[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 81 (Thursday, April 25, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 31791-31792]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-08909]


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DEPARTMENT OF STATE

[Public Notice: 12359]


60-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.

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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 June 
24, 2024.

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-2024-0006'' in the Search 
field. Then click the ``Comment Now'' button and complete the comment 
form.
     Email: [email protected].
     Regular Mail: Send written comments to: Special 
Validations, U.S. Department of State, CA/PPT/S/A/AP, 44132 Mercure 
Circle, P.O. Box 1227, Sterling, VA 20166-1227.
    You must include the DS form number (if applicable), information 
collection title, and the OMB control number in any correspondence.

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/AP.
     Form Number: No form.
     Respondents: Individuals requesting they be granted 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 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, with a single-entry 
validation. Once every two years for individuals with a multiple-entry 
validation.
     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 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 proposed information collection solicits data necessary for the 
Passport Services Directorate to determine whether an applicant is 
eligible to receive a special validation in their 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

[[Page 31792]]

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. 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 dates of travel and what specific work they 
intend to perform on each trip; and documentation that shows the 
applicant's humanitarian work requires that they make multiple trips to 
the DPRK in the next two-year 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 one month (30 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 
former Secretary of State imposed a passport restriction with respect 
to travel to the DPRK. Such restriction was further renewed in 2018, 
2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, and most recently in 2023 for one year, 
effective September 1, 2023. 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 the Passport Services 
Directorate ([email protected]) or by mail to Special 
Validations, U.S. Department of State, CA/PPT/S/A/AP, 44132 Mercure 
Circle, P.O. Box 1227, Sterling, VA 20166-1227.
    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.

Donald E. Jacobson,
Acting Deputy Assistant Secretary, Bureau of Consular Affairs, 
Department of State.
[FR Doc. 2024-08909 Filed 4-24-24; 8:45 am]
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