Department of State December 2006 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The Office of Academic Exchange Programs of the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs announces an open competition to administer the FY2007 Near East and South Asia Undergraduate Exchange Program. Consortia of accredited, post-secondary educational institutions and public and private non-profit organizations meeting the provisions described in Internal Revenue Code section 26 U.S.C. 501(c)(3) in the United States may submit proposals to organize and carry out academic exchange activities for students from underrepresented sectors in the Middle East, North Africa and South Asia (eligible countries and locales are listed below in the Purpose section). The grantee organization will be responsible for the following aspects of the program: placement of no less than 150 foreign students at accredited U.S. institutions for a semester or academic year, student travel to the U.S., orientation, enrichment programming, advising, monitoring and support, pre-return activities, evaluation, and follow-up with program alumni. It is anticipated that the total amount of funding for FY2007 administrative and program costs will be $3,000,000.

Notice is hereby given of the following determinations: Pursuant to the authority vested in me by the Act of October 19, 1965 (79 Stat. 985; 22 U.S.C. 2459), Executive Order 12047 of March 27, 1978, the Foreign Affairs Reform and Restructuring Act of 1998 (112 Stat. 2681, et seq.; 22 U.S.C. 6501 note, et seq.), Delegation of Authority No. 234 of October 1, 1999, Delegation of Authority No. 236 of October 19, 1999, as amended, and Delegation of Authority No. 257 of April 15, 2003 [68 FR 19875], I hereby determine that the objects to be included in the exhibition ``Dead Sea Scrolls'', imported from abroad for temporary exhibition within the United States, are of cultural significance. The objects are imported pursuant to loan agreements with the foreign owners or custodians. I also determine that the exhibition or display of the exhibit objects at the San Diego Natural History Museum, San Diego, California, from on or about June 29, 2007, until on or about January 15, 2008, and at possible additional venues yet to be determined, is in the national interest. Public Notice of these Determinations is ordered to be published in the Federal Register.

Notice is hereby given of the following determinations: Pursuant to the authority vested in me by the Act of October 19, 1965 (79 Stat. 985; 22 U.S.C. 2459), Executive Order 12047 of March 27, 1978, the Foreign Affairs Reform and Restructuring Act of 1998 (112 Stat. 2681, et seq.; 22 U.S.C. 6501 note, et seq.), Delegation of Authority No. 234 of October 1, 1999, Delegation of Authority No. 236 of October 19, 1999, as amended, and Delegation of Authority No. 257 of April 15, 2003 [68 FR 19875], I hereby determine that the objects to be included in the exhibition ``Venice and the Islamic World, 828-1797'', imported from abroad for temporary exhibition within the United States, are of cultural significance. The objects are imported pursuant to loan agreements with the foreign owners or custodians. I also determine that the exhibition or display of the exhibit objects at The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, New York, from on or about March 26, 2007, until on or about July 8, 2007, and at possible additional venues yet to be determined, is in the national interest. Public Notice of these Determinations is ordered to be published in the Federal Register.

Notice is hereby given of the following determinations: Pursuant to the authority vested in me by the Act of October 19, 1965 (79 Stat. 985; 22 U.S.C. 2459), Executive Order 12047 of March 27, 1978, the Foreign Affairs Reform and Restructuring Act of 1998 (112 Stat. 2681, et seq.; 22 U.S.C. 6501 note, et seq.), Delegation of Authority No. 234 of October 1, 1999, Delegation of Authority No. 236 of October 19, 1999, as amended, and Delegation of Authority No. 257 of April 15, 2003 [68 FR 19875], I hereby determine that the objects to be included in the exhibition ``Comic Abstraction: Image-Breaking, Image- Making'', imported from abroad for temporary exhibition within the United States, are of cultural significance. The objects are imported pursuant to loan agreements with the foreign owners or custodians. I also determine that the exhibition or display of the exhibit objects at The Museum of Modern Art, New York, New York, beginning on or about March 4, 2007 until on or about June 11, 2007, and at possible additional venues yet to be determined, is in the national interest. Public Notice of these Determinations is ordered to be published in the Federal Register.

This final rule amends guidance to consular offices for the waiver of personal appearance of applicants for nonimmigrant visas contained at 22 CFR 41.102, to conform to the requirements of Section 222(h) of the Immigration and Nationality Act, as added by section 5301 of the Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004 (IRTPA). The final rule replaces the interim rule published in the Federal Register on July 7, 2003 and reflects legislation enacted subsequent to that rule.

The Department of State is seeking Office of Management and Budget (OMB) approval for the information collection described below. The purpose of this notice is to allow 60 days for public comment in the Federal Register preceding submission to OMB. We are conducting this process in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995. Title of Information Collection: Electronic Diversity Visa Entry Form. OMB Control Number: 1405-0153. Type of Request: Extension of Currently Approved Collection. Originating Office: Bureau of Consular Affairs, Office of Visa Services (CA/VO). Form Number: DS-5501. Respondents: Aliens entering the Diversity Visa Lottery. Estimated Number of Respondents: 6 million per year. Estimated Number of Responses: 6 million per year. Average Hours Per Response: 30 minutes. Total Estimated Burden: 3 million hours per year. Frequency: Once per entry. Obligation to Respond: Required to Obtain Benefits.

This document extends the comment period and provides an additional venue through which to make comments for the proposed regulation published in the Federal Register of Tuesday, October 17, 2006. The regulation relates to changes to the Department's Passport Fee Schedule, and defines the passport card.

Notice is hereby given of the following determinations: Pursuant to the authority vested in me by the Act of October 19, 1965 (79 Stat. 985; 22 U.S.C. 2459), Executive Order 12047 of March 27, 1978, the Foreign Affairs Reform and Restructuring Act of 1998 (112 Stat. 2681, et seq.; 22 U.S.C. 6501 note, et seq.), Delegation of Authority No. 234 of October 1, 1999, Delegation of Authority No. 236 of October 19, 1999, as amended, and Delegation of Authority No. 257 of April 15, 2003 [68 FR 19875], I hereby determine that the objects to be included in the exhibition ``The Temptations of Flora: Jan van Huysum (1682-1749)'', imported from abroad for temporary exhibition within the United States, are of cultural significance. The objects are imported pursuant to loan agreements with the foreign owners or custodians. I also determine that the exhibition or display of the exhibit objects at The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, in Houston, Texas, from on or about February 18, 2007, until on or about May 20, 2007, and at possible additional venues yet to be determined, is in the national interest. Public Notice of these Determinations is ordered to be published in the Federal Register.

The Office of Citizen Exchanges of the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs announces an open competition for grants that support exchanges and build relationships between U.S. non- profit organizations and civil society and cultural groups in Africa, East Asia, Europe, the Near East, North Africa, South Central Asia and the Western Hemisphere. U.S. public and non-profit organizations meeting the provisions described in Internal Revenue code section 26 U.S.C. 501(c)(3) may submit proposals that support the goals of The Professional Exchanges and Cultural Program. Projects should promote mutual understanding and partnerships between key professional and cultural groups in the United States and counterpart groups in other countries through multi-phased exchanges taking place over one to two years. Proposals should encourage citizen engagement in current issues, with a particular focus on youth and those who influence them, and promote the development of democratic societies and institutions, with a view toward creating a more stable world. To the fullest extent possible, programs should be two-way exchanges supporting roughly equal numbers of participants from the U.S. and foreign countries. Proposed projects should transform institutional and individual understanding of key issues, foster dialogue, share expertise, and develop capacity. Through these people-to-people exchanges, the Bureau seeks to break down stereotypes that divide peoples, to promote good governance, to contribute to conflict prevention and management, and to build respect for cultural expression and identity in a world. Projects should be structured to allow American professionals and their international counterparts in eligible countries to develop a common dialogue for dealing with shared challenges and concerns. Projects should include current or potential leaders who will effect positive change in their communities. Exchange participants may include artists, community leaders, elected and professional government officials, religious leaders, educators, and proponents of democratic ideals and institutions, including for example, the media and judiciary, or others who influence the way in which different communities approach these issues. The Bureau is especially interested in engaging socially and economically diverse groups that may not have had extensive contact with counterpart institutions in the United States and particularly seeks proposals that engage educators or other groups that directly influence youth in innovative ways. Applicants may not submit proposals that address more than one region or that include countries not eligible under a specific theme designated in the RFGP. For the purposes of this competition, eligible regions are Africa, East Asia, Europe, the Near East, North Africa, South Central Asia, and the Western Hemisphere. No guarantee is made or implied that grants will be awarded in all themes and for all countries listed. Please refer to section III.3 for information on eligibility requirements.

Notice is hereby given of the following determinations: Pursuant to the authority vested in me by the Act of October 19, 1965 (79 Stat. 985; 22 U.S.C. 2459), Executive Order 12047 of March 27, 1978, the Foreign Affairs Reform and Restructuring Act of 1998 (112 Stat. 2681, et seq.; 22 U.S.C. 6501 note, et seq.), Delegation of Authority No. 234 of October 1, 1999, Delegation of Authority No. 236 of October 19, 1999, as amended, and Delegation of Authority No. 257 of April 15, 2003 [68 FR 19875], I hereby determine that the objects to be included in the exhibition ``George Stubbs (1724-1806): British Painter'', imported from abroad for temporary exhibition within the United States, are of cultural significance. The objects are imported pursuant to loan agreements with the foreign owners or custodians. I also determine that the exhibition or display of the exhibit objects at The Frick Collection, New York, New York, from on or about February 14, 2007, until on or about May 27, 2007, and at possible additional venues yet to be determined, is in the national interest. Public Notice of these Determinations is ordered to be published in the Federal Register.

The Branch for the Study of the United States, Office of Academic Exchange Programs, Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, invites proposal submissions for the design and implementation of four Fusion Arts Exchange programs. The programs will take place over the course of 37 days beginning the second week of July 2007, focused on the themes of Music Composition and Performance, Digital Media and Computer-Assisted Design, Screenwriting and Film Production, and Sports Management, respectively. These programs should provide a multinational group of outstanding undergraduate students a deeper understanding of U.S. society, culture, values and institutions, and should develop their knowledge of and abilities in the above- mentioned professional fields. Each program will host a total of 15 international participants from five Bureau-designated countries, as well as three to five American undergraduate students who will participate alongside their international peers. Prospective applicants may only apply to host one of the four programs listed under this competition; host institutions may not implement more than one Fusion Arts Exchange program concurrently.

The Department of State has submitted the following information collection request to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for approval in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995. Title of Information Collection: American Citizens Services Internet Based Registration System (IBRS). OMB Control Number: 1405-0152. Type of Request: Revision of Currently Approved Collection. The new version of IBRS includes the following data-related changes: Registrants are now able to add multiple addresses, phones and e-mails; there is no longer a short-term/long-term distinction, so all users are required to select a U.S. embassy or consulate when registering a trip; registrants can now sign up for embassy/consulate specific e-mail lists and this revision provides the option of completing a paper version of the registration which may be e-mailed, faxed, mailed to U.S. embassies or consulates or executed in person to be hand entered in the IBRS database by the U.S. embassy or consulate. Originating Office: CA/OCS. Form Number: DS-4024, DS-4024e. Respondents: American Citizens Traveling Abroad. Estimated Number of Respondents: 500,000. Estimated Number of Responses: 500,000. Average Hours Per Response: 10 minutes. Total Estimated Burden: 83,333. Frequency: On occasion. Obligation to Respond: Voluntary.