Who is affected?
Special Registration requirements can be applied to individuals
from ANY country. The requirements have primarily been applied to
males ages 16-45 from the following countries however: Afghanistan,
Algeria, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Egypt, Eritrea, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq,
Jordan, Kuwait, Libya, Lebanon, Morocco, North Korea, Oman, Pakistan,
Qatar, Somalia, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, Syria, Tunisia, United Arab
Emirates and Yemen.
How Do I Know if I am Registered?
During the special registration process, the DHS inspector will
take fingerprints and photographs upon your entry into the U.S.A. The inspector will write a Fingerprint
Identification Number (FIN#) on the I-94 card of the specially registered
person. If your I-94 card has a FIN# written on it, you are enrolled
in the Special Registration program. Your enrollment remains "open"
until you leave the United States after having an exit interview
with a DHS officer (see Departure
Reporting, below.)
Consular officers and immigration inspectors can, for
selected individuals, require follow-up reporting after entry
into the United States. individuals will not be required to report
after entry into the United States unless specifically instructed
to do so.
Departure Reporting
Anyone enrolled in Special Registration must have an exit interview.
If you leave the US, including traveling out of the US even for
only a short period of time, you must appear inperson before an
immigration inspecting officer at the airport from which you leave
the US. (If you transfer planes within the U.S., you must report
to the immigration officer at the last U.S. airport of your trip.)
The airport must be one of the designated ports of departure, and
you must leave the US from that port on the same day.
If you do not go through the exit interview with a DHS officer,
your Special Registration file will remain "open." You
are likely to be denied a new entry visa for failure to go through
the exit interview. You are also likely to be denied entry into
the United States even if you have a valid visa, if the DHS records
show you did not go through the exit interview. It is possible to
request from DHS, in advance, an exception from the departure reporting
requirement. Such exceptions require a showing of very unusual circumstances
however. It is best to plan your flight times with the exit interview
requirement in mind. It is important to go through the exit interview,
even if it means missing a flight.
If you depart the US from Minneapolis/St. Paul International Airport,
you should pass through airport security and then proceed to the
USCIS office in Room G2210 on the G concourse for departure processing.
Office Location: Lindbergh Terminal
Concourse G, Room G2210
Telephone: (612) 727-3415
Hours of Operation: 7:00 AM - 7:30 PM
Terminal Map
For the List of designated ports of departure, go to the Special Registration page and click on " Walkaway Materials", and go to page 7.
Change of Address
Individuals affected by Special Registration must report changes
of address and university transfers within 10 days of the change.
Address changes and university transfers can
be reported via the SEVIS system alone for F-1 and J-1 visa holders.
Changes of universities
will be also reported in the SEVIS system through normal transfer
procedures.
However, all other foreign nationals, including US permanent residents,
who are on a visa status other than F-1 and J-1 and affected by Special
Registration, must file AR-11SR
within 10 days of moving. Also, if F-2/J-2 dependents are living
in the US separately from the F-1/J-1, and if the dependents are
affected by Special Registration, the dependents must file AR-11SR
when they move to another address. They must do so within 10 days
of moving.
Please see the ISSS website
for specific address change notification instructions for various
visa types.
More Information
Detailed information about the changes to Special Registration
is available at the US Immigration
Customs
and Enforcement (ICE) website. The “Walkaway Material”
provides thorough information regarding Special Registration requirements.
This is an information packet you should receive
when you are registered.
Failure to Comply
Any affected individual who fails to follow these requirements
may lose his immigration legal status.
If you are required to report to the immigration office for Special
Registration (or NSEERS) and you failed to report, please consult
an ISSS adviser or an immigration attorney immediately. We would
like to provide you with advice before you report to the immigration
office. See an adviser during walk-ins or call 612-626-7100 to schedule
an appointment as soon as possible. Please check the ISSS web site
for walk-in hours.
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