[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 249 (Monday, December 30, 2019)]
[Notices]
[Pages 72101-72102]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-28017]
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DEPARTMENT OF STATE
[Public Notice: 10986]
30 Day Notice of Proposed Information Collection: Adoptive Family
Relief Act Refund Application
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 is seeking Office of Management and
Budget (OMB) approval for the information collection described below.
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 directly to the Office of Management and Budget
(OMB) up to January 29, 2020.
ADDRESSES: Direct comments to the Department of State Desk Officer in
the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs at the Office of
Management and Budget (OMB). You may submit comments by the following
methods:
Email: [email protected]. You must include the
DS form number, information collection
[[Page 72102]]
title, and the OMB control number in the subject line of your message.
Fax: 202-395-5806. Attention: Desk Officer for Department
of State.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 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 Jorge Abudei, who may be reached at 202-485-
8915 or at [email protected].
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Title of Information Collection: Adoptive Family Relief
Act Refund Application.
OMB Control Number: 1405-0223.
Type of Request: Extension of a Currently Approved
Collection.
Originating Office: CA/C.
Form Number: DS-7781.
Respondents: Immigrant Visa Petitioners.
Estimated Number of Respondents: 20.
Estimated Number of Responses: 20.
Average Time Per Response: 5 Minutes.
Total Estimated Burden Time: 1.6 Hours.
Frequency: On Occasion.
Obligation to respond: Required to Obtain or Retain a
Benefit.
We are soliciting public comments to permit the Department to:
Evaluate whether the proposed information collection is
necessary for the proper functions of the Department.
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.
Enhance the quality, utility, and clarity of the
information to be collected.
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
The Adoptive Family Relief Act (Pub. L. 114-70) amended Section
221(c) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA), 8 U.S.C. 1201(c),
to allow for the waiver or refund certain immigrant visa fees for a
lawfully adopted child, or a child coming to the United States to be
adopted by a United States citizen, subject to criteria prescribed by
the Secretary of State. Over 350 American families have successfully
adopted children from the Democratic Republic of the Congo. However,
since September 25, 2013, they have not been able to bring their
adoptive children home to the United States because the Democratic
Republic of the Congo suspended the issuance of ``exit permits'' for
these children. As the permit suspension drags on, however, American
families are repeatedly paying visa renewal and related fees, while
also continuing to be separated from their adopted children.
The waiver or refund provides support and relief to American
families seeking to bring their adoptive children home to the United
States from the Democratic Republic of the Congo and families in
situations similar to the one stipulated above. This form collects
information to determine the extra fees these families have paid and
refund them in accordance with the Adoptive Family Relief Act.
Methodology
The collection will be hosted on the Department of State website to
be printed, filled out, and eventually sent to the consular section
where the adoption case was originally processed.
Douglass R. Benning,
Deputy Assistant Secretary.
[FR Doc. 2019-28017 Filed 12-27-19; 8:45 am]
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