[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 183 (Friday, September 22, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Pages 65418-65419]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-20565]


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DEPARTMENT OF STATE

[Public Notice 12166]


60-Day Notice of Proposed Information Collection: Supplemental 
Questions for Visa Applicants

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

[[Page 65419]]

comment preceding submission of the collection to OMB.

DATES: The Department will accept comments from the public up to 
November 21, 2023.

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-2023-0028 in the Search 
field. Then click the ``Comment Now'' button and complete the comment 
form.
     Email: [email protected].
    You must include the information collection title 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 Lauren Vinson who may be reached on 
[email protected] or (202) 485-7635.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 
     Title of Information Collection: Supplemental Questions 
for Visa Applicants.
     OMB Control Number: 1405-0226.
     Type of Request: Extension of a currently approved 
collection.
     Originating Office: CA/VO.
     Form Number: DS-5535.
     Respondents: Immigrant visa applicants, nonimmigrant visa 
applicants.
     Estimated Number of Respondents: 50,000.
     Estimated Number of Responses: 50,000.
     Average Time per Response: 55 minutes.
     Total Estimated Burden Time: 45,833 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 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 submitted with them, will be available for public 
review.

Abstract of Proposed Collection

    The Immigration and Nationality Act (``INA''), 8 U.S.C. 1101 et 
seq., sets out application and eligibility requirements for an 
applicant seeking to obtain nonimmigrant or immigrant visa. Most of the 
standards for determining visa ineligibility are detailed in INA 
212(a), 8 U.S.C. 1182(a), which includes terrorist activities and other 
security and related grounds at INA 212(a)(3), 8 U.S.C. 1182(a)(3).
    INA 221(a), 8 U.S.C. 1201(a) provides that a consular officer may 
issue an immigrant or nonimmigrant visa to an individual who has made a 
proper application, subject to applicable conditions and limitations in 
the INA and related regulations. Under INA 222(c), 8 U.S.C. 1202(c), 
every applicant for a nonimmigrant visa must provide certain 
identifying particulars--name, date of birth and birthplace, 
nationality, purpose and length of intended stay in the United States, 
marital status--and ``such additional information necessary to the 
identification of the applicant, the determination of his eligibility 
for a nonimmigrant visa, and the enforcement of the immigration and 
nationality laws as may be by regulations prescribed.'' Similar 
requirements apply to applicants for immigrant visas, pursuant to INA 
222(a), 8 U.S.C. 1201(a). Under regulations set out in Ttitle 22 of the 
Code of Federal Regulations, visa applications must be made on a 
standard form and a consular officer ``may require the submission of 
additional necessary information or question an applicant on any 
relevant matter whenever the consular officer believes that the 
information provided in the application is inadequate to permit a 
determination of the applicant's eligibility to receive a nonimmigrant 
visa.'' 22 CFR 41.103; see also 22 CFR 42.63 (immigrant visas).
    Consular officers may require submission of a completed DS-5535 to 
supplement the immigrant and nonimmigrant visa applications forms by 
asking the following questions of a subset of nonimmigrant and 
immigrant visa applicants:
     The applicant's travel history over the last 15 years;
     The full names and dates of birth of any siblings/
children/former spouses/domestic partners not recorded in the 
applicant's visa application form;
     The applicant's addresses during the last 15 years, if 
different from the applicant's current address.
     The applicant's prior passport numbers; and
     The applicant's prior occupation(s) and employers (plus a 
brief description, if applicable) looking back 15 years.
    Regarding travel history, an applicant may be requested to provide 
details of his or her international or domestic (within their country 
of nationality or residence) travel if the information is necessary to 
determine the applicant's eligibility for the visa, including cases 
involving applicants who have been in an area while the area was under 
the operational control of a terrorist organization as defined in INA 
212(a)(3)(B)(vi), 8 U.S.C. 1182(a)(3)(B)(vi). Applicants may be asked 
to recount or explain the details of their travel and when possible, 
provide supporting documentation.

Methodology

    Consular officers will be asking these questions of a subset of 
nonimmigrant and immigrant visa applicants worldwide either orally or 
by providing a copy of the questions electronically or on paper. The 
applicant can respond orally, via email, via written response or via 
Microsoft e-version. The e-version of the information collection asks 
identical questions to the paper version. There are slight differences 
in formatting due to the different platforms. In some instances, when a 
paper copy is provided the applicant may still be permitted to return 
it electronically.

Julie M. Stufft,
Acting Deputy Assistant Secretary, Bureau of Consular Affairs, 
Department of State.
[FR Doc. 2023-20565 Filed 9-21-23; 8:45 am]
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