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[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 95 (Wednesday, May 16, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 28922-28923]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-11862]

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DEPARTMENT OF STATE

[Public Notice: 7884]

30-Day Notice of Proposed Information Collection: DS-261, 
Electronic Choice of Address and Agent, OMB Control Number 1405-0186

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 following 
information collection request to the Office of Management and Budget 
(OMB) for approval in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 
1995.
     Title of Information Collection: Electronic Choice of 
Address and Agent.
     OMB Control Number: 1405-0186.
     Type of Request: Extension.
     Originating Office: CA/VO/L/R.
     Form Number: DS-261.
     Respondents: Immigrant beneficiaries requesting change of 
address or designation of an authorized agent.
     Estimated Number of Respondents: 700,000.
     Estimated Number of Responses: 700,000.
     Average Hours per Response: 10 minutes.
     Total Estimated Burden: 116,666.
     Frequency: Once per Respondent.
     Obligation to Respond: Required to Obtain or Retain a 
Benefit.

DATES: Submit comments to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for 
up to 30 days from May 16, 2012.

ADDRESSES: Please 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: oira_submission@omb.eop.gov. You must include the 
DS form number, information collection title, and 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: You may obtain copies of the proposed 
information collection and supporting documents from Sydney Taylor, 
Visa Services, U.S. Department of State, 2401 E Street NW., L-603, 
Washington, DC 20522, who may be reached at taylors2@state.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: We are soliciting public comments to permit 
the Department to:
     Evaluate whether the proposed information collection is 
necessary to properly perform our functions.

[[Page 28923]]

     Evaluate the accuracy of our estimate of the burden of the 
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.

Abstract of Proposed Collection

    The DS-261 allows the beneficiary of an approved immigrant visa 
petition to provide the Department with his current address, which will 
be used for communications with the beneficiary. The DS-261 also allows 
the beneficiary to appoint an agent to receive communications relevant 
to the beneficiary's visa application from the National Visa Center 
(NVC) and assist in the filing of various application forms and/or 
paying the required fees. The beneficiary is not required to use an 
agent. The NVC can contact them directly. If the beneficiary chooses to 
serve as their own agent and have the NVC contact them directly, they 
will need to provide the NVC with their current contact information. 
All cases will be held at NVC until the DS-261 is electronically 
submitted to the Department.

Methodology

    Applicants will submit the DS-261 electronically to the Department 
via the internet. Applicants who submit the electronic form will no 
longer submit paper-based applications to the Department.

    Dated: May 4, 2012.
David Donahue,
Deputy Assistant Secretary, Bureau of Consular Affairs, Department of 
State.
[FR Doc. 2012-11862 Filed 5-15-12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4710-06-P
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