Electronic Choice of Address and Agent

Forms and Documents

Forms and supporting documents for this ICR

Document	Type	Status	Availability
Form DS-261 Electronic Choice of Address and Agent	Form and Instruction	Modified	Available
Final - DS-261 Supporting Statement 2-15-2019.docx	Supporting Statement A	Uploaded 2019-02-15	Available
DS-261 Legal Authorities.docx	Supplementary Document	Uploaded 2018-07-26	Available

IC Document Collections

Information collection document groups

IC ID	Collection	Type	Status	Form
189224	Electronic Choice of Address and Agent	Form and Instruction	Modified

ICR Details

OMB Control No: 1405-0186	ICR Reference No: 201807-1405-006
Status: Active	Previous ICR Reference No: 201508-1405-001
Agency/Subagency: STATE/AFA	Agency Tracking No:
Title: Electronic Choice of Address and Agent
Type of Information Collection: Extension without change of a currently approved collection	Common Form ICR:  No
Type of Review Request: Regular
OIRA Conclusion Action: Approved with change	Conclusion Date: 04/10/2019
	Date Received in OIRA: 07/26/2018
Terms of Clearance: Provided additional verbiage to sections 13 and 14 to further clarify the State Department's assumptions.

table that charts list comparision

	Inventory as of this Action	Requested	Previously Approved
Expiration Date	04/30/2022	36 Months From Approved	04/30/2019
Responses	300,000	0	250,000
Time Burden (Hours)	50,000	0	41,667
Cost Burden (Dollars)	0	0	0

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Abstract: The DS-261 allows the beneficiary of an approved and current immigrant visa petition to provide the Department with his or her current address, which will be used for communications with the beneficiary. The DS-261 also allows the beneficiary to appoint an agent to receive mailings from the National Visa Center (NVC) and assist in the filing of various application forms and/or paying the required fees.

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Authorizing Statute(s): US Code: 8 USC 1101 Name of Law: Immigration and Nationality Act
  

Citations for New Statutory Requirements: None

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Associated Rulemaking Information
RIN:	Stage of Rulemaking:	Federal Register Citation:	Date:
	Not associated with rulemaking

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Federal Register Notices & Comments
60-day Notice:	Federal Register Citation:	Citation Date:
	83 FR 17698	04/23/2018
30-day Notice:	Federal Register Citation:	Citation Date:
	83 FR 35534	07/26/2018
Did the Agency receive public comments on this ICR? Yes

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Number of Information Collection (IC) in this ICR: 1

table that charts list of burden

IC Title	Form No.	Form Name
Electronic Choice of Address and Agent	DS-261	CEAC IV Form

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ICR Summary of Burden

table that charts list of burden

	Total Approved	Previously Approved	Change Due to New Statute	Change Due to Agency Discretion	Change Due to Adjustment in Estimate	Change Due to Potential Violation of the PRA
Annual Number of Responses	300,000	250,000	0	50,000	0	0
Annual Time Burden (Hours)	50,000	41,667	0	8,333	0	0
Annual Cost Burden (Dollars)	0	0	0	0	0	0

Burden increases because of Program Change due to Agency Discretion: Yes

Burden Increase Due to: Miscellaneous Actions

Burden decreases because of Program Change due to Agency Discretion: No

Burden Reduction Due to:

Short Statement: The number of respondents has increased due to the number of beneficiaries who have chosen an agent to receive communications from NVC to assist in the application process electronically. As a result, the hour burden has also increased. The costs to the Federal Government are now accounted for in OMB Control Number 1405-0185.

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Annual Cost to Federal Government: $0

Does this IC contain surveys, censuses, or employ statistical methods? No

Does this ICR request any personally identifiable information (see OMB Circular No. A-130 for an explanation of this term)? Please consult with your agency's privacy program when making this determination.     Yes

Does this ICR include a form that requires a Privacy Act Statement (see 5 U.S.C. §552a(e)(3))? Please consult with your agency's privacy program when making this determination.     No

Is this ICR related to the Affordable Care Act [Pub. L. 111-148 & 111-152]? No

Is this ICR related to the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, [Pub. L. 111-203]? No

Is this ICR related to the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA)? No

Is this ICR related to the Pandemic Response? Uncollected

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Common Form ICR:  No

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On behalf of this Federal agency, I certify that the collection of information encompassed by this request complies with 5 CFR 1320.9 and the related provisions of 5 CFR 1320.8(b)(3).

The following is a summary of the topics, regarding the proposed collection of information, that the certification covers:

(a) It is necessary for the proper performance of agency functions;

(b) It avoids unnecessary duplication;

(c) It reduces burden on small entities;

(d) It uses plain, coherent, and unambiguous language that is understandable to respondents;

(e) Its implementation will be consistent and compatible with current reporting and recordkeeping practices;

(f) It indicates the retention periods for recordkeeping requirements;

(g) It informs respondents of the information called for under 5 CFR 1320.8 (b)(3) about:

(i) Why the information is being collected;

(ii) Use of information;

(iii) Burden estimate;

(iv) Nature of response (voluntary, required for a benefit, or mandatory);

(v) Nature and extent of confidentiality; and

(vi) Need to display currently valid OMB control number;

(h) It was developed by an office that has planned and allocated resources for the efficient and effective management and use of the information to be collected.

(i) It uses effective and efficient statistical survey methodology (if applicable); and

(j) It makes appropriate use of information technology.

If you are unable to certify compliance with any of these provisions, identify the item by leaving the box unchecked and explain the reason in the Supporting Statement.

Certification Date: 07/26/2018

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