Request for Certification of Adult Victims of Human Trafficking
Revision of a currently approved collection
No
Regular
Approved without change
06/09/2025
04/30/2025
table that charts list comparision
Inventory as of this Action
Requested
Previously Approved
06/30/2028
36 Months From Approved
06/30/2025
623
0
433
624
0
433
0
0
0
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) provides letters of certification to foreign national victims of severe forms of trafficking in persons under the authority of the Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2000 (TVPA), as amended 22 U.S.C. Section 7105(b)(1)(C) and (E). HHS delegated this authority to the Administration for Children and Families (ACF) Office of Trafficking in Persons (OTIP).
OTIP developed a form for potential victims and their advocates, including case managers, attorneys, law enforcement officers, service providers, and other representatives to provide the required information for certification to HHS in accordance with the TVPA of 2000, as amended. The information provided through the completion of the RFC form is essential for OTIP to fulfill its mandate in accordance with the TVPA of 2000, as amended and to issue Certification Letters to eligible foreign national adults. Without a form, OTIP would be limited to notifying potential requesters about the assistance the law permits and providing a phone number or email address at OTIP for further information. An OTIP Case Specialist would then have to describe to each potential requester the information sought in the form, which would likely require multiple follow-up calls and ultimately delay assistance.
US Code:
22 USC 7105
Name of Law: Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2000, as amended
OTIP continuously monitors the RFCs received and certification letters issued. The fluctuation in certification letters primarily reflects changing patterns in law enforcement investigations by DHS. In FY 2024, ACF issued 466 certification letters, a 15 percent decrease from FY 2023. Burden estimates have been calculated based on the average number of RFCs received and certification letters issued over the last two periods that the information collection has been in effect (Fiscal Year 2019 to 2024), where OTIP received approximately 8 to 12 RFCs per week (416 to 624 RFCs per year) and issued an average of 525 certification letters per year. The time to complete the RFC remains the same and no changes are proposed.
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:
(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;
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.