Notice2025-07075
Proposed Information Collection Activity: Unaccompanied Alien Children Sponsor Application Packet (Office of Management and Budget #0970-0278)
Primary source
Metadata and text below are from the Federal Register, a public-domain U.S. government work. Always verify the official published version before relying on it for any legal matter.
Published
April 25, 2025
Issuing agencies
Health and Human Services DepartmentChildren and Families Administration
Abstract
The Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR), Administration for Children and Families (ACF), U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, is inviting public comments on revisions to an approved information collection. The request consists of several forms that allow the Unaccompanied Alien Children Bureau to assess the suitability of potential sponsors for unaccompanied alien children. Note this information collect was previously titled Family Reunification Application for Sponsors of Unaccompanied Alien Children and has been retitled at the direction of ORR leadership.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 90 Issue 79 (Friday, April 25, 2025)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 90, Number 79 (Friday, April 25, 2025)]
[Notices]
[Pages 17438-17440]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2025-07075]
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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
Administration for Children and Families
Proposed Information Collection Activity: Unaccompanied Alien
Children Sponsor Application Packet (Office of Management and Budget
#0970-0278)
AGENCY: Office of Refugee Resettlement, Administration for Children and
Families, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
ACTION: Request for public comments.
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SUMMARY: The Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR), Administration for
Children and Families (ACF), U.S. Department of Health and Human
Services, is inviting public comments on revisions to an approved
information collection. The request consists of several forms that
allow the Unaccompanied Alien Children Bureau to assess the suitability
of potential sponsors for unaccompanied alien children. Note this
information collect was previously titled Family Reunification
Application for Sponsors of Unaccompanied Alien Children and has been
retitled at the direction of ORR leadership.
DATES: Comments due June 24, 2025. In compliance with the requirements
of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, ACF is soliciting public
comment on the specific aspects of the information collection described
above.
ADDRESSES: You can obtain copies of the proposed collection of
information and submit comments by emailing <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#2a43444c45494546464f495e4345446a4b494c04424259044d455c"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="aac3c4ccc5c9c5c6c6cfc9dec3c5c4eacbc9cc84c2c2d984cdc5dc">[email protected]</span></a>.
Identify all requests by the title of the information collection.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Description: Proposed revisions for each form are listed below and
include terminology updates requested by the current Administration.
Additionally, ORR proposes changing the title of this information
collection from ``Family Reunification Packet for Sponsors of
Unaccompanied Children'' to ``Unaccompanied Alien Children Sponsor
Application Packet'' to better reflect the purpose of the information
collection.
Finally, the current Administration has requested more
comprehensive information on sponsor income to support suitability
assessments as part of the sponsorship application. In addition to the
information already collected in form SAP-3, ORR is planning to prepare
an Affidavit of Support that will be completed by the sponsor and
provide certification that the sponsor has the financial means to
provide for the child's physical and mental well-being (per 45 CFR
410.1202(c)). This new instrument will be incorporated into the
information collection in time for the second Federal Register notice,
to ensure proper notification to the public and solicitation of
comments.
<bullet> All Forms: Replace ``unaccompanied child'' or ``UC'' with
``unaccompanied alien child'' or ``UAC''.
<bullet> Authorization for Release of Information (Form SAP-2):
This instrument collects respondents' written consent to background
investigations with Federal, State, or local law enforcement and/or
child welfare agencies, allows ORR to determine whether an
unaccompanied alien child will be safe in the custody of a potential
sponsor, adult household members, and alternate adult caregivers. The
expected respondents of this instrument are, under certain
circumstances, potential sponsors, adult household members, and
alternate adult caregivers.
[cir] Remove ``in black ink'' from the instruction at the top of
the form to reflect that ORR accepts both wet and electronic signatures
for this form.
[cir] Make the following revisions to the third declaration:
[ssquf] Reword ``I Understand that my biometric and biographical
information, including my fingerprints . . .'' to ``I Understand that
my biometric and biographical information, including my fingerprints
and my photograph . . .''
[ssquf] Remove the last sentence and related footnote that
reference restrictions from the Consolidated Appropriations Act of
2023.
[cir] Revise the burden estimate to account for a decrease in the
number of sponsors applying to sponsor a child, an increase in the
number of individuals required to undergo fingerprint checks, and an
increase in the number of care provider facilities. The annual number
of respondents increased from 81,532 to 183,588; the annual number of
record keepers increased from 235 to 300; and the annual number of
responses per record keeper increased from 347 to 612.
<bullet> Sponsor Application (Form SAP-3): This form collects
information related to the potential sponsor's ability to provide for
the unaccompanied alien child's mental and physical wellbeing. ORR uses
the information collected to determine the suitability of a potential
sponsor as a custodian of an unaccompanied alien child. The expected
respondents of this instrument are potential sponsors.
[[Page 17439]]
[cir] Rename form ``Sponsor Application'' from ``Family
Reunification Application''.
[cir] Revise the instructions for proof of identity in the
Supporting Documents section as follows:
[ssquf] Clarify that original versions are accepted.
[ssquf] Clarify that expired documents will no longer be accepted.
[ssquf] Remove several options under List B that will no longer be
accepted as proof of identity.
[cir] Revise the burden estimate to account for a decrease in the
number of sponsors applying to sponsor a child and an increase in the
number care provider facilities. The annual number of respondents
decreased from 122,950 to 76,569; the annual number of record keepers
increased from 235 to 300; and the annual number of responses per
record keeper decreased from 523 to 255.
<bullet> Fingerprinting Instructions (Form SAP-7): This instrument
informs, as appropriate, potential sponsors, adult household members,
and adult caregivers of the steps they must take to be fingerprinted.
Fingerprints are collected electronically at grantee or contractor-
operated digital fingerprinting sites or submitted via mail using FBI
fingerprint cards (form FD-258, OMB #1110-0046). The expected
respondents of this instrument are, under certain circumstances,
potential sponsors, adult household members, and adult caregivers.
[cir] Revise the burden estimate to account for a decrease in the
number of sponsors applying to sponsor a child, an increase in the
number of individuals required to undergo fingerprint checks, and an
increase in the number care provider facilities. The annual number of
respondents increased from 81,532 to 183,588; the annual number of
record keepers increased from 235 to 300; and the annual number of
responses per record keeper increased from 347 to 612.
<bullet> Letter of Designation for Care of a Child (Form SAP-9):
This instrument is filed by an unaccompanied alien child's parent(s) or
legal guardian(s) to specify a potential sponsor to whom they wish to
grant caregiving authority for their child. The form is optional (not
required for release) but helps non-parent sponsors access community
resources or answer questions from government authorities about the
nature of their relationship with an unaccompanied alien child in their
care.
[cir] Revise the burden estimate to account for a decrease in the
number of sponsors applying to sponsor a child and an increase in the
number care provider facilities. The annual number of respondents
decreased from 41,181 to 19,202; the annual number of record keepers
increased from 235 to 300; and the annual number of responses per
record keeper decreased from 175 to 64.
Respondents: Potential sponsors of unaccompanied alien children,
their adult household members, and alternate adult caregivers
Annual Burden Estimates:
Respondents
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Annual total Annual
Annual total number of Average burden total
Instrument title number of responses per hours per burden
respondents respondent response hours
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Authorization for Release of Information (Form SAP- 183,588 1 0.50 91,794
2)................................................
Family Reunification Application (Form SAP-3)...... 76,569 1 1.00 76,569
Fingerprinting Instructions (Form SAP-7)........... 183,588 1 1.25 229,485
Letter of Designation for Care of Minor (Form SAP- 19,202 1 0.75 14,401
9)................................................
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Estimated Annual Burden Hours Total............ ................ ............... .............. 412,249
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Record Keepers
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Annual total Annual
Annual total number of Average burden total
Instrument title number of record responses per hours per burden
keepers record keeper response hours
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Authorization for Release of Information (Form SAP- 300 612 0.25 45,900
2)................................................
Family Reunification Application (Form SAP-3)...... 300 255 0.25 19,125
Fingerprinting Instructions (Form SAP-7)........... 300 612 1.00 183,600
Letter of Designation for Care of Minor (Form SAP- 300 64 0.25 4,800
9)................................................
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Estimated Annual Burden Hours Total............ ................ ............... .............. 253,425
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[[Page 17440]]
Comments: The Department specifically requests comments on (a)
whether the proposed collection of information is necessary for the
proper performance of the functions of the agency, including whether
the information shall have practical utility; (b) the accuracy of the
agency's estimate of the burden of the proposed collection of
information; (c) the quality, utility, and clarity of the information
to be collected; and (d) ways to minimize the burden of the collection
of information on respondents, including through the use of automated
collection techniques or other forms of information technology.
Consideration will be given to comments and suggestions submitted
within 60 days of this publication.
Authority: 6 U.S.C. 279; 8 U.S.C. 1232; 45 CFR 410.1202 and
410.1302(c).
Mary C. Jones,
ACF/OPRE Certifying Officer.
[FR Doc. 2025-07075 Filed 4-24-25; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4184-45-P
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