State Dept Seeks Input on Customer Experience Surveys
Published Date: 8/20/2026
Notice
Summary
The Department of State as part of its continuing effort to reduce paperwork and respondent burden, is announcing an opportunity for public comment on a new proposed collection of information by the Agency. Under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (PRA), Federal Agencies are required to publish notice in the Federal Register concerning each proposed collection of information, and to allow 60 days for public comment in response to the notice. This notice solicits comments on a proposed extension of this collection.
Analyzed Economic Effects
2 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 1 costs, 0 mixed.
Large-Scale Voluntary Feedback Collection
The Department of State is proposing to extend a voluntary information collection (Form DS-4318) to solicit customer opinions from people and organizations that interact with Federal agencies. The data may be collected by electronic means, mail, fax, telephone, interviews, observation, and will be used to create personas, customer journey maps, and summaries that can be displayed on performance.gov to help improve Federal services.
Estimated Time Burden on Respondents
The Department estimates 1,101,550 respondents annually for this collection, with response times ranging from 3 minutes for a survey to up to 1.5 hours for an interview, for an estimated total annual burden of 100,800 hours and an estimated total annual cost to the public of $0. Participation is described as strictly voluntary.
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Key Dates
Related Federal Register Documents
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The U.S. Department of State wants to update the rules that control the export of military gear and tech to focus only on the most sensitive stuff. They’re making the list clearer, removing some items, and adding new ways to skip licenses for certain exports. If you deal with defense exports, get ready to review these changes and send your thoughts by November 30, 2026!
2026-17655, Passports: Expanding Online Passport Renewal Overseas
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Good news for U.S. citizens and nationals who want to give up their citizenship! Starting April 13, 2026, the fee for processing a Certificate of Loss of Nationality drops from $2,350 to just $450. This big price cut makes it way easier and cheaper to handle this important paperwork at U.S. embassies and consulates.
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2025-14826, Visas: Visa Bond Pilot Program
The Department of State is launching a 12-month pilot program where some travelers applying for B-1/B-2 visas from certain countries might need to pay a bond up to $15,000. This applies to visitors from places with high visa overstays or special citizenship rules. The goal? To make sure folks follow visa rules and keep travel safe and fair.
2026-20082, International Traffic in Arms Regulations: Syria Country Policy Revision
Starting October 1, 2026, the U.S. will no longer automatically block defense trade licenses for Syria. Instead, companies and individuals can apply for permission to export or import defense-related items to or from Syria, and each request will be reviewed carefully. This change opens the door for case-by-case approvals, signaling a big shift for anyone dealing with defense trade involving Syria.
Previous / Next Documents
Previous: 2026-16968, Submission for OMB Review; Comments Request
Under the provisions of the Paperwork Reduction Act, agencies are required to publish a Notice in the Federal Register notifying the public that the agency is renewing an existing information collection for OMB review and approval and requests public review and comment on the submission. The agencies received no comments in response to the sixty (60) day notice. The purpose of this notice is to allow an additional thirty (30) days for public comments to be submitted. Comments are being solicited on the need for the information; the accuracy of the burden estimate; the quality, practical utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and ways to minimize reporting the burden, including automated collected techniques and uses of other forms of technology.
Next: 2026-16970, Agency Information Collection Activities: Requests for Comments; Clearance of a Renewed Approval of Information Collection: Flight Attendant Fatigue Risk Management Plan
The FAA wants to keep collecting info from airlines about their plans to manage flight attendant tiredness. This helps keep everyone safe by making sure flight attendants get enough rest. Airlines must submit these plans for FAA approval, and the public can comment until September 21, 2026. There’s no big cost change, just a smooth renewal of the current rules.