Changes in the Special Registration Program (NSEERS) 12/3/2003
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced yesterday that it is eliminating some aspects of the National Security Entry/Exit Registration System (NSEERS) program, commonly referred to as "Special Registration." The program has required male nationals of more than two dozen countries (mostly in the Middle East) to report to Department of Homeland Security offices around the U.S. to be fingerprinted, photographed and interviewed.
Two aspects of the program will be scrapped. Those subject to the NSEERS rules were previously required to report in for processing within 30 days of entering the U.S. as well as annually at a set time each year. Both of these requirements are being suspended under the new rules.
However, registration on a "case-by-case" basis (at DHS's discretion) and at ports of entry when departing the U.S. will continue.
In place of the previous 30-day and annual interview requirements, the new rule will allow DHS to notify individual nonimmigrant visitors subject to NSEERS registration to appear for one or more additional continuing registration interviews in those particular cases "where it may be necessary to determine whether the visitor is complying with the conditions of his or her nonimmigrant visa status and admission."
Individuals who were previously required to re-register will no longer have to unless they are specifically called in to register as one of the "case-by-case" registrants. For additional information, please visit the following websites:
http://www.dhs.gov/dhspublic/interapp/content_multi_image/content_multi_image_00 06.xml
http://uscis.gov/graphics/lawsre gs/fr120203.pdf