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Visa Updates
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The
National Security Entry
and Exit Registration
System
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This special registration is a
system that will let the
government keep track of
nonimmigrants that come to the
U.S. every year. The INS is
required, within three years, to
track all of the estimated 35
million foreign visitors,
students, business travellers,
and tourists who enter and leave
the United States each year. It
also requires that, by 2006, 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.
Under NSEERS, only some of the
nonimmigrants who enter the U.S.
– and some nonimmigrants
already in the U.S. - are
required to register with INS
either at a port of entry or a
designated INS office in
accordance with the special
registration procedures. The
registration involves
fingerprinting, photographing,
and an interview both when you
enter and when you exit the USA.
These special procedures also
require an additional, annual,
in-person interview at an INS
office and notifications to INS
of changes of address,
employment, or school if you will
be in the USA for more than 30
days. A change was announced to
this program in December of 2003.
As of 12/2/03 the Department of
Homeland Security will now notify
you when they wish to see
you.
At present, non-immigrants who
are citizens or nationals of the
following 25 countries are
required to register. If you are
a landed immigrant in Canada, or
are a citizen of Canada but were
born in one of these countries,
you must register. (The date
shown is the date that the
countries were added to the
requirements.)
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November 6, 2002
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Iran, Iraq, Libya,
Sudan, Syria
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November 22, 2002
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Afghanistan, Algeria,
Bahrain, Eritrea,
Lebanon, Morocco, North
Korea, Oman, Qtar,
Somalia, Tunisia, United
Arab Emirates, Yemen
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December 18, 2002
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Pakistan, Saudi
Arabia
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January 16, 2003
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Bangladesh, Egypt,
Indonesia, Jordan,
Kuwait
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NOTE:
Nonimmigrants who must follow
these special registration
procedures must use specially
designated ports when they leave
the country and report in person
to an INS officer at the port on
their departure date. Detailed
information is available at:
http://www.ice.gov/graphics/news/factsheets/nseersfs120103.htm
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If you have any
questions about these
regulations or your
particular situation,
contact InterLynx
Relocation Management
Limited
905 882-2266 or
1-800-561-5957, or by
email at
visa_info@ilynx.ca
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