Notice2025-17954
Agency Information Collection Activities; Proposed eCollection eComments Requested; Revision of a Previously Approved Collection; Title-Voluntary Appeal File (VAF) Application Form
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
September 17, 2025
Issuing agencies
Justice Department
Abstract
The Department of Justice, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Criminal Justice Information Services Division will be submitting the following information collection request to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and approval in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 90 Issue 178 (Wednesday, September 17, 2025)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 90, Number 178 (Wednesday, September 17, 2025)]
[Notices]
[Pages 44843-44844]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2025-17954]
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DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE
[OMB Number 1110-0043]
Agency Information Collection Activities; Proposed eCollection
eComments Requested; Revision of a Previously Approved Collection;
Title--Voluntary Appeal File (VAF) Application Form
AGENCY: Criminal Justice Information Services Division, Federal Bureau
of Investigation, Department of Justice.
ACTION: 60-Day notice.
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SUMMARY: The Department of Justice, Federal Bureau of Investigation,
Criminal Justice Information Services Division will be submitting the
following information collection request to the Office of Management
and Budget (OMB) for review and approval in accordance with the
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995.
DATES: Comments are encouraged and will be accepted for 60 days until
November 17, 2025.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: If you have additional comments
especially on the estimated public burden or associated response time,
suggestions, or need a copy of the proposed information collection
instrument with instructions or additional information, please contact
Jill Montgomery, FBI NICS Section, 1000 Custer Hollow Road, Clarksburg,
WV 26306, <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#c9a3a8a4a6a7bdaea6a4acbbb089afaba0e7aea6bf"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="a9c3c8c4c6c7ddcec6c4ccdbd0e9cfcbc087cec6df">[email protected]</span></a> or 304-709-1476.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Written comments and suggestions from the
public and affected agencies concerning the proposed collection of
information are encouraged. Your comments should address one or more of
the following four points:
--Evaluate whether the proposed collection of information is necessary
for the proper performance of the functions of the Bureau of Justice
Statistics, including whether the information will have practical
utility.
--Evaluate the accuracy of the agency's estimate of the burden of the
[[Page 44844]]
proposed collection of information, including the validity of the
methodology and assumptions used.
--Evaluate whether and if so, how the quality, utility, and clarity of
the information to be collected can be enhanced; and
--Minimize the burden of the collection of information on those who are
to respond, including using appropriate automated, electronic,
mechanical, or other technological collection techniques or other forms
of information technology, e.g., permitting electronic submission of
responses.
Abstract: If a potential purchaser is delayed or denied a firearm
and successfully appeals the decision, the NICS Section cannot retain a
record of the overturned appeal or the supporting documentation. If the
record is not able to be updated or the appeal was overturned because
fingerprint submissions determined the prohibiting record did not match
the, the purchaser may continue to be delayed or denied for future
transactions, and if that individual appeals the decision, the
documentation/information (e.g., fingerprint cards, court records,
pardons, etc.) must be resubmitted for every subsequent appeal. The VAF
was established per 28 CFR part 25.10(g), for this reason. By this
process, applicants can voluntarily request the NICS Section maintain
information about themselves in the VAF to prevent future extended
delays or denials of a firearm transfer. Those approved for entry into
the VAF will be issued a unique personal identification number or
``UPIN''. The applicant must then provide their VAF UPIN to the FFL
during future NICS checks. The VAF UPIN can also prevent similar
results in other contexts where the NICS may be queried, such as when
applying to receive a National Firearms Act firearm (see 28 CFR
25.6(j)(2)) or soon, during a ``firearm handler background check'' (see
89 FR 100424). The VAF is also open to persons that have never been the
subject of a NICS check to preemptively prevent erroneous denials or
extended delays.
Overview of This Information Collection
1. Type of Information Collection: Revision of a previously
approved collection.
2. The Title of the Form/Collection: Voluntary Appeal File (VAF)
Application Form.
3. The agency form number, if any, and the applicable component of
the Department sponsoring the collection: Voluntary Appeal File (VAF)
Application Form, 1110-0043. The applicable component within the
Department of Justice is the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Criminal
Justice Information Services Division.
4. Affected public who will be asked or required to respond, as
well as the obligation to respond: Affected Public Individuals. The
obligation to respond is voluntary.
5. An estimate of the total number of respondents and the amount of
time estimated for an average respondent to respond: It is estimated
the time it takes to read, complete, and upload documents is 30
minutes. Travel time to the fingerprinting facility and post office is
not factored in the time estimate. It is estimated 11,073 respondents
will apply yearly.
6. An estimate of the total annual burden (in hours) associated
with the collection: With 11,073 applicants responding, the formula for
applicant burden hours would be as follows: (11,073 respondents x .5
hours) = 5,536.5 hours.
7. An estimate of the total annual cost burden associated with the
collection, Total Burden Hours: Some applications are processed quickly
while others can take up to 60 days, dependent on the complexity of the
case. For instance, should it be determined the applicant was not a
match to any prohibiting category based on submitted fingerprints, the
application could be resolved within one day. Conversely, should the
applicant match potential prohibiting categories based on fingerprint
comparison, each potential prohibitor requires research, likely
external, and could include multiple agencies in multiple locations. In
those cases, the process could take up to 60 days. For these reasons,
it is difficult to determine an annual hour burden to process a VAF
application.
If additional information is required contact: Darwin Arceo,
Department Clearance Officer, United States Department of Justice,
Justice Management Division, Policy and Planning Staff, Two
Constitution Square, 145 N Street NE, 4W-218, Washington, DC.
Dated: September 15, 2025.
Darwin Arceo,
Department Clearance Officer for PRA, U.S. Department of Justice.
[FR Doc. 2025-17954 Filed 9-16-25; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4410-02-P
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This is legal information, not legal advice. Laws vary by jurisdiction and change frequently. Always verify current law with official sources and consult a licensed attorney in your jurisdiction for advice on your specific situation.