Special registration required for entry to the US by males from designated countries

New regulations, officially referred to as the National Security Entry-Exit Registration System ("NSEERS"), stipulate that certain nonimmigrant males from designated countries must register with the USCIS at entry to the US. Individuals subject to these procedures will be fingerprinted and photographed and will be questioned regarding the purpose of their trip, travel plans and details of anyone they intend to visit/meet with during their visit.

A call-in system was originally operated for males age 16 or older for nationals of the following countries who entered the US before 10 (Group 1) or 30 (all other Groups) September 2002.

Group 1
Iraq, Iran, Libya, Sudan, Syria.

Group 2
Afghanistan, Algeria, Bahrain, Eritrea, Lebanon, Morocco, North Korea, Oman, Qatar, Somalia, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates, Yemen.

Group 3
Pakistan, Saudi Arabia

Group 4
Bangladesh, Egypt, Indonesia, Jordan, Kuwait.

This call-in period ended on 25 April 2003 and now individuals from Group 1 will be required to register at the port of entry to the US, as will individuals designated by the Department of State and those whom immigration officers at entry deem a potential security risk. Affected individuals must also register at a USCIS office after 30 days of being in the US and annually within 10 days of the anniversary of their original registration, as well as notify BCIS of any change of address on form AR-11 within 10 days of the change and they must only exit the US visa a designated port of departure.

Failure to comply with the Special Registration regulations will render an individual potentially out of status and deportable. They may be arrested, detained, fined and/or removed from the US. Any future application for immigration status may be adversely affected and if the individual does not leave through a designated port of departure any future attempt to re-enter may be problematic.

Please see the USCIS website for full up-to-date information.