[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 21 (Wednesday, February 2, 2005)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 5372-5377]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-1930]


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DEPARTMENT OF STATE

22 CFR Part 22

[Public Notice 4984]
RIN 1400-AB94; 1400-AB95


Schedule of Fees for Consular Services, Department of State and 
Overseas Embassies and Consulates

AGENCY: State Department.

ACTION: Final rule.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: This rule adopts as final the Department of State's proposed 
rule to revise the Schedule of Fees for Consular Services (``Schedule 
of Fees'' or ``Schedule''), with four changes, one incorporating and 
finalizing an already effective additional exemption to the MRV fee and 
the others adding three new fees authorized by the Consolidated 
Appropriations Act, 2005 (Pub. L. 108-447). None of these changes are 
being made in response to public comments. Only one comment was 
received during the period for public comment, but the Department has 
decided that the comment does not warrant any changes in the proposed 
rule. The additional exemption being added to the Schedule simply 
incorporates and finalizes an exemption that has been in effect during 
the comment period on the revised Schedule as a result of an Interim 
Rule issued pursuant to a separate but related rulemaking. No comments 
on the additional exemption were received during the comment period for 
that rulemaking. The three new fees are being added because they were 
established by legislation enacted after the comment period for this 
rulemaking closed. The addition of these fees does not require public 
comment. The proposed rule, modified only to incorporate the new 
exemption and the new legislatively established fees, is therefore 
adopted as final.

EFFECTIVE DATE: This rule is effective March 8, 2005.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Phillip Min, Office of the Executive 
Director, Bureau of Consular Affairs, fax: 202-663-2499; e-mail: 
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#b5d3d0d0c6f5c6c1d4c1d09bd2dac3"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="096f6c6c7a497a7d687d6c276e667f">[email protected]</span></a>.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Department published a proposed rule in 
the Federal Register at 69 FR 42913-42919 on July 19, 2004 (Public 
Notice 4765, RIN 1400-AB94), proposing to amend sections of part 22 of 
Title 22 of the Code of Federal Regulations. Specifically, the rule 
proposed changes to the Schedule of Fees for Consular Services, 
including seven increases and two decreases. The Department's proposed 
rule solicited comments, and one general comment sent by e-mail was 
received. The comment, dated July 19, 2004, criticized all consular 
fees as still being too low.
    After publication of the aforementioned proposed rule, the 
Department also published a separate but related interim rule in the 
Federal Register at 69 FR 53618-53619 on September 2, 2004 (Public 
Notice 4809, RIN 1400-AB95), amending the Schedule of Fees for Consular 
Services to include an exemption from the nonimmigrant visa application 
processing fee for family members traveling to the United States for 
the funeral or burial of a U.S. Government employee killed in the line 
of duty or to visit a U.S. Government employee critically injured in 
the line of duty. The amendment became effective upon publication on 
September 2, 2004. Interested parties were invited to submit written 
comments by September 24, 2004. No comments were received. The 
exemption added to the existing Schedule of Fees by the amendment is 
finalized and carried forward in the Schedule of Fees for Consular 
Services as published in this final rule.
    As explained when the revised Schedule of Fees was published as a 
proposed rule, the majority of the Department of State's consular fees 
are established pursuant to the general user charges statute, 31 U.S.C. 
9701, and/or 22 U.S.C. 4219, which, as implemented through Executive 
Order 10718 of June 27, 1957, authorizes the Secretary of State to 
establish fees to be charged for official services provided by 
embassies and consulates. Other fees are established pursuant to more 
specific statutory authorities, some of which provide for full or 
partial exemptions.
    With the exception of nonimmigrant visa reciprocity fees, which are 
established based on the practices of other countries, and fees that 
are established at amounts specified by statute, all consular fees are 
established on a basis of cost recovery and in a manner consistent with 
general user charges principles, regardless of the specific statutory 
authority under which they are promulgated. The Department of State is 
required to review consular fees periodically to determine the 
appropriateness of each fee in light of applicable provisions of OMB 
Circular A-25, and it was as a result of such a review that the 
amendments to the Schedule of Fees were proposed. This review attempted 
to identify the fully allocated costs of consular services (direct and 
indirect).
    In situations where services are provided often enough to develop a 
reliable estimate of the average time involved, a flat service fee was 
adopted. In other situations where services are provided infrequently, 
the consular hourly rate was made the basis of the fee. In either case, 
the fee is designed to recover some or all--but not more than--actual 
fully allocated costs the Department expects to incur over the period 
that the Schedule will be in effect. When the fee is set below costs, 
the remaining cost is either recovered through allocation to related 
services for which fees are charged, or will be covered through 
appropriations. (Detailed information concerning the methodology of the 
study is available from the Bureau of Consular Affairs.)
    Based on this effort and subsequent analysis, the Department 
proposed adjustments to the Schedule of Fees, including the fee to 
search Department of State files to verify an applicant's U.S. 
citizenship (from $45 to $60); the Diversity Visa (DV) Lottery 
surcharge for a diversity immigrant visa application (from $100 to 
$375); the Affidavit of Support Review fee (from $65 to $70); the fee 
for determining returning resident status (from $360 to $400); the fee 
for a transportation letter issued to a Legal Permanent Resident Alien 
(LPRA) who needs a transportation letter to reenter the U.S. (from $300 
to $165); the fee for waiver of the two-year return residency 
requirement (from $230 to $215); the fees for processing Letters 
Rogatory and Foreign Sovereign Immunities Act (FSIA) judicial 
assistance cases (from $650 to $735); and the fee for consular time 
(from $235 to $265).
    In addition, the fee for loan processing was combined with the fee 
for assistance regarding the welfare and whereabouts of a U.S. citizen, 
including child custody inquiries. This is a purely technical change in 
the Schedule.
    Significantly, Division B, Title IV (Diplomatic and Consular 
Programs appropriation) of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2005 
(Public Law 108-447), authorized two new fees while section 426 of 
Division J, title IV

[[Page 5373]]

(Visa Reform) of the same Act authorized a third. In each of these 
three cases, the amount of each fee was also specified. These three 
fees are incorporated in the Schedule as new items 8 (a passport 
surcharge of $12 to enhance the security of the passport document), 25 
(a fraud prevention and detection fee of $500 for H-1B and L visa 
applicants), and 36 (an immigrant visa surcharge of $45 to enhance the 
security of the immigrant visa).

Analysis of Comments

    As noted, the proposed rule (Public Notice 4765 at 69 FR 42913-
42919) was published for comments on July 19, 2004. During the comment 
period, which closed August 18, 2004, the Department received only one 
comment, which criticized all consular fees as still being too low. The 
commenter said that the Department should increase all of the fees 
rather than provide below-cost services to non-U.S. citizens. In many 
cases, of course, the fees are in fact paid by U.S. citizens for 
services to U.S. citizens. Leaving that aside, in virtually all cases 
the fees result in full cost recovery either by (1) setting the fee for 
the specific service at full cost; (2) recovering the cost of a service 
through both the fee for the specific service and a fee for a related 
service (e.g., the passport fee recovers costs of certain overseas 
citizens services for which there is no specific, separate fee or for 
which the separate fee is set below cost); or (3) by shifting the cost 
of a service to other users, when specifically authorized by the 
statute. A few fees (such as the fee for a nonimmigrant visa 
application, the fee for refugee parole, the fee for documentary 
services, and the fee for scheduling depositions) are set below actual 
cost; in each of these cases, the Department has determined that it is 
in the public interest to recover the difference from U.S. Government 
appropriations so as not to make these particular services 
prohibitively expensive for the public, and/or because there is a 
public as well as private benefit from performance of the service.

Regulatory Findings

Administrative Procedure Act

    On July 19, 2004, the Department published a proposed rule 
comprehensively amending its Schedule of Fees and providing a 30-day 
period for public comments (69 FR 42913-42919, Public Notice 4765, RIN 
1400-AB94). Subsequently, it published an interim rule in the Federal 
Register (69 FR 53618-53619, Public Notice 4809, RIN 1400-AB95) that 
amended the existing Schedule of Fees effective immediately only to 
include as Item Number 22 (g) an exemption from the nonimmigrant visa 
application processing fee for family members traveling to the United 
States for the funeral or burial of a U.S. Government employee killed 
in the line of duty or to visit a U.S. Government critically injured in 
the line of duty. The change made by that interim rule, which became 
effective upon publication on September 2, 2004, is thus now part of 
the Schedule of Fees being comprehensively amended, and the exemption 
is carried forward and included as final in the Schedule of Fees for 
Consular Services, as published in this Final Rule.
    The Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2005, signed into law by the 
President on December 8, 2004, authorized three new fees and specified 
the amount of each. These are included in the Schedule below in Items 
8, 25, and 36. Item 8, a new $12 passport surcharge, applies to all 
applicants except those who are exempt from passport fees per item 4 of 
the Schedule. The surcharge is designed to recover the costs of 
consular services in support of enhanced border security that are in 
addition to those covered by the passport fees in effect on January 1, 
2004. This fee is specifically authorized by Division B, Title IV 
(Diplomatic and Consular Programs appropriation). Item 25 is a fraud 
prevention and detection fee of $500. The fee has both a domestic and 
an overseas component. Abroad, the State Department, through its 
consuls, will collect the fee from a principal applicant for an ``L'' 
nonimmigrant visa who is covered under a blanket petition as provided 
for in section 214(c)(2) (A) of the Immigration and Nationality Act 
(INA). This fee is specifically authorized by subsections 214(c)(12)(B) 
and (C) of the INA as amended by section 426 of Division J, title IV 
(Visa Reform). Unlike the other two fees, it will take effect for 
nonimmigrant visa applications filed on or after ninety days from 
enactment of the Consolidated Appropriations Act--i.e., on or after 
March 8, 2005 (90 days from Dec. 8, 2004), in accordance with section 
426(c). Item 36, a new $45 immigrant visa surcharge, applies to all 
applicants for immigrant visas, including Diversity Visas. The 
surcharge was added to recover costs of consular services in support of 
enhanced border security that are in addition to those covered by the 
immigrant visa fees in effect on January 1, 2004. This fee is 
specifically authorized by Division B, Title IV (Diplomatic and 
Consular Programs appropriation). Since these three new fees have been 
statutorily authorized and the amounts are statutorily established, the 
Department for good cause pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 553(b)(B) finds that 
public comment on the fees is unnecessary.
    The final rule will be effective March 8, 2005, in accordance with 
5 U.S.C. 553(d). All changes in the Department's existing fees will 
take effect at that time.

Regulatory Flexibility Act/Executive Order 13272: Small Business

    The changes made by this regulation are hereby certified as not 
expected to have a significant economic impact on a substantial number 
of small entities under the criteria of the Regulatory Flexibility Act 
(5 U.S.C. 601-612) and section 3(b) of Executive Order 13272 (Proper 
Consideration of Small Entities in Agency Rulemaking).

Unfunded Mandates Reform Act of 1995

    This rule will not result in the expenditure by State, local and 
tribal governments, in the aggregate, or by the private sector, of $100 
million or more in any year and it will not significantly or uniquely 
affect small governments. Therefore, no actions were deemed necessary 
under the provisions of the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act of 1995.

Small Business Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act of 1996

    This rule is not a major rule as defined by 5 U.S.C. 804, for 
purposes of congressional review of agency rulemaking under the Small 
Business Regulatory Enforcement Act of 1996 (5 U.S.C. 801-808). This 
rule will not result in an annual effect on the economy of $100 million 
or more; a major increase in costs or prices; or significant adverse 
effects on competition, employment, investment, productivity, 
innovation, or on the ability of the United States-based companies to 
compete with foreign-based companies in domestic and export markets.

Executive Order 12866: Regulatory Review

    The Department of State does not consider this rule to be a 
``significant regulatory action'' under Executive Order 12866, section 
3(f), Regulatory Planning and Review. In addition, the Department is 
exempt from Executive Order 12866 except to the extent that it is 
promulgating regulations in conjunction with a domestic agency that are 
significant regulatory actions. The Department has nevertheless 
reviewed the regulation to ensure its consistency with the regulatory 
philosophy and principles set forth in that Executive

[[Page 5374]]

Order. In addition, OMB has been provided with a copy of the proposed 
regulation.

Executive Order 12988: Civil Justice Reform

    The Department has reviewed this regulation in light of sections 
3(a) and 3(b)(2) of Executive Order No. 12988 to eliminate ambiguity, 
minimize litigation, establish clear legal standards, and reduce 
burden.

Executive Orders 12372 and 13132: Federalism

    This regulation will not have substantial direct effects on the 
states, on the relationship between the national government and the 
states, or on the distribution of power and responsibilities among the 
various levels of government. Nor would the regulation have federalism 
implications warranting the application of Executive Orders 12372 and 
13132.

Paperwork Reduction Act

    This rule does not impose any new reporting or record-keeping 
requirements subject to the Paperwork Reduction Act, 44 U.S.C. Chapter 
35.

List of Subjects in 22 CFR Part 22

    Consular services, Fees, Schedule of fees for consular services, 
Passports and visas.


0
Accordingly, an amendment to part 22 is amended as follows:

PART 22--[AMENDED]

0
1. The authority citation for part 22 is revised to read as follows:

    Authority: 8 U.S.C. 1153 note, 1351, 1351 note; 10 U.S.C. 
2602(c); 22 U.S.C. 214, 2504(a), 4201, 4206, 4215, 4219; 31 U.S.C. 
9701; Pub. L. 105-277, 112 Stat. 2681 et seq.; Pub. L. 108-447, 118 
Stat. 2809 et seq.; E.O. 10718, 22 FR 4632, 3 CFR, 1954-1958 Comp., 
p. 382; E.O. 11295, 31 FR 10603, 3 CFR, 1966-1970 Comp., p. 570.


0
2. Section 22.1 is revised to read as follows:


Sec.  22.1  Schedule of fees.

    The following table sets forth the U.S. Department of State's 
Schedule of Fees for Consular Services:

                 Schedule of Fees for Consular Services
------------------------------------------------------------------------
              Item No.                               Fee
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                    Passport and Citizenship Services
------------------------------------------------------------------------
1. Passport Execution: Required for  $30.
 first-time applicants and others
 who must apply in person [01-
 Passport Execution].
2. Passport Application Services
 for:
    (a) Applicants age 16 or over    55.
     (including renewals) [02-Adult
     Passport].
    (b) Applicants under age 16 [03- 40.
     Minor Passport].
    (c) Passport amendments          No fee.
     (extension of validity, name
     change, etc.) [04-Amendment].
3. Expedited service: Three-day      60.
 processing and/or in-person
 service at a U.S. Passport Agency
 (not applicable abroad) [Expedited
 Service].
4. Exemptions: The following
 applicants are exempted from
 passport fees:
    (a) Officers or employees of     No fee.
     the United States and their
     immediate family members (22
     U.S.C. 214) and Peace Corps
     Volunteers and Leaders (22
     U.S.C. 2504(a)) proceeding
     abroad or returning to the
     United States in the discharge
     of their official duties [05-
     Passport Exempt].
    (b) U.S. citizen seamen who      No fee.
     require a passport in
     connection with their duties
     aboard an American flag vessel
     (22 U.S.C. 214) [05-Passport
     Exempt].
    (c) Widows, children, parents,   No fee.
     or siblings of deceased
     members of the Armed Forces
     proceeding abroad to visit the
     graves of such members (22
     U.S.C. 214) [05-Passport
     Exempt].
    (d) Employees of the American    No fee.
     National Red Cross proceeding
     abroad as members of the Armed
     Forces of the United States
     (10 U.S.C. 2603) [05-Passport
     Exempt].
5. Travel Letter: Provided as an     No fee.
 emergency accommodation to a U.S.
 citizen returning to the United
 States when the consular officer
 is unable to issue a passport
 book. (Consular time charges, item
 75, may apply) [06-U.S.C. Travel
 Letter].
6. File search and verification of   60.
 U.S. citizenship: When applicant
 has not presented evidence of
 citizenship and previous records
 must be searched (except for an
 applicant abroad whose passport
 was stolen or lost abroad or when
 one of the exemptions is
 applicable) [07-PPT File Search].
7. Application for Report of Birth   65.
 Abroad of a Citizen of the United
 States [08-Report Birth Abroad].
8. Passport security surcharge [09-  12.
 Passport Surcharge].
Items nos. 9 through 10 vacant)
------------------------------------
                       Overseas Citizens Services
         Arrests, Welfare and Whereabouts, and Related Services
------------------------------------------------------------------------
11. Arrest and prison visits.......  No fee.
12. Assistance regarding the         No fee.
 welfare and whereabouts of a U.S.
 citizen, including child custody
 inquiries and processing of
 repatriation and emergency dietary
 assistance loans.
(Item no. 13 vacant)
------------------------------------
                        Death and Estate Services
------------------------------------------------------------------------
14. Assistance to next-of-kin:
    (a) After the death of a U.S.    No fee.
     citizen abroad (providing
     assistance in disposition of
     remains, making arrangements
     for shipping remains, issuing
     Consular Mortuary Certificate,
     and providing up to 20
     original Consular Reports of
     Death).
    (b) Making arrangements for a    Consular Time (Item 75) Plus
     deceased non-U.S. citizen        Expenses.
     family member (providing
     assistance in shipping or
     other disposition of remains
     of a non-U.S. citizen) [11-Non
     U.S.C. Death].
15. Issuance of Consular Mortuary    60.
 Certificate on behalf of a non-
 U.S. citizen [12-Non-U.S.C. Mort
 Cert].
16. Acting as a provisional
 conservator of estates of U.S.
 citizens:
    (a) Taking possession of         No fee.
     personal effects; making an
     inventory under an official
     seal (unless significant time
     and/or expenses incurred).

[[Page 5375]]

 
    (b) Overseeing the appraisal,    No fee.
     sale, and final disposition of
     the estate, including
     disbursing funds, forwarding
     securities, etc. (unless
     significant time and/or
     expenses incurred).
    (c) For services listed in 16    Consular Time (Item 75) and/or
     (a) or (b) when significant      Expenses.
     time and/or expenses are
     incurred [13-Estate Costs].
(Items nos. 17 through 20 vacant)
------------------------------------
                       Nonimmigrant Visa Services
------------------------------------------------------------------------
21. Nonimmigrant visa application
 and border crossing card
 processing fees (per person):
    (a) Nonimmigrant visa [21-MRV    100.
     Processing].
    (b) Border crossing card--10     100.
     year (age 15 and over) [22-BCC
     10 Year].
    (c) Border crossing card--5      13.
     year (under age 15). For
     Mexican citizen, if parent or
     guardian has or is applying
     for a border crossing card [23-
     BCC 5 Year].
22. Exemptions from nonimmigrant
 visa application processing fee:
    (a) Applicants for A, G, C-3,    No fee.
     NATO and diplomatic visas as
     defined in 22 CFR 41.26 [24-
     MRV Exempt].
    (b) Applicants for J visas       No fee.
     participating in official U.S.
     Government-sponsored
     educational and cultural
     exchanges [24-MRV Exempt].
    (c) Replacement machine-         No fee.
     readable visa when the
     original visa was not properly
     affixed or needs to be
     reissued through no fault of
     the applicant [24-MRV Exempt].
    (d) Applicants exempted by       No fee.
     international agreement as
     determined by the Department,
     including members and staff of
     an observer mission to United
     Nations Headquarters
     recognized by the UN General
     Assembly, and their immediate
     families [24-MRV Exempt].
    (e) Applicants traveling to      No fee.
     provide charitable services as
     determined by the Department
     [24-MRV Exempt].
    (f) U.S. Government employees    No fee.
     traveling on official business
     [24-MRV Exempt].
    (g) A parent, sibling, spouse,   No fee.
     or child of a U.S. Government
     employee killed in the line of
     duty who is traveling to
     attend the employee's funeral
     and/or burial; or a parent,
     sibling, spouse, son, or
     daughter of a U.S. Government
     employee critically injured in
     the line of duty for
     visitation during emergency
     treatment and convalescence
     [24-MRV Exempt].
23. Nonimmigrant visa issuance fee,  Reciprocal.
 including border-crossing cards
 [25-NIV Issuance Reciprocal].
24. Exemptions from nonimmigrant
 visa issuance fee:
    (a) An official representative   No fee.
     of a foreign government or an
     international or regional
     organization of which the U.S.
     is a member; members and staff
     of an observer mission to
     United Nations Headquarters
     recognized by the UN General
     Assembly; and applicants for
     diplomatic visas as defined
     under item 22(a); and their
     immediate families [26-NIV
     Issuance Exempt].
    (b) An applicant transiting to   No fee.
     and from the United Nations
     Headquarters [26-NIV Issuance
     Exempt].
    (c) An applicant participating   No fee.
     in a U.S. Government-sponsored
     program [26-NIV Issuance
     Exempt].
    (d) An applicant traveling to    No fee.
     provide charitable services as
     determined by the Department
     [26-NIV Issuance Exempt].
25. Fraud Prevention and Detection   500.
 Fee for Visa applicant included in
 L blanket petition (principal
 applicant only) [27-NIV
 Adjudication, Blanket L].
(Items nos. 26 through 30 vacant)
------------------------------------
                   Immigrant and Special Visa Services
------------------------------------------------------------------------
31. Filing immigrant visa petition
 (collected for the Bureau of U.S.
 Citizenship and Immigration
 Services):
    (a) Petition to classify status  185.
     of alien relative for issuance
     of immigrant visa [81-USCIS I-
     130 Petition].
    (b) Petition to classify orphan  525.
     as an immediate relative [82-
     USCIS I-600 Petition].
32. Immigrant visa application       335.
 processing fee (per person) [31-IV
 Application].
33. Diversity Visa Lottery           375.
 surcharge for lottery
 participation (per person applying
 for an immigrant visa as a result
 of the lottery program) [32-DV
 Processing].
34. Affidavit of Support Review      70.
 (only when AOS is reviewed
 domestically).
35. Special visa services:
    (a) Determining Returning        400.
     Resident Status [33-Returning
     Resident].
    (b) Transportation letter for    165.
     Legal Permanent Residents of
     U.S. [34-LPR Transportation
     Letter].
    (c) Waiver of 2-year residency   215.
     requirement [J Waiver].
    (d) Waiver of immigrant visa     250.
     ineligibility (collected for
     the Bureau of U.S. Citizenship
     and Immigration Services) [83-
     IV Waiver].
    (e) Refugee or significant       No fee.
     public benefit parole case
     processing [35-Refugee/Parole].
    (f) U.S. visa fingerprinting     85.
     [36-Fingerprints].
36. Immigrant visa security          45.
 surcharge [37-IV Surcharge].
(Items nos. 37 through 40 vacant)
------------------------------------
                          Documentary Services
------------------------------------------------------------------------
41. Providing notarial service:
    (a) First service (seal) [41-    30.
     Notarial].
    (b) Each additional seal         20.
     provided at the same time in
     connection with the same
     transaction [42-Additional
     Notarial].
42. Certification of a true copy or
 that no record of an official file
 can be located (by a post abroad):
    (a) First copy [43-Certified     30.
     Copy].
    (b) Each additional copy         20.
     provided at the same time [44-
     Additional Copy].

[[Page 5376]]

 
43. Provision of documents,
 certified copies of documents, and
 other certifications by the
 Department of State (domestic):
    (a) Documents relating to        30.
     births, marriages, and deaths
     of U.S. citizens abroad
     originally issued by a U.S.
     Embassy or Consulate.
    (b) Issuance of Replacement      30.
     Report of Birth Abroad.
    (c) Certified copies of          30.
     documents relating to births
     and deaths within the former
     Canal Zone of Panama from
     records maintained by the
     Canal Zone Government from
     1904 to September 30, 1979.
    (d) Certifying a copy of a       30.
     document or extract from an
     official passport record.
    (e) Certifying that no record    30.
     of an official file can be
     located [45-Brth/Mar/Death/No
     Record].
    (f) Each additional copy         20.
     provided at same time [46-
     Additional Cert].
44. Authentications (by posts
 abroad):
    (a) Authenticating a foreign     30.
     notary or other foreign
     official seal or signature.
    (b) Authenticating a U.S.        30.
     Federal, State, or territorial
     seal.
    (c) Certifying to the official   30.
     status of an officer of the
     United States Department of
     State or of a foreign
     diplomatic or consular officer
     accredited to or recognized by
     the United States Government.
    (d) Each authentication [47-     30.
     Authentication].
45. Exemptions: Notarial,
 certification, and authentication
 fees or passport file search fees
 will not be charged when the
 service is performed:
    (a) At the direct request of     No fee.
     any Federal Government agency,
     any State or local government,
     the District of Columbia, or
     any of the territories or
     possessions of the United
     States (unless significant
     costs would be incurred) [48-
     Documents Exempt].
    (b) With respect to documents    No fee.
     to be presented by claimants,
     beneficiaries, or their
     witnesses in connection with
     obtaining Federal, State, or
     municipal benefits [48-
     Documents Exempt].
    (c) For U.S. citizens outside    No fee.
     the United States preparing
     ballots for any public
     election in the United States
     or any of its territories [48-
     Documents Exempt].
    (d) At the direct request of a   No fee.
     foreign government or an
     international agency of which
     the United States is a member
     if the documents are for
     official noncommercial use [48-
     Documents Exempt].
    (e) At the direct request of a   No fee.
     foreign government official
     when appropriate or as a
     reciprocal courtesy [48-
     Documents Exempt].
    (f) At the request of direct     No fee.
     hire U.S. Government
     personnel, Peace Corps
     volunteers, or their
     dependents stationed or
     traveling officially in a
     foreign country [48-Documents
     Exempt].
    (g) With respect to documents    No fee.
     whose production is ordered by
     a court of competent
     jurisdiction [48-Documents
     Exempt].
    (h) With respect to affidavits   No fee.
     of support for immigrant visa
     applications [48-Documents
     Exempt].
    (i) With respect to endorsing    No fee.
     U.S. Savings Bonds
     Certificates [48-Documents
     Exempt].
(Items nos. 46 through 50 vacant)
------------------------------------
                      Judicial Assistance Services
------------------------------------------------------------------------
51. Processing letters rogatory and
 Foreign Sovereign Immunities Act
 (FSIA) judicial assistance cases,
 including providing seal and
 certificate for return of letters
 rogatory executed by foreign
 officials:
    [51-Letters Rogatory]..........  735.
    [52-FSIA]......................  735.
52. Taking depositions or executing
 commissions to take testimony:
    (a) Scheduling/arranging         475.
     appointments for depositions,
     including depositions by video
     teleconference (per daily
     appointment) [53-Arrange Depo].
    (b) Attending or taking          265 Per Hour Plus Expenses.
     depositions, or executing
     commissions to take testimony
     (per hour or part thereof) [54-
     Depose/Hourly].
    (c) Swearing in witnesses for    265.
     telephone depositions [55-
     Telephone Oath].
    (d) Supervising telephone        265 Per Hour Plus Expenses.
     depositions (per hour or part
     thereof over the first hour)
     [56-Supervise Tel Depo].
    (e) Providing seal and           70.
     certification of depositions
     [57-Deposition Cert].
53. Exemptions: Deposition or
 executing commissions to take
 testimony. Fees will not be
 charged when the service is
 performed:
    (a) At the direct request of     No fee.
     any Federal Government agency,
     any State or local government,
     the District of Columbia, or
     any of the territories or
     possessions of the United
     States (unless significant
     time required and/or expenses
     would be incurred). [58-
     Judicial Exempt].
    (b) Executing commissions to     No fee.
     take testimony in connection
     with foreign documents for use
     in criminal cases when the
     commission is accompanied by
     an order of Federal court on
     behalf of an indigent party
     [59-Indigent Test].
(Items nos. 54 through 60 vacant)
------------------------------------
                 Services Relating to Vessels and Seamen
------------------------------------------------------------------------
61. Shipping and Seaman's services:
 Including but not limited to,
 recording a bill of sale of a
 vessel purchased abroad, renewal
 of a marine radio license, and
 issuance of certificate of
 American ownership:
    [61-Shipping Bill of Sale].....  Consular Time (Item 75) Plus
                                      Expenses.
    [62-Shipping Consular Radio      Time (Item 75) Plus Expenses.
     LISC].
    [63-Shipping Cert AM Own]......  Consular Time (Item 75) Plus
                                      Expenses.

[[Page 5377]]

 
    [64-Shipping Misc].............  Consular Time (Item 75) Plus
                                      Expenses.
(Items nos. 62 through 70 vacant)
------------------------------------
                         Administrative Services
------------------------------------------------------------------------
71. Non-emergency telephone calls    Long Distance Charge Plus $10.
 [70-Toll Call Cost] [71-Toll Cost
 Surcharge].
72. Setting up and maintaining a     30.
 trust account: For one year or
 less to transfer funds to or for
 the benefit of a U.S. citizen in
 need in a foreign country [72-OCS
 Trust].
73. Transportation charges incurred  Expenses Incurred.
 in the performance of fee and no-
 fee services when appropriate and
 necessary [73-Transportation].
74. Return check processing fee [74- 25.
 Return Check].
75. Consular time charges: As        265.
 required by this schedule and for
 fee services performed away from
 the office or during after-duty
 hours (per hour or part thereof/
 per consular employee) [75-
 Consular Time].
76. Photocopies (per page) [76-      1.
 Photocopy].
(Items nos. 77 through 80 vacant)
------------------------------------------------------------------------


    Dated: January 14, 2005.
Grant S. Green,
Under Secretary for Management, Department of State.
[FR Doc. 05-1930 Filed 2-1-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4710-06-P


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