Online Application for Nonimmigrant Visa

Forms and Documents

Document Name	Status
Form DS-156 Online Application for Nonimmigrant Visa Form and Instruction	Unchanged
Non-Substantive Change Request to Eliminate Upload Functionality for DS-160.docx Justification for No Material/Nonsubstantive Change	2020-11-30
2019 Non-Substantive Change Request for Two-Phase Roll Out.docx Justification for No Material/Nonsubstantive Change	2019-05-02
Final - DS-160 Supporting Statement 4-11-2019.docx Supporting Statement A	2019-04-11
NIV Legal Authorities.doc Supplementary Document	2018-08-29

IC Document Collections

IC ID	Document Title	Status
184376	Online Application for Nonimmigrant Visa Form and Instruction	Unchanged

ICR Details

OMB Control No: 1405-0182	ICR Reference No: 202011-1405-005
Status: Received in OIRA	Previous ICR Reference No: 201905-1405-001
Agency/Subagency: STATE/AFA	Agency Tracking No:
Title: Online Application for Nonimmigrant Visa
Type of Information Collection: No material or nonsubstantive change to a currently approved collection	Common Form ICR:  No
Type of Review Request: Regular	Date Submitted to OIRA: 11/30/2020

	Requested	Previously Approved
Expiration Date	04/30/2022	04/30/2022
Responses	14,000,000	14,000,000
Time Burden (Hours)	21,000,000	21,000,000
Cost Burden (Dollars)	70,000,000	70,000,000

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Abstract: The Online Application for Nonimmigrant Visa (DS-160) is used to collect biographical information from individuals seeking a nonimmigrant visa. The consular officer uses the information collected to determine the applicant's eligibility for a visa.

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Authorizing Statute(s): US Code: 8 USC 1101et seq 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 13807	03/30/2018
30-day Notice:	Federal Register Citation:	Citation Date:
	83 FR 43951	08/28/2018
Did the Agency receive public comments on this ICR? Yes

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

IC Title	Form No.	Form Name
Online Application for Nonimmigrant Visa	DS-156	CONSOLIDATED NONIMMIGRANT VISA APPLICATION

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ICR Summary of Burden

	Total Request	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	14,000,000	14,000,000	0	0	0	0
Annual Time Burden (Hours)	21,000,000	21,000,000	0	0	0	0
Annual Cost Burden (Dollars)	70,000,000	70,000,000	0	0	0	0

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

Burden Increase Due to:

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

Burden Reduction Due to:

Short Statement: Currently, the online application and paper application are approved under two separate collections. With this renewal, the Department seeks to combine these into a single collection. Upon approval, the Department will seek to discontinue OMB Control Number 1405-0018, the existing collection for form DS-156. As a result of the additional questions detailed below, the Department is increasing its burden estimate by 15 minutes to accommodate the additional time a visa applicant will spend completing the collection. This and a slight increase in the number of forms received resulted in an overall burden increase for the collection.

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Annual Cost to Federal Government: $1,062,740,000

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? No

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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: 11/30/2020

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