60-Day Notice of Proposed Information Collection: Affidavit of Relationship (AOR)
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Issuing agencies
Abstract
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.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 89 Issue 170 (Tuesday, September 3, 2024)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 170 (Tuesday, September 3, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 71774-71775]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[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:
<bullet> Web: Persons with access to the internet may comment on
this notice by going to <a href="http://www.Regulations.gov">www.Regulations.gov</a>. 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.
<bullet> Email: <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#83e0e2f1f0ecede7f3c3f0f7e2f7e6ade4ecf5"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="fd9e9c8f8e9293998dbd8e899c8998d39a928b">[email protected]</span></a>.
<bullet> 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 <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#6e0d0f1c1d01000a1e2e1d1a0f1a0b40090118"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="b9dad8cbcad6d7ddc9f9cacdd8cddc97ded6cf">[email protected]</span></a>.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
<bullet> Title of Information Collection: Affidavit of Relationship
(AOR).
<bullet> OMB Control Number: 1405-0206.
<bullet> Type of Request: Reinstatement of a previously approved
collection.
<bullet> Originating Office: PRM/A.
<bullet> Form Number: DS-7656.
<bullet> 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.
<bullet> Estimated Number of Respondents: 300.
<bullet> Estimated Number of Responses: 300.
<bullet> Average Time per Response: One hour.
<bullet> Total Estimated Burden Time: 300 hours.
<bullet> Frequency: On occasion.
<bullet> Obligation to Respond: Required to Obtain or Retain a
Benefit.
We are soliciting public comments to permit the Department to:
<bullet> Evaluate whether the proposed information collection is
necessary for the proper functions of the Department.
<bullet> 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.
<bullet> Enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the
information to be collected.
<bullet> 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
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