Expedited Office of Management and Budget Review and Public Comment: Unaccompanied Alien Children Sponsor Application Packet

Issuing agencies

Abstract

The Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR), Administration for Children and Families (ACF), Department of Health and Human Services, requests expedited review, from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), of an information collection from ORR and invites public comments on the proposed collection. This information collection ensures that ORR obtains and documents critical information needed to assess sponsor suitability, identify potential safety risks, and support the safe and timely release of unaccompanied alien children to suitable sponsors.

Full Text

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<title>Federal Register, Volume 91 Issue 213 (Thursday, November 5, 2026)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 91, Number 213 (Thursday, November 5, 2026)]
[Notices]
[Page 69851]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2026-22610]



[[Page 69851]]

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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Administration for Children and Families

[Office of Management and Budget #: 0970-0278]


Expedited Office of Management and Budget Review and Public 
Comment: Unaccompanied Alien Children Sponsor Application Packet

AGENCY: Office of Refugee Resettlement, Administration for Children and 
Families, 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), Department of Health and Human Services, 
requests expedited review, from the Office of Management and Budget 
(OMB), of an information collection from ORR and invites public 
comments on the proposed collection. This information collection 
ensures that ORR obtains and documents critical information needed to 
assess sponsor suitability, identify potential safety risks, and 
support the safe and timely release of unaccompanied alien children to 
suitable sponsors.

DATES: Comments due January 4, 2027.

ADDRESSES: In compliance with the requirements of the Paperwork 
Reduction Act (PRA), ACF is soliciting public comment on the specific 
aspects of the information collection described above. You can obtain 
copies of the proposed collection of information and submit comments by 
emailing <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#f29b9c949d919d9e9e9791869b9d9cb2939194dc9a9a81dc959d84"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="2f464149404c4043434a4c5b4640416f4e4c490147475c01484059">[email&#160;protected]</span></a>. Identify all requests by the title 
of the information collection.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 
    Description: ACF is requesting that OMB grant 180-days of approval 
for this request under procedures for expedited processing (see 5 CFR 
1320.13). In compliance with PRA, ACF will request review under normal 
procedures within 180 days of approval for this request. Any edits 
resulting from public comment will be incorporated into the submission 
under normal procedures.
    ORR proposes to revise two existing instruments to align their PDF 
and digital versions, improve question organization and instructions, 
and present related conditional follow-up questions within the primary 
application forms. Selected information is already requested through 
the Sponsor Assessment (Form S-5), Affidavit of Support (Form SAP-8), 
Home Study Assessment (S-6), and existing application instructions. The 
approved respondent burden remains unchanged.
    These instruments support implementation of ORR's Foundational 
Rule, 45 CFR part 410. Under 45 CFR 410.1202(a) and (b), prospective 
sponsors must complete an application package, and ORR must assess 
whether a prospective sponsor can provide for the child's physical and 
mental well-being before releasing the child.
    1. Authorization for Release of Information (Form SAP-2): This 
instrument obtains authorization and identifying information used to 
conduct background checks and support sponsor suitability assessments. 
The revisions reorganize identity, contact, and address-history 
information; clarify instructions; and add structured prompts 
concerning current and past living arrangements.
    2. Sponsor Application (Form SAP-3): This instrument collects 
information used to assess prospective sponsors and support the safe 
release of children. The revisions organize income, employment, and 
prior-sponsorship information; clarify household and alternative-
caregiver questions; and add structured follow-up fields and identity-
verification photograph requirements.
    Respondents: ORR grantee and contractor staff; other


                                             Annual Burden Estimates
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                 Total number of  Average burden
           Instrument             Total number    responses per      hours per     Total burden    Annual burden
                                 of respondents     respondent       response          hours           hours
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Authorization for Release of            183,588                1            0.50          91,794          91,794
 Information (Form SAP-2)......
Sponsor Application (Form SAP-           76,569                1            1.50         114,854         114,854
 3)............................
                                --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Estimated Total Annual       ..............  ...............  ..............  ..............         206,648
     Burden Hours..............
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    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: U.S.C. 279; 8 U.S.C. 1232; 44 U.S.C. 3507(j); 45 CFR 
410.1202 and 5 CFR 1320.13.

Samantha L. Illangasekare,
ACF/OPRE Certifying Officer.
[FR Doc. 2026-22610 Filed 11-4-26; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4184-45-P


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