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[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 66 (Thursday, April 5, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Page 20687]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-8238]

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DEPARTMENT OF STATE

[Public Notice 7840]

30-Day Notice of Proposed Information Collection: Form DS-3097, 
Exchange Visitor Program Annual Report, OMB Control Number 1405-0151

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: Exchange Visitor Program 
Annual Report.
     OMB Control Number: 1405-0151.
     Type of Request: Extension of a Currently Approved 
Collection.
     Originating Office: Educational and Cultural Affairs, 
Office of Designation, ECA/EC/D/PS.
     Form Number: Form DS-3097.
     Respondents: designated J-1 program sponsors.
     Estimated Number of Respondents: 1435.
     Estimated Number of Responses: 1435 annually.
     Average Hours per Response: 2 hours.
     Total Estimated Burden: 2870 hours.
     Frequency: Annually.
     Obligation to Respond: Mandatory.

DATES: Submit comments to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for 
up to 30 days from April 5, 2012.

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: 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 Robin J. Lerner, 
Deputy Assistant Secretary for Private Sector Exchange, Department of 
State, SA-5, Floor 5, 2200 C Street NW., Washington, DC 20522-0505, who 
may be reached on (202) 632-2805, fax at 202-632-2701 or email at 
JExchanges@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.
     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

    Annual reports from designated program sponsors assist the 
Department in oversight and administration of the J-1 visa program. The 
reports provide statistical data on the number of exchange participants 
an organization sponsored per category of exchange. The reports also 
provide a summary of the activities in which exchange visitors were 
engaged and an evaluation of program effectiveness. Program sponsors 
include government agencies, academic institutions, and private sector 
not-for-profit and for-profit entities.

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 mail or fax. The 
Department is currently working with the Department of Homeland 
Security to expand SEVIS functions and enable the collection of 
electronic signatures. Annual reports will be submitted to the 
Department electronically as soon as the mechanism for doing so is 
approved and in place during the implementation of SEVIS II.

    Dated: March 26, 2012.
Robin J. Lerner,
Deputy Assistant Secretary for Private Sector Exchange, Bureau of 
Educational and Cultural Affairs, U.S. Department of State.
[FR Doc. 2012-8238 Filed 4-4-12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4710-05-P
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