[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 206 (Friday, October 23, 2020)]
[Notices]
[Pages 67584-67585]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-23494]


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DEPARTMENT OF STATE

[Public Notice 11232]


30-Day Notice of Proposed Information Collection: Electronic 
Medical Examination for Visa Applicant

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 (``Department'') is seeking Office of 
Management and Budget (``OMB'') approval for the information collection 
described below. In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 
and implementing OMB guidance, 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 up to November 23, 2020.

ADDRESSES: Written comments and recommendations for the proposed 
information collection should be sent within 30 days of publication of 
this notice to www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAMain. Find this particular 
information collection by selecting ``Currently under 30-day Review--
Open for Public Comments'' or by using the search function.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Megan Herndon, Senior Regulatory 
Coordinator, Visa Services, Bureau of Consular Affairs at (202) 485-
7586 or [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 
     Title of Information Collection: Electronic Medical 
Examination for Visa Applicant.
     OMB Control Number: 1405-0230.
     Type of Request: Revision of a Currently Approved 
Collection.
     Originating Office: CA/VO.
     Form Number: DS-7794.
     Respondents: Panel Physician/Visa Applicants.
     Estimated Number of Respondents: 580,330.
     Estimated Number of Responses: 580,330.
     Average Time per Response: 1 hour.
     Total Estimated Burden Time: 580,330 annual hours.
     Frequency: Once per respondent.\1\
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    \1\ The majority of applicants only need to complete medical 
examinations, and therefore these forms once. However, medical exams 
are valid for a period of three to six months from the examination 
date. Therefore, if an applicant's medical examination expires prior 
to travel, then the applicant may need to undergo a new medical 
examination and therefore complete the forms more than once.
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     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

    This electronic collection records medical information necessary to 
determine whether visa applicants have medical conditions affecting the 
applicant's eligibility for a visa.

Methodology

    Approved panel physicians will be granted access to an eMedical 
system by the Department to conduct medical examinations for visa 
eligibility determinations. The pilot program for the eMedical system 
launched in September 2018. The eMedical system was rolled out in six 
waves, the first wave of the rollout was in July 2019, and the final 
wave was in May 2020. Immigrant visa applicants with a completed and 
submitted DS-260, Application for Immigrant Visa and Alien Registration 
will have their medical exam results submitted to the Department via 
the eMedical system. The panel physician will input the exam 
information into the eMedical portal and it will be transmitted to the 
Department for visa adjudication and retained in the Department's 
systems consistent with the Department's record disposition schedule 
for visas. The entire medical package (all forms that comprise the 
panel physician medical examination) for visa applicants identified by 
a panel physician as having a CLASS A or CLASS B medical condition is 
shared with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), in 
paper, or electronically. The only documentation related to the panel 
physician examination that is not shared with CDC is the X-ray results, 
which panel physicians provide directly to the visa applicants and are 
not a part of the visa package. None of the medical package for visa 
applicants who are not identified as having a CLASS A or CLASS B 
medical condition is systematically shared with CDC. On a case by case 
basis, information from the medical package could be shared with CDC if 
specific information is necessary for the administration or enforcement 
of

[[Page 67585]]

U.S. law, consistent with INA 222(f), 8 U.S.C. 1202(f).

Edward J. Ramotowski,
Deputy Assistant Secretary, Bureau of Consular Affairs, Department of 
State.
[FR Doc. 2020-23494 Filed 10-22-20; 8:45 am]
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