[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 236 (Tuesday, December 8, 2020)]
[Notices]
[Pages 79068-79069]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-26967]


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DEPARTMENT OF STATE

[Public Notice 11270]


60-Day Notice of Proposed Information Collection: Refugee 
Biographic Data

ACTION: Notice of request for public comment.

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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 60 days for 
public comment preceding submission of the collection to OMB.

DATES: The Department will accept comments from the public up to 
February 8, 2021.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments by any of 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-2020-0052'' in the Search 
field. Then click the ``Comment Now'' button and complete the comment 
form.
     Email: [email protected].
     Regular Mail: Send written comments to: Delicia Spruell, 
PRM/Admissions, 2025 E Street NW, SA-9, 8th Floor, Washington, DC 
20522-0908.
     Fax: (202) 453-9393.
    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 supporting documents, to Delicia Spruell, (202) 453-9257, 
PRM/Admissions, 2025 E Street NW, SA-9, 8th Floor, Washington, DC 
20522-0908.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
     Title of Information Collection: Refugee Biographic Data.
     OMB Control Number: 1405-0102.
     Type of Request: Revision of a Currently Approved 
Collection.
     Originating Office: Bureau of Population, Refugees, and 
Migration, Office of Admissions, PRM/A.
     Form Number: No form.
     Respondents: Refugee applicants for the U.S. Refugee 
Admissions Program.
     Estimated Number of Respondents: 15,000.
     Estimated Number of Responses: 10,124.
     Average Time per Response: 3 hours.
     Total Estimated Burden Time: 30,372 hours.
     Frequency: Once per respondent.
     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

[[Page 79069]]

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 Refugee Biographic Data Sheet describes a refugee applicant's 
personal characteristics and is needed to initiate refugee resettlement 
processing, adjudicate the refugee applicant's application for 
admission to the United States, to run security checks on refugees by 
intelligence and federal law enforcement agencies, to conduct medical 
screenings, and to plan international travel before a refugee applicant 
can be permitted to travel to the United States. In addition, the 
information is used to match the refugee with a sponsoring voluntary 
agency for initial reception and placement in the U.S. under the United 
States Refugee Admissions Program administered by the Bureau of 
Population, Refugees, and Migration.
    The information collected includes date and place of birth, gender, 
contact information, including social media handles, marital status, 
family ties, religion, ethnic group, background, education, occupation, 
skills, medical information, English language ability, associated 
family members' refugee resettlement cases, and identity documents. The 
data is used to initiate refugee resettlement processing, to adjudicate 
the refugee claim by USCIS, to run security checks on refugees by the 
federal law enforcement and intelligence community before refugees can 
be permitted to travel to the United States. Data is also provided to 
conduct a medical screening before the refugee's arrival in the United 
States, to plan the refugee's international travel, and to resettlement 
agencies to determine an appropriate resettlement location in the 
United States. If the data were not collected, refugees could not be 
properly vetted by the federal law enforcement and intelligence 
community, and therefore refugee applicants could no longer be 
processed through the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program. In addition, the 
resettlement agencies would not be able to provide appropriate initial 
reception and placement services as provided for in the Refugee Act.

Methodology

    Biographic information is collected in a face-to-face intake 
process with the applicant overseas. An employee of a Resettlement 
Support Center, under cooperative agreement with PRM, collects the 
information and enters it into the Worldwide Refugee Admissions 
Processing System.

Zachary Parker,
Director.
[FR Doc. 2020-26967 Filed 12-7-20; 8:45 am]
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