[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 220 (Thursday, November 18, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Pages 64507-64508]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-25146]


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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

U.S. Customs and Border Protection

[1651-0139]


Electronic Visa Update System (EVUS)

AGENCY: U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), Department of 
Homeland Security.

ACTION: 60-Day notice and request for comments; revision of an existing 
collection of information.

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SUMMARY: The Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Customs and Border 
Protection will be submitting the following information collection 
request to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and 
approval in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA). 
The information collection is published in the Federal Register to 
obtain comments from the public and affected agencies.

DATES: Comments are encouraged and must be submitted (no later than 
January 18, 2022) to be assured of consideration.

ADDRESSES: Written comments and/or suggestions regarding the item(s) 
contained in this notice must include the OMB Control Number 1651-0139 
in the subject line and the agency name. Please use the following 
method to submit comments:
    Email: Submit comments to: [email protected].
    Due to COVID-19-related restrictions, CBP has temporarily suspended 
its ability to receive public comments by mail.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Requests for additional PRA 
information should be directed to Seth Renkema, Chief, Economic Impact 
Analysis Branch, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Office of Trade, 
Regulations and Rulings, 90 K Street NE, 10th Floor, Washington, DC 
20229-1177, Telephone number 202-325-0056 or via email 
[email protected]. Please note that the contact information provided 
here is solely for questions regarding this notice. Individuals seeking 
information about other CBP programs should contact the CBP National 
Customer Service Center at 877-227-5511, (TTY) 1-800-877-8339, or CBP 
website at https://www.cbp.gov/.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: CBP invites the general public and other 
Federal agencies to comment on the proposed and/or continuing 
information collections pursuant to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 
(44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.). This process is conducted in accordance with 
5 CFR 1320.8. Written comments and suggestions from the public and 
affected agencies should address one or more of the following four 
points: (1) Whether the proposed collection of information is necessary 
for the proper performance of the functions of the agency, including 
whether the information will have practical utility; (2) the accuracy 
of the agency's estimate of the burden of the proposed collection of 
information, including the validity of the methodology and assumptions 
used; (3) suggestions to enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of 
the information to be collected; and (4) suggestions to minimize the 
burden of the collection of information on those who are to respond, 
including through the use of appropriate automated, electronic, 
mechanical, or other technological collection techniques or other forms 
of information technology, e.g., permitting electronic submission of 
responses. The comments that are submitted will be summarized and 
included in the request for approval. All comments will become a matter 
of public record.

Overview of This Information Collection

    Title: Electronic Visa Update System (EVUS).
    OMB Number: 1651-0139.
    Form Number: N/A.
    Current Actions: Revision of an existing information collection.
    Type of Review: Revision.
    Affected Public: Individuals.
    Abstract: DHS developed the Electronic Visa Update System (EVUS) to 
assure robust screening of foreign nationals prior to travel to the 
United States. EVUS provides for robust traveler screening and 
verification to better identify foreign nationals who may be 
inadmissible to the United States. This results in enhanced national 
security, improved public safety, and a reduced number of delays upon 
arrival in the United States, all while facilitating legitimate travel.
    Initially, the program is limited to nonimmigrant aliens presenting 
passports issued by the People's Republic of China (PRC) containing 
unrestricted, maximum validity B-1 (business visitor), B-2 (visitor for 
pleasure), or combination B-1/B-2 visas, generally valid for 10 years. 
PRC membership in EVUS became possible on November 12, 2014, when, in a 
reciprocal agreement, the U.S. Department of State expanded the 
validity of U.S. visitor visas issued to PRC nationals from one to ten 
years.
    To ensure compliance with the Visa Waiver Program Improvement and 
Terrorist Travel Prevention Act of 2015, Public Law 114-113, 129 Stat. 
2242, CBP will continuously update the application question with the 
list of nationals ineligible from traveling to the United States, as 
designated in accordance with section 217(a)(12) of the Immigration and 
Nationality Act, as amended (8 U.S.C. 1187(a)(12)).

Recent Changes

     On May 31, 2019, the Department of State updated its immigrant and 
nonimmigrant visa application forms to request additional information, 
specifically social media identifiers, from most U.S. visa applicants 
worldwide. As a result, DHS is changing the EVUS application social 
media data field from optional to mandatory. National security is the 
top priority when adjudicating EVUS applications, and every prospective 
traveler to the United States undergoes extensive security screening. 
CBP is continually working to find mechanisms to improve our screening 
processes to protect U.S. visitors while supporting legitimate travel 
to the United States. DHS already requests information on contacts, 
travel history, and family members from all EVUS applicants. Changing 
the social medial field to mandatory in the EVUS application will 
enhance our vetting capabilities and assist in confirming applicants' 
identities. While the field is

[[Page 64508]]

mandatory, applicants will still have the ability to select ``none''.
    Type of Information Collection: EVUS.
    Estimated Number of Respondents: 3,595,904.
    Estimated Number of Annual Responses per Respondent: 1.
    Estimated Number of Total Annual Responses: 3,595,904.
    Estimated Time per Response: 25 minutes.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 1,499,492.

    Dated: November 15, 2021.
Seth D. Renkema,
Branch Chief, Economic Impact Analysis Branch, U.S. Customs and Border 
Protection.
[FR Doc. 2021-25146 Filed 11-17-21; 8:45 am]
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