Notice2025-15484
Submission for Office of Management and Budget Review; Unaccompanied Alien Children Sponsor Application Packet
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
August 14, 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 instruments that allow the Unaccompanied Alien Children Bureau to assess the suitability of potential sponsors for unaccompanied alien children. Note this information collection 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 155 (Thursday, August 14, 2025)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 90, Number 155 (Thursday, August 14, 2025)]
[Notices]
[Pages 39194-39196]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2025-15484]
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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
Administration for Children and Families
[OMB #: 0970-0278]
Submission for Office of Management and Budget Review;
Unaccompanied Alien Children Sponsor Application Packet
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 instruments
that allow the Unaccompanied Alien Children Bureau to assess the
suitability of potential sponsors for unaccompanied alien children.
Note this information collection 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 September 15, 2025.
ADDRESSES: The public may view and comment on this information
collection request at: <a href="https://www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAViewICR?ref_nbr=">https://www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAViewICR?ref_nbr=</a> [ICR Ref No.]. You can also obtain copies of the
proposed collection of information by emailing
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#b7ded9d1d8d4d8dbdbd2d4c3ded8d9f7d6d4d199dfdfc499d0d8c1"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="cba2a5ada4a8a4a7a7aea8bfa2a4a58baaa8ade5a3a3b8e5aca4bd">[email protected]</span></a>. Identify all emailed requests by the title
of the information collection.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Description: ORR is proposing three new instruments and revisions
to existing instruments under this information collection. Descriptions
of the new instruments and proposed revisions for existing instruments
are listed below and include terminology updates requested by the
current Administration.
Additionally, ORR proposes changing the title of this 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. ORR plans to make the instruments available in English and
Spanish. English is the official language and authoritative version of
all federal information.
New Instruments
<bullet> Affidavit of Financial Support (Form SAP-8): This
instrument may be used by sponsors to fulfill the proof of income
requirement in Form SAP-3. The instrument is used as evidence that the
sponsor receives financial support from another individual, thereby
demonstrating that there are sufficient financial resources to provide
for the physical and mental well-being of the child. The expected
respondents of this form are individuals financially supporting the
sponsor and potential sponsors.
<bullet> Sponsor Application for Ms. L Separation Cases (Form SAP-
9): This instrument is a shorter version of the Sponsor Application
(Form SAP-3) that is used as part of the streamlined reunification
process required under the Ms. L Settlement Agreement. The form mostly
collects the same information about the sponsor as Form SAP-3, except
that fields asking for information about household members or alternate
caregivers are not included. The expected respondents of this form are
Ms. L class members (generally, parents and legal guardians who were
separated from their child when taken into custody by the Department of
Homeland Security for a reason that is not permissible under the
Settlement).
<bullet> DNA Testing Instructions (Form SAP-10): This instrument
informs potential sponsors of ORR's DNA testing requirement. ORR
requires DNA testing to support proof of relationship between the
potential sponsor and the child
[[Page 39195]]
when the sponsor purports to be biologically related to the child. ORR
requires DNA results that confirm biological parentage, biological
grand-parentage, avuncular relationship (when an uncle or aunt is a
full sibling to a parent), or siblingship (full or half), to establish
biological relationship with the child. The expected respondents of
this instrument are potential sponsors.
Revisions to Existing Instruments
<bullet> All Instruments:
[cir] Replace ``unaccompanied child'' or ``UC'' with
``unaccompanied alien child'' or ``UAC''
[cir] Replace ``case manager'' with ``sponsor specialist''
<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, and information to allow ORR to make a
determination of whether the unaccompanied alien child will be safe in
the custody of the potential sponsor, as well as other adult household
members. 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] Add a column in the ``Other name you have used'' table where
sponsor applicants can indicate whether they are still using any of the
other names they list
[cir] Add a field to collect either a Social Security Number or Tax
Identification Number (if applicable) as required by Public Law (Pub.
L.) 119-21 Section 87001(b)(1)(B)
[cir] Revise instructions in the address section to require
addresses from age 18 to present to align with state/local sex offender
registry check requirements.
[cir] Add an attestation that the respondent understands the
penalties for knowingly and willfully making false statement under 18
U.S.C. 1001
[cir] Add an attestation the sponsor specialist must complete if
they have assisted the sponsor applicant with entering information into
the form
<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 well-being. 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.
[cir] Remove the ``How to complete this application'' and
Frequently Asked Questions'' sections. This information will be moved
into a separate document.
[cir] Reword the field ``Your email address or fax number'' to read
``Your email address''
[cir] Add an attestation that the respondent understands the
penalties for knowingly and willfully making false statement under 18
U.S.C. 1001
[cir] Add columns to the household member table to collect contact
information (phone and email) as required by Public Law 119-21 Section
87001(b)(1)(F).
[cir] Add yes/no radio buttons for the questions in the ``Health
Information'' section.
[cir] Add an attestation the sponsor specialist must complete if
they have assisted the sponsor applicant with entering information into
the form.
[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] Update the list of acceptable documents to algin with
recent policy changes.
[cir] Revise the instructions for proof of address in the
``Supporting Documents'' section as follows:
[ssquf] Clarify that an original version of the documentation must
be provided.
[ssquf] Update the list of acceptable documents to algin with
recent policy changes.
[cir] Add a requirement to provide proof of income documentation to
algin with recent policy changes.
[cir] Modify the list of acceptable proof of relationship documents
to algin with recent policy changes.
[cir] Add a textbox where the sponsor can explain why they are
unable to meet any of the supporting documentation requirements (if
appliable).
<bullet> Fingerprinting Instructions (Form SAP-5): 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
Federal Bureau of Investigation 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] No other revisions.
<bullet> Letter of Designation for Care of a Child (Form SAP-6):
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] Add an attestation that the respondent understands the
penalties for knowingly and willfully making false statement under 18
U.S.C. 1001.
[cir] Add an attestation the sponsor specialist must complete if
they have assisted the sponsor applicant with entering information into
the form.
Respondents: Potential sponsors of unaccompanied alien children,
their adult household members, and alternate adult caregivers.
Annual Burden Estimates
Burden estimates for existing instruments were updates to reflect
the following changes:
<bullet> A decrease in the number of children in ORR care and
corresponding decrease in the number of individuals applying to sponsor
a child.
<bullet> An increase in the number of individuals required to
undergo fingerprint checks and the frequency of fingerprint checks for
sponsors. All sponsors, household members, and adult caregivers will be
required to undergo a fingerprint check. ORR federal staff will take
the sponsor's prints using a mobile device two additional times during
the vetting process--during the home study and just prior to physically
releasing the child to the sponsor.
<bullet> ORR will be moving sponsor vetting responsibilities from
grantee/contractor staff to federal staff.
The specific changes to burden are as follows:
<bullet> Authorization for Release of Information (Form SAP-2): The
annual number of respondents increased from 81,532 to 183,588; the
annual number of record keepers decreased from 235 to 0.
<bullet> Sponsor Application (Form SAP-3): The annual number of
respondents decreased from 122,950 to 76,569; the annual number of
record keepers decreased from 235 to 0; the average burden hours per
response increased from 1 hour to 1.5 hours.
<bullet> Fingerprinting Instructions (Form SAP-5): The annual
number of respondents increased from 81,532 to 183,588; the annual
number of record
[[Page 39196]]
keepers decreased from 235 to 0; the annual number of responses per
respondent increased from 1 to 3 (for sponsors respondents only) with
an average burden hours per response of 0.5 for the two additional
responses (the average burden hours per response of 1.25 hours remains
the same for the sponsor's initial response).
<bullet> Letter of Designation for Care of a Child (Form SAP-6):
The annual number of respondents decreased from 41,181 to 19,202; the
annual number of record keepers decreased from 235 to 0.
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Annual total
Annual total number of Average burden Annual total
Instrument title number of responses per hours per burden hours
respondents respondent response
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Authorization for Release of Information (Form 183,588 1 0.50 91,794
SAP-2).........................................
Family Reunification Application (Form SAP-3)... 76,569 1 1.50 114,854
Fingerprinting Instructions (Form SAP-5)-- 183,588 1 1.25 229,485
Initial Fingerprinting.........................
Fingerprinting Instructions (Form SAP-5)--Mobile 76,569 2 0.50 76,569
Fingerprinting.................................
Letter of Designation for Care of Child (Form 19,202 1 0.75 14,401
SAP-6).........................................
Affidavit of Financial Support (Form SAP-8)..... 26,799 1 1.00 26,799
Sponsor Application for Ms. L Separation Cases 165 1 1.00 165
(Form SAP-9)...................................
DNA Testing Instructions (Form SAP-10).......... 54,252 1 1.00 54,252
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Estimated Annual Burden Hours Total......... .............. .............. .............. 608,319
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Authority: 6 U.S.C. 279; 8 U.S.C. 1232; 45 CFR 410.1202; Pub. L.
119-21 Section 87001.
Mary C. Jones,
ACF/OPRE Certifying Officer.
[FR Doc. 2025-15484 Filed 8-13-25; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4184-45-P
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