Electronic Visa Update System (EVUS), 10225-10226 [2022-03815]

Agencies

• DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY
• U.S. Customs and Border Protection

[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 36 (Wednesday, February 23, 2022)]
[Notices]
[Pages 10225-10226]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2022-03815]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

U.S. Customs and Border Protection

[1651-0139]


Electronic Visa Update System (EVUS)

AGENCY: U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), Department of 
Homeland Security.

ACTION: 30-day notice and request for comments; revision of an existing 
collection of information.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Customs and Border 
Protection will be submitting the following information collection 
request to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and 
approval in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA). 
The information collection is published in the Federal Register to 
obtain comments from the public and affected agencies.

DATES: Comments are encouraged and must be submitted (no later than 
March 25, 2022) to be assured of consideration.

ADDRESSES: Written comments and/or suggestions regarding the item(s) 
contained in this notice should be sent within 30 days of publication 
of this notice to www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAMain. Find this 
particular information collection by selecting ``Currently under 30-day 
Review--Open for Public Comments'' or by using the search function.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Requests for additional PRA 
information should be directed to Seth Renkema, Chief, Economic Impact 
Analysis Branch, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Office of Trade, 
Regulations

[[Page 10226]]

and Rulings, 90 K Street NE, 10th Floor, Washington, DC 20229-1177, 
Telephone number 202-325-0056 or via email [email protected]. Please 
note that the contact information provided here is solely for questions 
regarding this notice. Individuals seeking information about other CBP 
programs should contact the CBP National Customer Service Center at 
877-227-5511, (TTY) 1-800-877-8339, or CBP website at https://www.cbp.gov/.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: CBP invites the general public and other 
Federal agencies to comment on the proposed and/or continuing 
information collections pursuant to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 
(44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.). This proposed information collection was 
previously published in the Federal Register (86 FR 64507) on November 
18, 2021, allowing for a 60-day comment period. This notice allows for 
an additional 30 days for public comments. This process is conducted in 
accordance with 5 CFR 1320.8. Written comments and suggestions from the 
public and affected agencies should address one or more of the 
following four points: (1) Whether the proposed collection of 
information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of 
the agency, including whether the information will have practical 
utility; (2) the accuracy of the agency's estimate of the burden of the 
proposed collection of information, including the validity of the 
methodology and assumptions used; (3) suggestions to enhance the 
quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and 
(4) suggestions to minimize the burden of the collection of information 
on those who are to respond, including through the use of appropriate 
automated, electronic, mechanical, or other technological collection 
techniques or other forms of information technology, e.g., permitting 
electronic submission of responses. The comments that are submitted 
will be summarized and included in the request for approval. All 
comments will become a matter of public record.

Overview of This Information Collection

    Title: Electronic Visa Update System (EVUS).
    OMB Number: 1651-0139.
    Form Number: N/A.
    Current Actions: Revision of an existing information collection 
with no change in burden.
    Type of Review: Revision.
    Affected Public: Individuals.
    Abstract: DHS developed the Electronic Visa Update System (EVUS) to 
assure robust screening of foreign nationals prior to travel to the 
United States. EVUS provides for robust traveler screening and 
verification to better identify foreign nationals who may be 
inadmissible to the United States. This results in enhanced national 
security, improved public safety, and a reduced number of delays upon 
arrival in the United States, all while facilitating legitimate travel.
    Initially, the program is limited to nonimmigrant aliens presenting 
passports issued by the People's Republic of China (PRC) containing 
unrestricted, maximum validity B-1 (business visitor), B-2 (visitor for 
pleasure), or combination B-1/B-2 visas, generally valid for 10 years. 
PRC membership in EVUS became possible on November 12, 2014, when, in a 
reciprocal agreement, the U.S. Department of State expanded the 
validity of U.S. visitor visas issued to PRC nationals from one to ten 
years.
    To ensure compliance with the Visa Waiver Program Improvement and 
Terrorist Travel Prevention Act of 2015, Pub. L. 114-113, 129 Stat. 
2242, CBP will continuously update the application question with the 
list of nationals ineligible to travel to the United States under the 
VWP, as designated in accordance with section 217(a)(12) of the 
Immigration and Nationality Act, as amended (8 U.S.C. 1187(a)(12)).
    Recent Changes: On May 31, 2019, the Department of State updated 
its immigrant and nonimmigrant visa application forms to request 
additional information, specifically social media identifiers, from 
most U.S. visa applicants worldwide. As a result, DHS is changing the 
EVUS application social media data field from optional to mandatory. 
National security is the top priority when adjudicating EVUS 
applications, and every prospective traveler to the United States 
undergoes extensive security screening. CBP is continually working to 
find mechanisms to improve our screening processes to protect U.S. 
visitors while supporting legitimate travel to the United States. DHS 
already requests information on contacts, travel history, and family 
members from all EVUS applicants. Changing the social medial field to 
mandatory in the EVUS application will enhance our vetting capabilities 
and assist in confirming applicants' identities. While the field is 
mandatory, applicants will still have the ability to select ``none''.

Type of Information Collection: EVUS

    Estimated Number of Respondents: 3,595,904.
    Estimated Number of Annual Responses per Respondent: 1.
    Estimated Number of Total Annual Responses: 3,595,904.
    Estimated Time per Response: 25 minutes.
    Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours: 1,499,492.

    Dated: February 17, 2022.
Seth D. Renkema,
Branch Chief, Economic Impact Analysis Branch, U.S. Customs and Border 
Protection.
[FR Doc. 2022-03815 Filed 2-22-22; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE P