30-Day Notice of Proposed Information Collection: Annual Report-J-NONIMMIGRANT Exchange Visitor Program

Issuing agencies

Abstract

The Department of State has submitted the information collection described below to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for approval. 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 30 days for public comment.

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<title>Federal Register, Volume 91 Issue 166 (Friday, August 28, 2026)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 91, Number 166 (Friday, August 28, 2026)]
[Notices]
[Page 55659]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2026-17578]



[[Page 55659]]

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DEPARTMENT OF STATE

[Public Notice 13111]


30-Day Notice of Proposed Information Collection: Annual Report--
J-NONIMMIGRANT Exchange Visitor Program

ACTION: Notice of request for public comment and submission to OMB of 
proposed collection of information.

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SUMMARY: The Department of State has submitted the information 
collection described below to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) 
for approval. 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 
30 days for public comment.

DATES: Submit comments up to September 28, 2026.

ADDRESSES: Written comments and recommendations for the proposed 
information collection should be sent within 30 days of publication of 
this notice to <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.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Send 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 Karen Ward, Director, Office of Private Sector 
Exchange Designation, Office of Private Sector Exchange, ECA/EC/D, SA-
5, Floor 5, Department of State, 2200 C Street NW, Washington, DC 
20522-0505, who may be reached at <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#b0faf5c8d3d8d1ded7d5c3f0c3c4d1c4d59ed7dfc6"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="94ded1ecf7fcf5faf3f1e7d4e7e0f5e0f1baf3fbe2">[email&#160;protected]</span></a>.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 
    <bullet> Title of Information Collection: Annual Report--J-
NONIMMIGRANT Exchange Visitor Program.
    <bullet> OMB Control Number: 1405-0151.
    <bullet> Type of Request: Revision of a Currently Approved 
Collection.
    <bullet> Originating Office: Bureau of Educational and Cultural 
Affairs, Office of Private Sector Exchange, ECA/EC.
    <bullet> Form Number: DS-3097.
    <bullet> Respondents: Designated J-NONIMMIGRANT program sponsors.
    <bullet> Estimated Number of Respondents: 1,425.
    <bullet> Estimated Number of Responses: 1,425.
    <bullet> Average Time per Response: 2 hours.
    <bullet> Total Estimated Burden Time: 2,850 hours.
    <bullet> Frequency: Annually.
    <bullet> Obligation to Respond: Required to Obtain or Retain 
Benefits.
    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

    Annual reports from designated program sponsors assist the 
Department in oversight and administration of the Exchange Visitor 
Program. The reports provide qualitative data on the number of exchange 
participants an organization sponsored annually per category of 
exchange. The reports also provide a summary of the activities in which 
exchange visitors were engaged and indicate information about program 
effectiveness. Program sponsors include government agencies, academic 
institutions, and private sector not-for-profit and for-profit 
entities. The Department administers the Exchange Visitor Program under 
the Mutual Educational and Cultural Exchange Act of 1961, as amended 
(Pub. L. 87-256, 22 U.S.C. 2451 et seq.), and 22 CFR 62.15 requires 
designated sponsors to report annually on their exchange visitor 
program activities. The Department received one comment during the 60-
day public comment period. The commenter expressed no objection to the 
proposed revisions, and no changes have been made to the form as a 
result.

Methodology

    Annual reports are completed through the Student and Exchange 
Visitor Information System (SEVIS) and then printed and signed by a 
sponsor official and sent to the Department by email.

Response to Public Comment

    The Department received one comment, submitted by a designated 
program sponsor. The commenter expressed no objection to the proposed 
revisions to Form DS-3097. The comment instead requested clarification 
on three matters of program administration and reporting practice: the 
continued alignment of the revised form with the fields automatically 
populated from the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System 
(SEVIS); the scope of the term ``Sponsor Official'' for purposes of the 
certification signature; and the meaning of the term ``host sites'' as 
used in the staffing item.
    Because the comment raised questions of program administration and 
terminology rather than comments on the collection itself or on the 
substance of the proposed revisions, the Department is proceeding with 
the revisions to Form DS-3097 as published in the 60-day notice. The 
Department will respond directly to the commenter and will address the 
questions raised through its ordinary guidance to program sponsors.

Karen S. Ward,
Director, Office of Private Sector Exchange Designation, Bureau of 
Educational and Cultural Affairs, U.S. Department of State.
[FR Doc. 2026-17578 Filed 8-27-26; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4710-05-P


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