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Special
INS Registration Information
(Effective 9/11/2002)
As a result of the USA PATRIOT Act passed by Congress and signed into law by the President in the wake of the September 11, 2001 terrorist acts, nonimmigrants from certain countries are required to register their presence with the INS. Additionally, they must update their registration at certain pre-determined intervals and notify INS of any change of address, employment or educational institution. Prior to any departure form the U.S., these individuals must notify INS of their intended departure AND may only depart the U.S. from certain authorized airports.
What are the requirements?
Individuals to whom these procedures apply must:
- Register with INS upon entering the U.S.
- Be interviewed by INS within 30 – 40 days of entering the U.S.
- Be interviewed again by INS one year after entering the U.S.
- Continue to be interviewed by INS on the anniversary date of to last admission to the U.S.
- Inform INS within 10 days of any change of address, change of employer or change of school.
- Notify INS of their departure by departing the U.S. from a designated port of departure.
Must all Nonimmigrants register with INS?
No. Only nonimmigrants from Iran, Iraq, Libya, Sudan and Syria who enter the U.S. after September 11, 2002 are required to register with the INS. Nationals of other countries may become subject to the registration requirements if the Attorney General adds their country to the list. It is anticipated that Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Yemen may be added to the list. It could also apply to any nonimmigrant who has made unexplainable trips to Afghanistan, Cuba, Egypt, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Libya, Malaysia, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, and Yemen. This list is subject to change at any time.
I am a nonimmigrant who was born in one of these countries, but who is now a citizen of another country. Do these requirements apply to me?
Yes. The law applies to anyone born in one of these countries. Also, individuals who may have been born elsewhere, but are citizens of these countries are also subject to this requirement.
I am a nonimmigrant who is not from one of these countries. These procedures do not concern me, right?
Maybe. Maybe not. A U.S. consular officer or an INS inspector may determine that these procedures apply to you if you are engaged in work that may have national security implications or if you are studying a field that may have national security concerns.
I am from one of the covered countries, but I entered the U.S. before September 11, 2002. Do these requirements apply to me?
No. These requirements do not currently apply to you. However, the next time you leave the U.S. and return, you will then be subject to these registration provisions.
How do I register?
Initial registration occurs when you enter the U.S. from abroad. At the time you go through immigration inspection, if these procedures apply, you will be taken into another room. You will be fingerprinted and photographed. Also, you will be given detailed information about what to do regarding mandatory interviews.
After I enter the U.S., when do I have to go for my first interview?
Once you have entered the U.S., you are required to be interviewed by an INS officer 30 to 40 days after you have arrived in the U.S. For example, if you arrived on November 1, you must report to INS between November 30 and December 9 to be interviewed.
Do I have to schedule an appointment?
No. No appointment is needed. You must show up at a designated INS office. It is recommended that you arrive there early in the morning so you can be seen and interviewed the same day. It is suggested that you inform the INS security guard that you are there as a result of the special registration process.
Can I go to any INS office?
No. You can only use the INS offices that have been authorized to conduct such interviews. In the Washington, D.C. area, you can go to the following offices:
- 4420 North Fairfax Drive, Arlington, Virginia or
- 31 Hopkins Place, Baltimore, Maryland
What if I am unable to make it to the interview during the required interview period?
You can apply to INS for a waiver of all or part of the registration requirements if you become ill such that hospitalization is required. Otherwise you are expected to appear during the interview period.
When I go to the interview, what should I bring?
You should bring your Form I-94 and any written documents available to show the INS officer that you are doing what you said you would be doing.
Documents to Bring:
Visitor for Business
- Hotel receipts
- Cab receipts
- Ticket stubs form places visited
- Documents showing where you have stayed.
- If staying with friends or relatives, documents showing their name, like a postmarked envelope or bill
Student
- Class schedule
- Official notification of grades
- Class or yearbook picture
- Student identification card
- Evidence of participation in extracurricular activities
- Letter from the International Services Office (OIS) verifying that you are
a NC STATE student in good standing
J-1 scholar, H, O, TN, R-1, visa holders, etc.
- Pay stub, if paid by NC STATE
- Employment contract or letter of appointment
- Letter of invitation if not paid by NC STATE
- Letter from International Services Office verifying your status with NC STATE
.
If I have just arrived, I will not have such things as transcripts or pay stubs. What should I do then?
Bring whatever documentation you have to demonstrate your legitimate stay in the U.S.: contract letters, letters of invitation, etc. Prior to going to the INS for the interview, you should check in with OIS to obtain a letter verifying your status at NC STATE .
What can I expect during this interview?
You will again be fingerprinted and photographed. The INS officer may ask you questions regarding your stay and may ask questions about any documents you bring with you. Under current immigration law, you are required to answer any question asked of you by INS, even if there appears to be no relevance to the question. Truthfully answer the question as best you can. Try to remain calm and appear to be cooperative. Do not, under any circumstance, lie.
Do I ever need to be re-interviewed? If so when?
If your stay in the U.S. extends to a year or more, you will be required to report to INS on each anniversary of your admission. You will have a ten-day window from the anniversary date of your admission to the U.S. to report. In the example above, we assumed you entered the U.S. on November 1, 2002. In 2003, you would need to report to INS between November 1 – 10, 2003. And again in 2004 you would appear between those same days.
Will these interviews differ from the initial one done after 30 days of entering the U.S.?
They should all follow the same pattern. By then you should be fairly settled into your routine and you should have plenty of documentation to present to show that you are a legitimate student, researcher, professor, etc. Be sure to keep any documentation evidencing an address change, job or school change, etc.
How do I notify INS of changes in address?
You must notify INS of address changes or changes of employer or school within 10 days of the change by submitting a form AR-11. Form AR-11 is available on the INS website at http://www.ins.usdoj.gov/graphics/formsfee/forms/index.htm. Please download only the English language version of the form as the others are not acceptable for this purpose.
Are the any special instructions for completing this form?
Yes. On the top left of the form, you should write “Special Registrant”. On the top right of the form, copy the FIN (Fingerprint Identification Number) that was written on your I-94 card either when you entered the U.S. or during your 30-day interview.
Please keep a copy of this for your records.
Where do I send the AR-11?
You should send the AR-11 to the following address:
Immigration and Naturalization Service
Change of Address
PO Box 7134
London, KY 40742-7134
or for commercial overnight or fast freight services only:
Immigration and Naturalization Service
Change of Address
1084-I South Laurel Road
London, KY 40744
How should I send the AR-11?
You should send it in a manner that you can track it or obtain evidence that is was delivered – either by certified, return receipt mail through the U.S. postal service, via federal express or some other mailing service that give you confirmation of delivery. Retain this confirmation in your files for future reference.
What do I need to do if I travel outside the U.S.?
If this registration system already applies to you and you are already registered, then you must notify INS and leave only through a designated port.
Can I leave the U.S. from RDU?
No. Although other foreign nationals may continue to use it, RDU is not a designated departure port for foreign nationals subject to these special registration procedures.
How do I get a list of designated ports of departure?
When you enter the U.S. and are initially registered in the system, you will be given a list of these ports. They are listed in the Federal Register for Tuesday, October 1, 2002. OIS also maintains a list of these ports.
What if I drive to Canada or Mexico on holiday?
Again, you can only use certain designated ports. Consult the list of ports and plan your trip accordingly.
What if I do not comply with this program?
If you fail to comply with these registration requirements, you will be considered to be out of status. You may be subject to arrest, detention, fines and/or removal from the U.S. This could impact any future plans you may have to apply for any immigration-related benefits. Decisions regarding the impact of any noncompliance will be made on an individual, case by case basis.
[Adapted with permission from Helene Robertson, Director, International Student and Scholar Services, Catholic University of America. Thank you Helene. October 2002]
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