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[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 119 (Thursday, June 20, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Pages 37269-37270]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-14665]

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DEPARTMENT OF STATE

[Public Notice 8355]

30-Day Notice of Proposed Information Collection: Statement of 
Exigent/Special Family Circumstances for Issuance of a U.S. Passport to 
a Minor Under Age 16

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.

DATE(S): Submit comments directly to the Office of Management and 
Budget (OMB) up to July 22, 2013.

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 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 PPT Forms Officer, U.S. Department of State, 
2100 Pennsylvania Avenue NW., Room 3030, Washington, DC 20037, who may 
be reached on (202) 663-2457 or at PPTFormsOfficer@state.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
     Title of Information Collection: Statement of Exigent/
Special Family Circumstances for Issuance of a U.S. Passport to a Minor 
under Age 16.
     OMB Control Number: None.
     Type of Request: New Collection.
     Originating Office: Bureau of Consular Affairs, Passport 
Services, Office of Program Management and Operational Support, Program 
Coordination Division (CA/PPT/S/PMO/PC).
     Form Number: DS-5525.

[[Page 37270]]

     Respondents: Individuals or Households.
     Estimated Number of Respondents: 115,050 respondents per 
year.
     Estimated Number of Responses: 115,050 responses per year.
     Average Time per Response: 30 minutes or 0.5 hour.
     Total Estimated Burden Time: 57,525 hours per year.
     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 information collected on the DS-5525, ``Statement of Exigent/
Special Family Circumstances for Issuance of a U.S. Passport to a Minor 
under Age 16'', is used in conjunction with the DS-11, ``Application 
for a U.S. Passport''. The DS-5525 can serve as the statement 
describing exigent or special family circumstances, which is required 
if written consent of the non-applying parent or guardian cannot be 
obtained when the passport application is executed for a minor under 
age 16. The statement must explain the reason for the request.
    The legal authority permitting this information assists the U.S. 
Department of State to administer the regulations in 22 CFR 51.28 
requiring that both parents and/or any guardian consent to the issuance 
of a passport to a minor under age 16, except where one parent has sole 
custody or certain exceptions apply. This regulation was mandated by 
Section 236 of the Admiral James W. Nance and Meg Donovan Foreign 
Relations authorization Act, Fiscal Year 2000 and 2001 (enacted by Pub. 
L. 106-113, Div. B, Section 1000 (a)(7)), and helps to prevent 
international child abduction, child trafficking, and other forms of 
passport fraud.
    Methodology:
    Passport Services collects information from U.S. citizens and non-
citizen nationals when they complete and submit the DS-5525, 
``Statement of Exigent/Special Family Circumstances for Issuance of a 
U.S. Passport to a Minor under Age 16''. Passport applicants can either 
download the DS-5525 from the internet or obtain the form from an 
Acceptance Facility/Passport Agency. The form must be completed, 
signed, and submitted along with the applicant's DS-11, ``Application 
for a U.S. Passport''.
    Additional Information:
    Under the currently approved OMB collection 1405-0129, the DS 3053 
collects both the Statement of Consent and the Statement of Exigent/
Special Family Circumstances. However, the proposed collection will 
request this information using two separate forms to ensure that we 
more clearly communicate to the public what is and what is not a 
special family circumstance. Separating out the forms also allows the 
passport specialist to more clearly control and adjudicate those cases 
that do not qualify as a special family circumstance:
     DS-3053, ``Statement of Consent: Issuance of a Passport to 
a Minor under Age 16,'' and
     DS-5525, ``Statement of Exigent/Special Family 
Circumstances for Issuance of a Passport to a Minor under Age 16.''
     In addition to general format changes, an oath will be 
placed onto the proposed DS-5525 form. The oath is located above the 
signature line on Page 2 of the form and states: ``OATH: I declare 
under penalty of perjury that all statements made in this supporting 
document are true and correct.''

    Dated: June 7, 2013.
Brenda S. Sprague,
Deputy Assistant Secretary for Passport Services, Bureau of Consular 
Affairs, Department of State.
[FR Doc. 2013-14665 Filed 6-19-13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4710-06-P
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