underlying legal 
authorities are further described on page 3 of the instruction titled 
``Federal Tax Law'' which has also been amended to include a reference 
to 22 U.S.C 2714a(f).
    Additionally, the proposed renewal of form DS-11 also includes 
updated instruction regarding the eyeglass policy change, prohibiting 
applicants from wearing eyeglasses in passport photographs, unless the 
applicant presents a signed statement from a doctor demonstrating that 
the glasses must be worn due to medical reasons. The form also states 
that passport photos may include hats or head coverings only when they 
are worn continuously as part of recognized, traditional religious 
attire, or when the hat or head covering is worn for medical purposes 
as stated by a doctor in a signed statement.

    Dated: June 23, 2016.
Brenda S. Sprague,
Deputy Assistant Secretary for Passport Services, Bureau of Consular 
Affairs, Department of State.
[FR Doc. 2016-15400 Filed 6-28-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4710-13-P