Supporting Statement
Electronic Visa Update System (EVUS)
1651-0139
A. Justification
Explain the circumstances that make the collection of information necessary. Identify any legal or administrative requirements that necessitate the collection. Attach a copy of the appropriate section of each statute and regulation mandating or authorizing the collection of information.
Because changes to biographical and eligibility elements could impact whether an individual may be able to successfully apply for admission into the United States, DHS believes it would be beneficial to have a mechanism for obtaining this updated information in advance of the individual’s travel to the United States when the Secretary, in consultation with the Secretary of State, determines that it is warranted. Having a means for regularly collecting updated information, before the alien embarks on travel to the United States and without requiring aliens to apply for a visa on a more frequent basis, would be valuable in assuring a robust traveler screening and verification process and would cut down on the number of visa holders that are found inadmissible at ports of entry.
Given these concerns and considerations, DHS has developed the Electronic Visa Update System (“EVUS”), which provides a mechanism through which information updates can be obtained from nonimmigrant aliens who hold a passport issued by an identified country containing a U.S. nonimmigrant visa of a designated category. EVUS will provide for greater efficiencies in the screening of international travelers by allowing DHS to identify nonimmigrant aliens who may be inadmissible before they depart for the United States, thereby increasing security and reducing traveler delays upon arrival at U.S. ports of entry. EVUS will aid DHS in facilitating legitimate travel while also enhancing public safety and national security.
Initially, the program will be limited to nonimmigrant aliens who hold unrestricted, maximum validity B-1 (business visitor), B-2 (visitor for pleasure), or combination B-1/B-2 visas, which are generally valid for 10 years, contained within a passport issued by the People’s Republic of China. The PRC’s inclusion in this program was noted in the arrangement that allowed the November 12, 2014 increase in reciprocity in these visa categories from one to ten years.
CBP will implement EVUS capabilities in a manner that allows the Secretary of State and the Secretary of Homeland Security to use their statutory authority under the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) related to visa revocation and conditions of admission and entry for aliens seeking to enter the United States. The implementation of the EVUS framework is based on the following authorities:
The Secretary of State has the duty to administer and enforce immigration laws related to “the powers, duties, and functions of diplomatic and consular officers of the United States.” INA § 104(a). In carrying out these duties, the Secretary of State, in concert with the Secretary of Homeland Security, is authorized to establish regulations, prescribe forms and reports, and perform necessary acts. Id.; see also 6 U.S.C. § 236(b)(1) (“Notwithstanding section 104(a) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1104(a)) or any other provision of law, and except as provided in subsection (c) of this section, the Secretary [of Homeland Security] (1) shall be vested exclusively with all authorities to issue regulations with respect to, administer, and enforce the provisions of such Act, and of all other immigration and nationality laws, relating to the functions of consular officers of the United States in connection with the granting or refusal of visas…”).
Section 221(a)(1)(B) of the INA authorizes the Department of State (DOS) to issue nonimmigrant visas to foreign nationals. Section 221(c) provides that “[a] nonimmigrant visa shall be valid for such periods as shall be by regulations prescribed,” and section 221(i) authorizes the Secretary of State to revoke visas at any time, in his or her discretion. DOS has exercised 221(i) authority when information surfaces after visa issuance that calls into question the subject’s continued eligibility for a visa. 9 Foreign Affairs Manual (FAM) 403.11-5(B). Failure to comply with EVUS requirements do not render the subject ineligible for a visa. However, because DHS regulations require EVUS compliance as a condition of admission or entry established by DHS pursuant to INA § 214(a)(1) and 215(a)(1), when a nonimmigrant visa holder fails to comply with EVUS, DOS reasonably may exercise its visa revocation authority under Section 222(i) of the INA in the form of an automatic provisional revocation. That automatic provisional revocation is reversed automatically when the visa holder complies with EVUS.
INA § 214(a)(1) specifically authorizes DHS to prescribe by regulation the conditions for an alien’s admission and additionally, aliens’ entry into the United States may be limited and conditioned by DHS under INA § 215(a)(1).
Section 214(a)(1) of the INA provides that “[t]he admission to the United States of any alien as a nonimmigrant shall be for such time and under such conditions as the Attorney General may by regulations prescribe….”
An applicant for admission has the burden to prove he or she is clearly and beyond doubt entitled to be admitted and is not inadmissible under section 212 of the INA. INA §§ 240(c)(2), 291; 8 C.F.R. § 235.1(f)(1). Immigration officers determine whether any grounds of inadmissibility apply at the time an alien is inspected. 8 C.F.R. § 235.1(a), (f)(1). Moreover, an officer has the authority to require an alien to state under oath any information sought by an immigration officer regarding the purposes and intentions of the alien in seeking admission, including the alien’s intended length of stay, intent to remain permanently, and potential grounds of inadmissibility. INA § 235(a)(5).
INA § 215(a)(1) states “[u]nless otherwise ordered by the President, it shall be unlawful for any alien to depart from or enter or attempt to depart from or enter the United States except under such reasonable rules, regulations, and orders, and subject to such limitations and exceptions as the President may prescribe.” INA § 215(a)(1) (emphasis added). Subsequently, the President assigned his functions under INA § 215 with respect to aliens to the Secretary of Homeland Security. Exec. Order No. 13323, 69 Fed. Reg. 241 (Dec. 30, 2003). INA § 215(a)(2) prohibits the transport from or into the United States of individuals for which there is “knowledge or reasonable cause to believe that the departure or entry of such other person is forbidden” by INA § 215. INA § 215(a)(1) provides a basis for denial of entry, provided that restrictions “meet the test of reasonableness.” Immigration Laws and Iranian Students, 4A Op. Off. Legal Counsel 133, 140 (1979). Together, INA § 215(a) and DOS visa revocation authorities under INA § 221(i) may permit the Government to require EVUS compliance in advance of travel.
Recent Change:
DHS requested an emergency approval to revise this information collection to include North Korea to the list in the following existing questions as specified below. North Korea was recently added to state sponsors of terrorism list.
Have you traveled to, or been present in, Iraq, Syria, Iran, North Korea, Sudan, Yemen, Libya or Somalia on or after March 1, 2011?
2. Indicate how, by whom, and for what purpose the information is to be used. Except for a new collection, indicate the actual use the agency has made of the information received from the current collection.
The data collected through EVUS provides information required to support DHS mission requirements as they relate to the screening of alien visitors to the United States. The information required for EVUS enrollment is information that DHS, in consultation with DOS, has deemed necessary to evaluate whether a covered alien’s travel to the United States poses a law enforcement or security risk. The timely and accurate capture of updated traveler information helps ensure that DHS has the most recent and accurate information for such an evaluation.
EVUS must interoperate with secure government vetting systems, visa application processes, and systems that support inspections at POEs. EVUS must also provide live data sharing feeds to other federal partners.
3. Describe whether, and to what extent, the collection of information involves the use of automated, electronic, mechanical, or other technological collection techniques or other forms of information technology, e.g. permitting electronic submission of responses, and the basis for the decision for adopting this means of collection. Also describe any consideration of using information technology to reduce burden.
The collection of data in EVUS is automated via www.EVUS.gov.
4. Describe efforts to identify duplication. Show specifically why any similar information already available cannot be used or modified for use for the purposes described in Item 2 above.
There is no duplication, as this information has not been collected by CBP prior to this collection. But the Department of State collects a visa holder’s biographic and other information on the DS-160 as part of the visa application process. EVUS allows visa holders in designated visa categories from designated countries to enroll and then update biographic and other information found originally on the DS-160 every two years or when the visa holder’s passport expires. When initial EVUS enrollment occurs within 90-days of visa issuance, required information that is also available on the DS-160 will auto-populate into EVUS, on those data elements that are the same, for ease of the customer use. Enrollments that occur 90 days past visa issuance will require enrollees to complete the entire EVUS form given that it is more likely that required information may have changed.
5. If the collection of information impacts small businesses or other small entities, describe any methods used to minimize burden.
This information collection does not have an impact on small businesses or other small entities.
6. Describe consequences to Federal program or policy activities if the collection is not conducted or is conducted less frequently.
CBP would be unable to ensure that it has current, valid biographical information available to determine eligibility for citizens and nationals of designated countries traveling in designated visa categories to the United States, which would hinder CBP’s ability to assess admissibility, including potential law enforcement and national security risk.
7. Explain any special circumstances related to this collection of information.
This information is collected in a manner consistent with the guidelines of 5 CFR 1320.5(d)(2).
If applicable, provide a copy and identify the date and page number of publication in the Federal Register of the agency's notice, required by 5 CFR 1320.8(d), soliciting comments on the information collection prior to submission to OMB. Summarize public comments received in response to that notice and describe actions taken by the agency in response to these comments. Specifically address comments received on cost and hour burden.
Public comments were solicited through two Federal Register notices including a 60-day notice published on August 15, 2019 (84 FR 41729) on which no comments were received and a 30-day notice published on October 21, 2019 (84 FR 56197) on which no comments were received.
9. Explain any decision to provide any payment or gift to respondents, other than remuneration of contractors or grantees.
There is no offer of a monetary or material value for this information collection.
10. Describe any assurance of confidentiality provided to respondents and the basis for the assurance in statute, regulation, or agency policy.
A PIA for the Electronic Visa Update System (EVUS), dated August 25, 2016, and a SORN for the Electronic Visa Update System, dated September 1, 2016 (81 FR 60371), will be included in this ICR. No assurances of confidentiality are provided to respondents
11. Provide additional justification for any questions of a sensitive nature, such as sexual behavior and attitudes, religious beliefs, and other matters that are commonly considered private. This justification should include the reasons why the agency considers the questions necessary, the specific uses to be made of the information, the explanation to be given to persons from whom the information is requested, and any steps to be taken to obtain their consent.
As a result of Executive Order 13295 which was made on July 31, 2014 which includes the list of quarantinable communicable diseases included in Section 264(b) of Title 42, CBP proposes to ask question #1 on the yes/no questions of the EVUS application:
Do you have a physical or mental disorder; or are you a drug abuser or addict; or do you currently have any of the following diseases (communicable diseases are specified pursuant to section 361(b) of the Public Health Service Act):
• Cholera
• Diphtheria
• Tuberculosis, infectious
• Plague
• Smallpox
• Yellow Fever
• Viral Hemorrhagic Fevers, including Ebola,
Lassa, Marburg, Crimean-Congo
• Severe acute respiratory illnesses capable of transmission to other persons and likely to cause mortality.
The information will not be public, it will only be used for admissibility, security, and law enforcement purposes, but is vital for determining whether or not a person can travel to the United States and/or be admitted to the US.
Provide estimates of the hour burden of the collection of information.
INFORMATION COLLECTION |
TOTAL ANNUAL BURDEN HOURS |
NO. OF RESPONDENTS |
NO. OF RESPONSES PER RESPONDENT |
TOTAL RESPONSES |
TIME PER RESPONSE |
EVUS |
1,499,492 |
3,595,904 |
1 |
3,595,904 |
25 minutes (0.417 hours) |
Public Cost
The estimated cost to the respondents is $69,126,581. This is based on the estimated burden hours (1,499,492) multiplied by (x) the average hourly wage rate for all-purpose air travelers ($46.10). CBP calculated this wage rate by adjusting the U.S. Department of Transportation’s recommended hourly values of travel time savings for intercity, all-purpose travel by air and high-speed rail ($44.30 in 2013 dollars) to 2017 dollars using DOT’s recommended annual growth rate of 1.0 percent.1
13. Provide an estimate of the total annual cost burden to respondents or record keepers resulting from the collection of information.
The recordkeeping burden and costs are described in Item #12 of this Statement. There are no capitalization costs associated with this collection.
14. Provide estimates of annualized cost to the Federal Government. Also provide a description of the method used to estimate cost, which should include quantification of hours, operational expenses (such as equipment overhead, printing, and support staff), and any other expense that would not have been incurred without this collection of information.
According to CBP’s Electronic Visa Update System (EVUS) Fee Study, the estimated annual cost to the Federal Government associated with this collection of information is $26,681,072. This overall cost includes EVUS-related staffing, training, systems engineering and operation, and other non-labor expenses.
15. Explain the reasons for any program changes or adjustments reported in Items 12 or 13.
There has been no increase or decrease in the estimated annual burden hours previously reported for this information collection.
16. For collection of information whose results will be published, outline plans for tabulation, and publication.
This information collection will not be published for statistical purposes.
17. If seeking approval to not display the expiration date, explain the reasons that displaying the expiration date would be inappropriate.
CBP will display the expiration date for OMB approval of this information collection.
18. “Certification for Paperwork Reduction Act Submissions.”
CBP does not request an exception to the certification of this information collection.
No statistical methods were employed.
1 Source: U.S. Department of Transportation, Office of Transportation Policy. The Value of Travel Time Savings: Departmental Guidance for Conducting Economic Evaluations Revision 2 (2015 Update), “Table 4 (Revision 2-corrected): Recommended Hourly Values of Travel Time Savings for Intercity, All-Purpose Travel by Air and High-Speed Rail.” April 29, 2015. Available at http://www.transportation.gov/sites/dot.gov/files/docs/Revised%20Departmental%20Guidance%20on%20Valuation%20of%20Travel%20Time%20in%20Economic%20Analysis.pdf. Accessed June 15, 2015.
| File Type | application/vnd.openxmlformats-officedocument.wordprocessingml.document |
| File Modified | 0000-00-00 |
| File Created | 2021-01-15 |