[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 83 (Monday, April 29, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 33437-33438]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-09082]


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DEPARTMENT OF STATE

[Public Notice 12368]


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

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, 
the Department is requesting comments on this collection from all 
interested individuals and organizations. The purpose of this Notice is 
to allow 30 days for public comment preceding submission of the 
collection to OMB.

DATES: The Department will accept comments from the public up to May 
29, 2024.

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 information 
collection by selecting ``Currently under 30-day Review--Open for 
Public Comments'' or by using the search function.

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 Anabel Moreno-Mendez, who may be reached at 
202-485-7611 or [email protected].

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.

[[Page 33438]]

     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, 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 Title 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. The DS-
5535 solicits additional biographic information that is necessary to 
determine the applicant's eligibility for a visa.

Methodology

    Consular officers ask 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 
the form electronically.

Julie M. Stufft,
Acting Deputy Assistant Secretary, Bureau of Consular Affairs, 
Department of State.
[FR Doc. 2024-09082 Filed 4-26-24; 8:45 am]
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