Tab 1 Non-Substantive Change Justification

Justification for Non-Substantive Change Request

Application for Immigrant Visa and Alien Registration

OMB Number 1405-0015

DS-230

Form DS-230, Application for Immigrant Visa and Alien Registration, is intended to be the paper-based immigrant visa application used by noncitizens overseas. Almost all immigrant visa applicants, however, use the Form DS-260, Electronic Immigrant Visa Application (OMB Control Number 1405-0185), and consequently, the primary use of the DS-230 is to collect biographical information from individuals seeking Cuban Family Reunification Parole. While this discretionary parole authority is a function of the Department of Homeland Security, in order to qualify an applicant must demonstrate that he or she is eligible for an immigrant visa.

The Department also uses the DS-230 in rare circumstances in lieu of the DS-260. Apart from some variance in language, there is little difference in the information collected by the electronic and paper versions of this form. The only questions present on the DS-260 that are absent on the DS-230 are the requests for social media identifiers, relevant social media platforms, and foreign travel history, both of which will be added to the DS-230 in the upcoming PRA renewal cycle.

The Department wishes to make a non-substantive change combining these forms under a single OMB number, 1405-0185. Since the DS-230 and DS-260 are different versions of the same information collection, combining them under a single OMB number will simplify form management, removing potentially duplicative processes and allowing for both versions of the collection to be located at one point of reference. Combining these collections under a single OMB number will not result in any additional burden to the public.