Refugee Survey Gets Annual Renewal, No Questions Added
Published Date: 4/9/2026
Notice
Summary
The Office of Refugee Resettlement wants to keep running its yearly survey of refugee families who arrived in the last five years, with no changes to the questions for now. This helps the government plan and report on refugee programs without extra costs or delays. Public comments are open until June 8, 2026, and the survey materials will be available in 20 languages to reach more people.
Analyzed Economic Effects
5 provisions identified: 4 benefits, 1 costs, 0 mixed.
Annual Refugee Survey Continued Through 2027
The Office of Refugee Resettlement will continue the Annual Survey of Refugees (ASR) through 2027 to complete the 2025 ASR and to field the 2026 ASR. The ASR samples refugee households who entered the U.S. in the previous five fiscal years and the current form will not change for 2025 or 2026.
Survey Materials Translated into 20 Languages
The ASR information collection materials will be translated into 20 languages so more respondents can access the survey in languages other than English; the English version remains the official authoritative version. The translations are intended to reach a broader set of refugee households.
Respondent Time Burden and Sample Size
ACF estimates 1,500 respondents for the ASR with an average of 0.83 hours per Annual Survey response (1,245 hours) plus 1,500 Introduction Letter/Postcard contacts at 0.05 hours each (75 hours), for an estimated total annual burden of 1,320 hours.
Online Survey Testing and Future Burden Reduction
ORR is testing the feasibility of an online version of the ASR and plans to submit a revision request in 2027; ORR states those revisions are expected to reduce respondent burden in future years.
Survey Findings Used for Planning and Reporting
Data from the ASR are used to meet ORR's congressional reporting requirements under the Refugee Act of 1980 and are used for program planning, policy-making, budgeting, and made available to the public.
Your PRIA Score
Personalized for You
How does this regulation affect your finances?
Sign up for a PRIA Policy Scan to see your personalized alignment score for this federal register document and every other regulation we track. We analyze your financial profile against policy provisions to show you exactly what matters to your wallet.
Key Dates
Department and Agencies
Related Federal Register Documents
2026-09383 — Restoring Flexibility To Support Head Start Program Access
The government wants to give Head Start programs more freedom by removing some strict rules about staff wages and benefits. This change aims to save over $2 billion and help more kids get quality early education. If you want to share your thoughts, make sure to comment by June 11, 2026!
2026-06632 — Work Participation Rate Calculation Changes: Recalibration of the Caseload Reduction Credit and Prohibition of Small Checks in Work Participation Rate Calculation
The government is updating how it counts work participation for families getting TANF help. They’re changing the base year for measuring progress from 2005 to 2015 and won’t count tiny monthly payments under $35 anymore. These changes, required by a 2023 law, could affect states’ reported success and start soon, so everyone should pay attention!
2026-09749 — Submission for Office of Management and Budget Review; Child Care and Development Fund (CCDF) Consumer Education Website and Reports of Serious Injuries and Death
The government is asking to keep the Child Care Consumer Education website and serious injury/death reporting rules for three more years, with no changes to how states and providers report. This affects all states, DC, and territories that get child care funds, helping families stay informed and safe. Comments are open until June 15, 2026, and the paperwork burden has been slightly lowered.
2026-09620 — Proposed Information Collection Activity; Community Services Block Grant Disaster Supplemental Annual Report (New Collection)
The government wants to start collecting a new annual report about how disaster relief money from Hurricanes Fiona and Ian is being used to help low-income families recover. This affects states like Florida, South Carolina, and Puerto Rico, plus any future disaster funding. They’re asking for public feedback by July 13, 2026, to make sure the report works well without causing extra hassle or costs.
2026-09623 — Proposed Information Collection Activity; Guidance for Tribal Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) Program, ACF-123
Tribal groups running Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) programs will see clearer, simpler instructions for submitting their plans. These updates cut the time it takes to respond by about a third, making the process faster and easier. Comments on these changes are open until July 13, 2026, and the guidance extension lasts three more years with no extra costs.
2026-08934 — Proposed Information Collection Activity; Federal Case Registry
The government wants to keep using the Federal Case Registry, a big database that helps states track and manage child support cases across the country, for three more years with no changes. State child support agencies are the ones involved, and the only ask is for public comments by July 6, 2026. This extension won’t cost extra or change how things work but keeps the system running smoothly.
Previous / Next Documents
Previous: 2026-06807 — Advisory Committee on the Medical Uses of Isotopes: Meeting Notice
The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission is holding a meeting on April 20-21, 2026, to talk about important updates in medical uses of radioactive materials. They’ll discuss new safety rules, how AI can help, and possible changes to committee members. This affects doctors, patients, and anyone involved in medical radiation, with no immediate cost changes but important safety improvements coming.
Next: 2026-06810 — Notice of Intended Repatriation: Field Museum, Chicago, IL
The Field Museum in Chicago plans to return 24 important cultural items, like feast mats and sacred bundles, to the Osage Nation starting May 11, 2026. These items have deep cultural meaning and were collected over a century ago. If you’re connected to the Osage Nation or related groups, you can request repatriation by contacting the museum.