HHS Seeks Comments on Repatriation Forms for Stranded Americans
Published Date: 10/2/2026
Notice
Summary
The U.S. government wants to keep using and update 13 forms that help Americans who come back from tough situations abroad, like war or illness, and need short-term support. These forms help provide temporary aid like money, medical care, and housing for up to 90 days. If you have thoughts, speak up by December 1, 2026, as this extension will keep things running smoothly without extra costs.
Analyzed Economic Effects
5 provisions identified: 4 benefits, 1 costs, 0 mixed.
Short-term repayable aid for repatriates
If you are a U.S. citizen returned to the United States because of destitution, illness, war, or a similar crisis, the U.S. Repatriation Program can provide temporary assistance for up to 90 days from your date of arrival. That assistance is provided as a service loan that is repayable to the U.S. Government and can include money payments, medical care, temporary lodging, transportation, and other goods and services.
Automatic waiver info added for certain repatriates
The Repatriation Repayment and Privacy Agreement (Form RR-05) was revised to add information about automatic waivers for wrongful detainees and for kin who take custody of unaccompanied minors. This change is included as part of the form revisions.
New Needs Assessment form collects detailed needs
ACF is adding a new 'Needs Assessment' form that will ask repatriation caseworkers to collect detailed information about a repatriate's needs, including arrival and background data, identification, medical care needs, temporary lodging, local transportation, cash and food assistance, translation, legal aid, vocational training, childcare, and other assistance. The form has an estimated average burden of 0.75 hours per respondent (800 respondents; total 600 annual burden hours).
Extension request form collects less personal financial data
The Temporary Assistance Extension Request (Form RR-07) was revised to remove collection of dependent information and to remove questions about lawsuits, assets, fixed monthly expenses, and loans and liabilities. These changes were made to align with deregulatory priorities and reduce burden on applicants seeking extensions beyond the initial 90 days.
Forms revised; estimated total burden hours listed
ACF revised all thirteen repatriation forms to align with statute and policy, simplify questions, and reduce respondent burden. The notice reports an Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours of 1,011.5 across all forms and requests a 3-year extension of OMB #0970-0474 (current expiration 2027-01-31).
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