Please distribute this information as widely as possible.
Certain male, nonimmigrant aliens who are nationals or citizens of Pakistan or Saudi Arabia, were born on or before January 13, 1987, and entered the U.S. on or before September 30, 2002, must register with the Immigration and Naturalization Service on or before March 21, 2003. Certain male, nonimmigrant aliens who are nationals or citizens of Bangladesh, Egypt, Indonesia, Jordan, or Kuwait, were born on or before February 24, 1987, and entered the U.S. on or before September 30, 2002, must register with the Immigration and Naturalization Service on or before April 25, 2003.
Lawful visitors who are maintaining valid immigration status must register to preserve their legal status. If you are required to register and do not do so before this deadline, you may be considered to be out of status and may be subject to arrest, detention, fines and/or removal from the United States. Any future application for an immigration benefit from the United States may be adversely impacted. If you register after the deadline and/or are currently out of status, you may be subject to arrest, detention, fines and/or removal from the United States when you register. Decisions will be made on an individual basis, depending on the circumstances of each case. You may wish to consult with an immigration attorney before registering to determine your immigration status, whether you are required to register, and the consequences of not registering.
Please see below for more information on INS Special Registration Group 4.
You can also find more information by clicking here >>
EXTENSION OF REGISTRATION PERIOD FOR CERTAIN NONIMMIGRANTS
(Call-In Group 3 Extension, Federal Register Notice – March 21,2003)
IF YOU ARE A CITIZEN OR NATIONAL OF PAKISTAN OR SAUDI ARABIA
* And you were last admitted to the United States as a nonimmigrant on or
before September 30, 2002; and
* If you are a male, born on or before January 13, 1987; and
* If you did not have an application for asylum pending on December 18, 2002, or if you are not otherwise exempt as described in the attached questions and answers; and
* If you will remain in the United States at least until March 21, 2003.
WHAT YOU NEED TO DO
1. You must come to a designated immigration office to be registered
(photographed, fingerprinted, and interviewed under oath) on or before March
21, 2003.
2. If you remain in the United States for more than 1 additional year, you
must report back to a designated immigration office within 10 days of the
anniversary of the date on which you first registered. For example, if
you were registered February 10, 2003, you would report back between February 1 and February 20, 2004.
3. If you change your address, employment, or educational institution, you
must notify us in writing within 10 days of the change, using Form AR-11 SR.
4. If you leave the United States, you must appear in person before an
immigration inspecting officer at one of the designated ports of departure
and leave the United States from that port on the same day.
IT IS VITAL THAT YOU COMPLY
If you do not follow these procedures, you may be considered to be out of
status and deportable. You may be subject to arrest, detention, fines
and/or removal from the United States. Any future application for an immigration benefit from the United States may be adversely impacted. If
you do not properly exit through a designated port, any future attempts to
reenter the United States may be impacted. Decisions will be made on an
individual basis, depending on the circumstances of each case.
EXTENSION OF REGISTRATION PERIOD
FOR CERTAIN NONIMMIGRANTS (Call-In Group 4 Extension, Federal Register Notice – April 25, 2003)
IF YOU ARE A CITIZEN OR NATIONAL OF BANGLADESH, EGYPT, INDONESIA, JORDAN, OR KUWAIT
* And you were last admitted to the United States as a nonimmigrant on or
before September 30, 2002; and
* If you are a male, born on or before February 24, 1987; and
* If you did not have an application for asylum pending on December 18,
2002, or if you are not otherwise exempt as described in the attached
questions and answers; and
* If you will remain in the United States at least until April 25, 2003.
WHAT YOU NEED TO DO
1. You must come to a designated immigration office to be registered
(photographed, fingerprinted, and interviewed under oath) on or before April
25, 2003.
2. If you remain in the United States for more than 1 additional year, you
must report back to a designated immigration office within 10 days of the
anniversary of the date on which you first registered. For example, if you
were registered March 20, 2003, you would report back between March 10 and
March 30, 2004.
3. If you change your address, employment, or educational institution, you
must notify us in writing within 10 days of the change, using Form AR-11 SR.
4. If you leave the United States, you must appear in person before an
immigration inspecting officer at one of the designated ports of departure
and leave the United States from that port on the same day.
IT IS VITAL THAT YOU COMPLY
If you do not follow these procedures, you may be considered to be out of
status and deportable. You may be subject to arrest, detention, fines and/or removal from the United States. Any future application for an immigration benefit from the United States may be adversely impacted. If you do not properly exit through a designated port, any future attempts to reenter the United States may be impacted. Decisions will be made on an individual basis, depending on the circumstances of each case.
SPECIAL CALL-IN REGISTRATION PROCEDURES
FOR CERTAIN NONIMMIGRANTS
(for all Call-In Groups)
Questions and Answers
WHY IS THE U.S. GOVERNMENT DOING THIS?
In light of the attacks against the United States on September 11, 2001 and subsequent events, and based on information available to the Attorney General, the Attorney General has determined that certain nonimmigrant aliens require closer monitoring when national security or law enforcement interests are raised. The first phase of Special Registration, initiated September 11, 2002, required selected individuals to be fingerprinted, photographed, and interviewed under oath at United States ports-of-entry. This new procedure is the second phase, extending registration requirements to nationals and citizens of designated countries, who already have been admitted to the United States, to register at an Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) district or sub-office.
The Attorney General has the legal authority to make this determination under section 265 (b) of the Immigration and Nationality Act, as amended,8 U.S.C. 1305(b); and under section 263 (a) of the Immigration and Nationality Act, 8 U.S.C. 1303(a).
We appreciate your understanding and cooperation in complying with these
registration procedures.
WHO WILL THIS AFFECT?
Males, 16 years of age or older (born on or before November 15, 1986), who are nationals or citizens of specified countries as described on the
Notice page(s) preceding these Questions and Answers.
WHAT IS THE DEFINITION OF “CITIZENSHIP”? WHAT IS THE DEFINITION OF A “NATIONAL”?
Citizenship: The country in which a person is born (and has not renounced
or lost citizenship) or naturalized and to which that person owes allegiance and by which he or she is entitled to be protected.
National: A person owing permanent allegiance to a state.
WHY ARE ONLY MUSLIMS AND ARABS REQUIRED TO REGISTER?
To date, individuals from well over 100 countries have been registered. Registration is based solely on nationality and citizenship, not on ethnicity or religion.
The INS is required, within three years, to track all of the estimated 35 million foreign visitors, students, business travelers, and tourists who enter and leave the United States each year. It also requires that, by 2004, all official travel documents used to enter the United States contain biometric identifiers (e.g., fingerprints) in addition to photo
identification. This requirement is made necessary given the number of fraudulent documents presented to the INS and the use of sophisticated imaging technology to conceal and falsify identities.
The National Security Entry and Exit Registration System is an important first phase in implementing the entry/exit program that will cover all visitors to the United States. Presently, any number of nationals, from any country, can be required to follow special registration procedures when the Attorney General determines it is in the national security and/or law enforcement interests of the United States.
It is important to emphasize that the National Security Entry and Exit Registration System is not a bar to entry into the United States, nor does it limit an individual’s ability to engage in any lawful activity as permitted under their entry visa.
ARE THERE ANY EXCEPTIONS?
Yes. This does not affect individuals who are currently lawful permanent residents of the United States (“green card holders”). Refugees, individuals who have been granted asylum, and individuals who have applied for asylum on or before the publication date of the Federal Register notice for the relevant call-in group are also excluded.
In addition, diplomats and their dependents, individuals with diplomatic visas, as well as representatives and employees from accredited international organizations are excluded from the Special Registration Procedures.
WHAT ABOUT MY DEPENDENTS, SUCH AS MY SPOUSE, CHILDREN OR PARENTS; DO THEY HAVE TO REGISTER?
All males, who are 16 years or older as of the date that registration begins for the relevant call-in group, must register.
WHAT IF MY SPOUSE, CHILDREN OR PARENTS ARE U.S. CITIZENS OR LEGAL PERMANENT RESIDENTS? DO I STILL HAVE TO REGISTER?
Yes. There are no exceptions based on the immigration status of other family members.
WHAT IF I HAVE DUAL CITIZENSHIP? DO I STILL HAVE TO REGISTER?
Yes. Those who claim citizenship from countries included in the Call-In Groups are required to register even if they are also citizens of another
country.
WHAT IF I AM IN THE PROCESS OF APPLYING TO BECOME A PERMANENT RESIDENT, BUT MY APPLICATION IS STILL WITH THE INS? DO I STILL HAVE TO REGISTER?
Yes. There are no exceptions based only on filing an application to adjust one’s immigration status to that of a legal permanent resident.
WHAT IF I HAVE APPLIED FOR ASYLUM? DO I STILL HAVE TO REGISTER?
Maybe. If you applied for asylum on or before the publication date of the Federal Register notice for your call-in group, you do not have to register.
If you applied for asylum after that date, you will have to register. If you have been granted asylum, you do not have to register.
WHAT IF I HAVE BEEN IN THE UNITED STATES FOR MANY YEARS BECAUSE I WAS GIVEN TEMPORARY PROTECTED STATUS (TPS) STATUS? DO I STILL HAVE TO REGISTER?
Yes, as long as you were last admitted to the United States as a nonimmigrant on or before September 10, 2002, for citizens or nationals of Iran, Iraq, Libya, Sudan and Syria, or on or before September 30, 2002, for citizens or nationals of other call-in countries. Even if you have been allowed to stay legally in the United States for many years, you are still required to register.
WHAT IF MY LAST ENTRY TO THE UNITED STATES WAS NOT LEGAL (WITHOUT INSPECTION AND ADMISSION), AND I NOW HAVE TEMPORARY PROTECTED STATUS (TPS)? DO I HAVE TO REGISTER?
No. The current Special Call-In Registration requirements apply only to aliens who have been inspected by an Immigration officer and admitted to the United States.
WHAT IF I WAS PAROLED INTO THE UNITED STATES? DO I HAVE TO REGISTER?
No. If your last entry into the United States was on or before September 10, 2002, for citizens or nationals of Iran, Iraq, Libya, Sudan and Syria, or on or before September 30, 2002, for citizens or nationals of other call-in countries, and you were not inspected and admitted as a nonimmigrant, you are not subject to Special Registration.
WHAT IF I AM CURRENTLY SUBJECT TO SPECIAL CALL-IN REGISTRATION, BUT I DEPART THE UNITED STATES PRIOR TO THE END OF THE REGISTRATION PERIOD FOR MY CALL-IN GROUP? WILL I HAVE TO REGISTER IF I COME BACK TO THE UNITED STATES?
You are not subject to Special Call-In Registration if you depart before the end of the registration period for your call-in group. However, if you leave the United States and return, you may be registered at the Port-of-Entry if you are admitted and are subject to a registration requirement existing at that time. The criteria for registration at Ports-of-Entry may be different from the criteria for Call-In Registration.
WHERE DO I GO TO REGISTER?
You can go to the designated INS District or Sub-office closest to where you are located in the United States. A list of the District and Sub-offices is attached for your information. It is also available on the Internet at www.INS.usdoj.gov