What is Special Registration?  (click here for explanation from ICE website)

Special Registration, or the National Security Entry-Exit Registration System (NSEERS) is a registration system targeting certain nonimmigrants of mostly Middle Eastern or Muslim countries, that enables the government keep track of the arrival and departure of these nonimmigrants who come to the U.S. every year. NSEERS did formerly involve a "call in" component that required foreign nationals to report to local INS, then USCIS (U.S. Citizenship & Immigration Services) offices.  The NSEERS program was taken over by ICE (Immigration & Customs Enforcement) in December 2003. ICE issued a notice discontinuing blanket "call in" registration (the 30 day and annual re-registration requirements), but all other requirements, such as port of entry and port of exit registration with CBP (Customs & Border Protection), continue to apply. ICE also provided for a process for applications for waiver of special registration requirements.

NSEERS special registration involves being fingerprinted, photographed and interviewed at the port of entry and exit, but is separate from and in addition to "US-VISIT" registration that is being increasingly implemented and affects all nonimmigrants.

Exit special registration compliance requires that nonimmigrants depart ONLY at one of the following specially designated ports of departure and appear at the special registration desk/booth/office.  NOTE: Until elimination of the NSEERS special registration program, nonimmigrants subject to special registration can NOT depart from whatever port of exit is most convenient, but rather MUST depart from a designated port of exit and undergo re-registration at that port of exit. ALSO NOTE: Not all ports of entry are on the list of designated ports of exit, such that a nonimmigrant may enter through a specific port, but may not be permitted to depart from that port. 

On our website:

• J&H memo: Special Registration Update 2003  (12/03)
• J&H memo: Call-In Special Registration 2002  (2/03)
• Legacy INS memo on port of entry special registration - currently applied by CBP
• J&H memo: Arrival/Departure Special Registration   (9/02)

On the DHS website:  (Special Registration was transferred from USCIS to ICE in December 2003)

• Special Registration page, ICE website
• Special Registration "Walk Away" materials, ICE website  ("Walk Away" materials do NOT have the most current list of ports of entry/exit, see our webpage, www.jackson-hertogs.com\misc\ports.htm)
• US-VISIT press release  (info on NSEERS)

Other government websites:

• US-VISIT
• OPM: Citizenship around the World   (3/01)

Change of address for Special Registration:

Under USCIS regulations, all  nonimmigrants who are subject to special registration must notify USCIS of changes of employment or school, as well as address, using form  AR-11SR.  For for a copy of form AR-11SR and mailing instructions, visit the USCIS website.