[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 210 (Wednesday, October 30, 2019)]
[Notices]
[Pages 58199-58200]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-23639]


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

DEPARTMENT OF STATE

[Public Notice: 10934]


Notice of Information Collection Under OMB Emergency Review: 
Immigrant Health Insurance Coverage

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

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

SUMMARY: The Department of State (``Department'') 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. 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 November 1, 
2019. If granted, the approval is only valid for 180 days. The 
Department is separately submitting a 3 year approval through OMB's 
normal PRA clearance process.

ADDRESSES: Direct any comments on this 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 
Department of State's Bureau of Consular Affairs, Office of Visa 
Services.
    All public comments must be received by October 31, 2019.
    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 Bureau of Consular Affairs, 
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-2019-0039'' 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.
    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 Megan Herndon, who may be reached at (202) 485-
7586 or at [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 
     Title of Information Collection: Immigrant Health 
Insurance Coverage.
     OMB Control Number: None.
     Type of Request: Emergency Review.
     Originating Office: Bureau of Consular Affairs, Visa 
Office (CA/VO).
     Form Number: DS-5541 (oral information collection).
     Respondents: Certain immigrant visa applicants.
     Estimated Number of Respondents: 450,500.
     Estimated Number of Responses: 450,500.
     Average Time Per Response: 10 minutes.
     Total Estimated Burden Time: 75,083 hours.
     Frequency: Once per respondent's application.
     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 Presidential Proclamation on the Suspension of Entry of 
Immigrants Who Will Financially Burden the United States Healthcare 
System (``PP 9945'') requires immigrant visa applicants to establish, 
to the satisfaction of a consular officer, that the applicant will be 
covered by an approved health insurance plan within 30 days of entry 
into the United States, unless the applicant possesses sufficient 
financial resources to cover reasonably foreseeable medical costs. 
Proclamation No. 9945, 84 FR 53991 (Oct. 4, 2019). Section 3 of the 
Proclamation authorizes the Secretary of State to establish standards 
and procedures for governing such determinations. Id. PP 9945 was 
signed on October 4, 2019, and emergency review of this information 
collection is necessary for the Department to prepare consular officers 
to implement PP 9945 when it goes into effect on November 3, 2019.

Methodology

    Consular officers will verbally ask immigrant visa applicants 
covered by PP 9945 whether they will be covered by health insurance in 
the United States within 30 days of entry to the United States and, if 
so, for details relating to such insurance. Proclamation No. 9945, 84 
FR 53991 (Oct. 4, 2019). PP 9945 only applies to applicants seeking to 
enter the United States pursuant to an immigrant visa. If applicants 
answer affirmatively, consular officers will ask for applicants to 
identify the specific health insurance plan, the date coverage will 
begin, and such other information

[[Page 58200]]

related to the insurance plan as the consular officer deems necessary. 
PP 9945 does not suspend or limit the entry of applicants if they do 
not have coverage, but possess financial resources to pay for 
reasonably foreseeable medical expenses. Reasonably foreseeable medical 
expenses are those expenses related to existing medical conditions, 
relating to health issues existing at the time of visa adjudication.
    PP 9945 does not apply to holders of valid immigrant visas issued 
before the effective date of the proclamation; aliens seeking to enter 
the United states pursuant to a Special Immigrant Visa, in either the 
SI or SQ classification; any alien who is seeking to enter the United 
States pursuant to an IR-2, CR-2, IR-3, IR-4, IH-3, or IH-4 visa; 
aliens seeking to enter pursuant to an IR-5 visa, provided the alien or 
alien's sponsor demonstrates to the satisfaction of consular officers 
that they will not impose a substantial burden on the United States 
healthcare system; aliens seeking to enter the United States pursuant 
to a SB-1 visa; any alien under the age of 18, except for any alien 
accompanying a parent who is also immigrating to the United States and 
subject to PP 9945; any alien whose entry would further important 
United States law enforcement objectives, as determined by the 
Secretary of State or his designee based on a recommendation from the 
Attorney General or his designee; or aliens whose entry would be in the 
national interest, as determined by the Secretary of State or his 
designee on a case-by-case basis.

Edward J. Ramotowski,
Deputy Assistant Secretary, Visa Services, Bureau of Consular Affairs, 
Department of State.
[FR Doc. 2019-23639 Filed 10-29-19; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4710-06-P