Justification for Nonsubstantive Change

NON-SUBSTANTIVE CHANGE REQUEST

ELECTRONIC APPLICATION FOR IMMIGRANT VISA AND ALIEN REGISTRATION; AND ONLINE APPLICATION FOR NONIMMIGRANT VISA

OMB CONTROL NUMBERS 1405-0182 AND 1405-0185

The Department is revising the DS-160, Online Application for Nonimmigrant Visa, and DS-260, Electronic Application for Immigrant Visa and Alien Registration. The Office of Management and Budget’s (OMB) Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs (OIRA) approved the Department’s revisions to both of these forms on April 11, 2019. The Department seeks a non-substantive change to deploy the approved new fields in two phases due to the time needed to develop and implement necessary systems and testing requirements.

The first phase of updates to the DS-160 and DS-260 will include the new field that requires applicants to provide identifiers used for any of the listed social media platforms during the five years preceding the date of application.

The second phase of updates to the DS-160 and DS-260 will include the following added fields:

• An optional free-text field for applicants to provide identifiers associated with any other social media platforms during the five years preceding the date of application, other than those platforms listed.

• Five years of previously used telephone numbers, email addresses, and international travel;

• All prior immigration violations; and

• Whether specified family members have been involved in terrorist activities.

The second phase will also include revisions to the statement presented at the forms’ “Sign and Submit” stage with information related to records within the Federal Bureau of Investigation databases and information regarding the immigrant and nonimmigrant visa medical examination. This phase will also include revised information regarding visa medical examinations that some applicants may have to undergo. The Confidentiality Statement will add an additional line that reads: “The information asked for on this form is requested pursuant to Section 222 of the Immigration and Nationality Act.” Additionally, E-1 and E-2 applicants completing the DS-160 indicating they are a manager, supervisor, or essential employee will be asked whether a principal E-1 or E-2 treaty trader applicant was already issued a visa; an affirmative response will eliminate the trigger for those applicants to complete the E business profile. This phase will also provide immigrant visa applicants from countries where female genital mutilation/cutting (FGM/C) is prevalent with a link to an electronic pamphlet that covers the illegality of the practice in the United States, with a mandatory check box for applicants to verify that they were provided the link.

There would be no burden increase expected from this change. A revised form is not attached, as it is still in development.