USICE Special Registration
Nonimmigrants from certain countries, as well as other individuals whom the Attorney General or the Department of State (DOS) designate on a discretionary basis, are registered upon entry to the United States under "special registration" procedures, as part of the National Security Entry-Exit Registration System (NSEERS).
DHS has made detailed information regarding the special registration requirements available on the ICE Web site . Also see the CBP Web site for information and for the most recent list of authorized NSEERS ports of departure.
Failure to comply with NSEERS requirements is considered a violation of nonimmigrant status. There are reports that USCIS has begun requesting proof of NSEERS registration by subject individuals in the course of adjudicating applications for immigration benefits at USCIS Service Centers.
An individual who has been registered in NSEERS at the port of entry upon admission to the United States must:
- At the port of entry (POE), at the time of initial admission to the U.S., provide information requested by the immigration inspectors, and be fingerprinted and photographed;
- Inform DHS within 10 days of any change of employer or change of school on Form AR-11SR, and report change of address to Concordia's International Student Advisor so we can update the SEVIS record;
- Depart the United States from an officially-designated NSEERS port of departure only. On the date of departure, the individual must first register the departure by appearing in person before an inspecting officer at the designated port of departure, before departing. The individual must depart from the United States only from the designated port at which the departure was registered.
- Respond to any notice received from DHS that instructs the individual to report to DHS for an interview (these notices are sent only on an individual, case-by-case basis)
Individuals subject to Special Registration should be given:
- An I-94 with an FIN (Fingerprint Identification Number) recorded on it
- A Walkaway Materials packet at the POE, explaining their obligations under Special Registration, and listing the ports of departure that must be used when departing the United States.
Credit goes to the NAFSA advisor's manual for this material about Special Registration
Special Registration
