[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 3 (Wednesday, January 6, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Pages 671-672]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-29202]


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DEPARTMENT OF STATE

[Public Notice 11277]


30-Day Notice of Proposed Information Collection: Request for 
Approval of Special Validation for Travel to a Restricted Country or 
Area

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 up to February 5, 2021.

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.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 
     Title of Information Collection: Request for Approval for 
Multiple-Entry Travel to a Restricted Country or Area.
     OMB Control Number: 1405-0228.
     Type of Request: Revision of a Currently Approved 
Collection.
     Originating Office: Bureau of Consular Affairs, Passport 
Services, CA/PPT/S/A.
     Form Number: No form.
     Respondents: Individuals single or multiple-entry special 
validation, in accordance with 22 CFR 51.64, to use a U.S. passport to 
travel to, in, or through a country or area as to which U.S. passports 
have been declared invalid for such travel pursuant to 22 U.S.C. 211a 
and Executive Order 11295 (August 5, 1966) and in accordance with 22 
CFR 51.63(a).
     Estimated Number of Respondents: 150.
     Estimated Number of Responses: 150.
     Average Time per Response for a single entry validation 
request: 45 minutes.
     Average Time per Response for multiple-entry validation 
request: 90 minutes.
     Total Estimated Burden Time: 150 hours.
     Frequency: Once per year when the individual wishes to 
travel to the restricted country or area, whether for single- or 
multiple-entry validation request.
     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

    The Secretary of State may exercise authority, under 22 U.S.C. 
211a, Executive Order 11295 (August 5, 1966), and 22 CFR 51.63, to 
invalidate all U.S. passports for travel to a country or area if he 
determines that any of three conditions exist: The country is at war 
with the United States; armed hostilities are in progress in the 
country or area; or there is imminent danger to the public health or 
physical safety of U.S. travelers in the country or area. The 
regulations of the Department of State provide that an individual's 
passport may be considered for validation for

[[Page 672]]

travel to, in, or through a country or area despite such restriction if 
the individual's travel is determined to fall within one of several 
categories established by the regulation 22 CFR 51.64. Without the 
requisite validation, use of a U.S. passport for travel to, in, or 
through a restricted country or area may justify revocation of the 
passport for misuse under 22 CFR 51.62(a)(3) and subject the traveler 
to felony prosecution under 18 U.S.C. 1544 for misuse of a passport or 
other applicable laws.
    The categories of persons specified in 22 CFR 51.64(b) as being 
eligible for consideration for passport validation are as follows:
    (a) An applicant who is a professional reporter and journalist 
whose trip is for the purpose of collecting and making available to the 
public information about the restricted country or area;
    (b) An applicant who is a representative of the American Red Cross 
or the International Committee of the Red Cross on an officially 
sponsored Red Cross mission;
    (c) An applicant whose trip to the restricted country or area is 
justified by compelling humanitarian considerations; or
    (d) An applicant whose trip to the restricted country or area is 
otherwise in the national interest.
    The information collection solicits data necessary for the Passport 
Services Directorate to determine whether an applicant is eligible to 
receive a special validation in his or her U.S. passport book 
permitting the applicant to make single or multiple round-trips to a 
restricted country or area, subject to additional requirements. The 
information requested consists of the applicant's name; a copy of the 
front and back of the applicant's valid government-issued photo 
identification card with the applicant's date of birth and signature; 
current contact information, including telephone number, email and 
mailing address; a statement explaining the reason that the applicant 
thinks their trip is in the national interest, including proposed 
travel dates and the applicant's role and responsibilities on the trip; 
and supporting documentary evidence, such as a letter from the 
organization being represented explaining in detail the purpose and 
intended work to be performed on the trip(s). For those seeking a 
multiple-entry special validation, applicants must also identify they 
are seeking the multiple-entry type of special validation and submit 
the following: Documentation showing the applicant or their 
organization has a well-established history of traveling to the DPRK to 
work on well-monitored projects with compelling humanitarian 
considerations; the applicant's draft itinerary, including proposed 
dates of travel and the intended work to be performed on each trip; and 
documentation that shows the applicant's humanitarian work requires 
that they make multiple trips to the DPRK in the next 365-day period. 
Those who are approved for a multiple-entry special validation must 
also submit a final itinerary detailing dates and purpose of travel at 
least five (5) days prior to each trip to the DPRK while using their 
multi-entry special validation U.S. passport. Failure to provide the 
requested information may result in denial of a special validation to 
use a U.S. passport to travel to, in, or through a restricted country 
or area.
    Effective September 1, 2017, upon determining that there is 
imminent danger to the public health or physical safety of U.S. 
travelers in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), the 
Secretary of State imposed a passport restriction with respect to 
travel to the DPRK. Such restriction was further renewed in 2018, 2019, 
and most recently in 2020 for one year, effective September 1, 2020. 
The estimated number of recipients represents the Department of State's 
estimate of the annual number of special validations requests 
individuals will submit who wish to use their U.S. passport to travel 
to the DPRK, based on the current number of requests following the 
implementation of the Secretary of State's passport restriction. At 
this time, there are no other countries or areas that are the subject 
of passport restrictions pursuant to 22 CFR 51.63.

Methodology

    Instructions for individuals seeking to apply for a special 
validation to use a U.S. passport to travel to, in, or through a 
restricted country or area is posted on a web page maintained by the 
Department (travel.state.gov). The web page directs applicants to 
submit the requested information via email to 
[email protected] or by mail to Office of Adjudication, 
Passport Services, U.S. Department of State, 44132 Mercure Circle, P.O. 
Box 1227, Sterling, VA 20166-1227, ATTN: Special Validations.
    Information collected in this manner will be used to facilitate the 
granting of special validations to U.S. nationals who are eligible. The 
primary purpose of soliciting the information is to establish whether 
an applicant is within one of the categories specified in the 
regulations of the Department of State codified at 22 CFR 51.64(b) and 
therefore eligible to be issued a U.S. passport containing a special 
validation enabling him or her to make one or multiple entry round-
trips to a restricted country or area, and to facilitate the 
application for a passport of such applicants.

Kevin E. Bryant,
Deputy, Office of Directives Management, Department of State.
[FR Doc. 2020-29202 Filed 1-5-21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4710-06-P