[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 170 (Tuesday, September 3, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 71774-71775]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-19620]


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DEPARTMENT OF STATE

[Public Notice 12519]


60-Day Notice of Proposed Information Collection: Affidavit of 
Relationship (AOR)

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 
November 4, 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-2024-0032'' in the Search 
field. Then click the ``Comment Now'' button and complete the comment 
form.
     Email: [email protected].
     Regular Mail: Send written comments to: PRM/A--2025 E 
Street NW, Washington, DC 20520.
    You must include the DS form number (if applicable), information 
collection title, and the OMB control number 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 Daniel Carson--2025 E Street NW, Washington, 
DC 20520 who may be reached on (202) 227-6016 or at [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 
     Title of Information Collection: Affidavit of Relationship 
(AOR).
     OMB Control Number: 1405-0206.
     Type of Request: Reinstatement of a previously approved 
collection.
     Originating Office: PRM/A.
     Form Number: DS-7656.
     Respondents: A respondent in the United States completes 
the AOR to: (a) establish that he or she was admitted to the United 
States as a refugee or granted asylum; (b) provide a list of qualifying 
family members (spouse, unmarried children under 21, and parents) who 
may wish to apply for refugee resettlement to the United States; and 
(c) establish that the family members are nationals of qualifying 
countries under the P-3 program.
     Estimated Number of Respondents: 300.
     Estimated Number of Responses: 300.
     Average Time per Response: One hour.
     Total Estimated Burden Time: 300 hours.
     Frequency: On occasion.
     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 Affidavit of Relationship (AOR) is required by the Department 
of State to establish qualification for access to the Priority-3 (P-3) 
Family Reunification category of the United States Refugee Admissions 
Program (USRAP). The P-3 category, along with the other categories of 
cases that have access to USRAP, is outlined in the annual Report to 
Congress on Proposed Refugee Admissions, which is submitted on behalf 
of the President in fulfillment of

[[Page 71775]]

the requirements of section 207(d) of the Immigration and Nationality 
Act (8 U.S.C. 1157) and authorized by the annual Presidential 
Determination on Refugee Admissions. The P-3 category is available to 
qualifying family members of U.S.-based residents (persons already 
admitted to the U.S. as refugees or who were granted asylum in the 
United States, including persons who may now be lawful permanent 
residents or U.S. citizens). Qualifying family members of U.S.-based 
residents include spouses, unmarried children under age 21, and 
parents. Eligible P-3 nationalities are determined on an annual basis 
by the President.
    In order to access the USRAP through P-3, an applicant must have an 
Affidavit of Relationship (AOR) filed on his or her behalf by a U.S-
based family member. The AOR also informs the U.S-based family member 
that DNA evidence of all claimed parent-child relationships between the 
U.S-based family member and parents and/or unmarried children under 21 
is required as a condition of access to P-3 processing; it further 
informs the U.S-based family member that the costs of DNA testing will 
be borne by the U.S. Government. DNA testing between the QFM and any 
derivative applicant(s) (unmarried child under the age of 21), to prove 
the existence of their claimed family relationship, will be at no 
expense to the U.S. Government.

Methodology

    This information collection currently involves the limited use of 
electronic techniques. An anchor may complete an AOR at any local 
office of a Resettlement Agency (RA) that has a cooperative agreement 
with the Department of State to assist refugees who have been resettled 
in the United States. In order to file an AOR, a U.S-based family 
member must be at least 18 years of age and have been admitted to the 
United States as a refugee or granted asylum in the United States no 
more than five years prior to the filing of the AOR. The AOR is 
available electronically, is completed electronically with the 
assistance of RA staff, and is submitted electronically by RA staff to 
a Department of State-contracted facility, where it is manually 
uploaded into the USRAP case management system. In addition, the RA 
local office prints a copy for the respondent's ink signature, then 
submits the signed form to the RA headquarters.

Kelly A. Gauger,
Deputy Director, PRM/A, Department of State.
[FR Doc. 2024-19620 Filed 8-30-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4710-33-P