Notice2025-20350
Agency Information Collection Activities; Proposed eCollection eComments Requested; 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
November 20, 2025
Issuing agencies
Justice Department
Abstract
The Criminal Justice Information Services Division, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Department of Justice (DOJ), 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 222 (Thursday, November 20, 2025)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 90, Number 222 (Thursday, November 20, 2025)]
[Notices]
[Pages 52444-52445]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2025-20350]
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DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE
[OMB Number 1110-0043]
Agency Information Collection Activities; Proposed eCollection
eComments Requested; Voluntary Appeal File (VAF) Application Form
AGENCY: Criminal Justice Information Services Division, Federal Bureau
of Investigation, Department of Justice.
ACTION: 30-Day notice.
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SUMMARY: The Criminal Justice Information Services Division, Federal
Bureau of Investigation, Department of Justice (DOJ), 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 30 days until
December 22, 2025.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: If you have 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#95fff4f8fafbe1f2faf8f0e7ecd5f3f7fcbbf2fae3"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="355f54585a5b41525a5850474c7553575c1b525a43">[email protected]</span></a> or 304-709-1476.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The proposed information collection was
previously published in the Federal Register on September 17, 2025,
allowing a 60-day comment period. 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 agency, including
whether the information will have practical utility;
--Evaluate the accuracy of the agency's estimate of the burden of the
proposed collection of information, including the validity of the
methodology and assumptions used;
--Enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be
collected; and/or
--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.
Written comments and recommendations for this information
collection should be submitted within 30 days of the publication of
this notice on the following website <a href="http://www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAMain">www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAMain</a>.
Find this particular information collection by selecting ``Currently
under 30-day Review--Open for Public Comments'' or by using the search
function and entering either the title of the information collection or
the OMB
[[Page 52445]]
Control Number 1110-0043. This information collection request may be
viewed at <a href="http://www.reginfo.gov">www.reginfo.gov</a>. Follow the instructions to view Department
of Justice, information collections currently under review by OMB.
DOJ seeks PRA authorization for this information collection for
three (3) years. OMB authorization for an ICR cannot be for more than
three (3) years without renewal. The DOJ notes that information
collection requirements submitted to the OMB for existing ICRs receive
a month-to-month extension while they undergo review.
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. Title of the Form/Collection: Voluntary Appeal File (VAF)
Application Form.
3. Agency form number, if any, and the applicable component of the
Department of Justice 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 a brief abstract:
Affected Public: Individuals. 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 is also open to persons that have never been the subject of a NICS
check to preemptively prevent erroneous denials or extended delays.
5. Obligation to Respond: Voluntary.
6. Total Estimated Number of Respondents: 11,073 respondents.
7. Estimated Time per Respondent: 30 minutes.
8. Frequency: One time.
9. Total Estimated Annual Time Burden: Ex: 20 hours. With 11,073
applicants (6,542 submitted electronically and 4,531 submitted hard
copy) responding, the formula for applicant burden hours would be as
follows: 11,073 respondents x .5 hours) = 5,536.50 hours.
10. Total Estimated Annual Other Costs Burden: The VAF application
process is performed on average by 54 GS 11 Step 5 Criminal History
Challenge Analysts. The 2024 Office of Personnel Management Grade Scale
Salary Table (for the locality pay area of rest of US) indicates a GS
11 Step 5 employee makes $82,226 per year. As a standard when
calculating cost, thirty-one percent is added for benefits. This brings
the annual cost per employee to $107,716.06. Fifty-four employees at
this rate would total $5,816,667.24 in salaries.
If additional information is required, contact: Darwin Arceo,
Department Clearance Officer, Enterprise Portfolio Management, Justice
Management Division, United States Department of Justice, Two
Constitution Square, 145 N Street NE, 4W-218 Washington, DC 20530.
Dated: November 17, 2025.
Darwin Arceo,
Department Clearance Officer for PRA, U.S. Department of Justice.
[FR Doc. 2025-20350 Filed 11-19-25; 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.