The United States has a proud tradition of welcoming immigrants and visitors. This tradition is renewed and enriched by each and every law-abiding immigrant and visitor. This same tradition is reflected in the United States Government's duty to serve and protect its citizens, residents, and foreign visitors. Terrorist attacks have claimed the lives of thousands of Americans, as well as nationals from many other countries. As a result, new regulations have gone into effect to help ensure the safety of all persons in the United States. These regulations require certain individuals to register in the interest of national security or law enforcement. We understand that in many cases these procedures may cause inconvenience. However, your cooperation is requested so that our vision in which citizens, immigrants and visitors can live without fear of terrorist threats will become a reality.

• Being registered upon arrival to and departure from the United States.
• Being interviewed at a Citizenship and Immigration Services (CIS) office if remaining in the United States for more than 30 days and/or for more than one year.
• Notifying the Citizenship and Immigration Services (CIS) within ten days of any changes regarding place of residence, employment or educational institution.

You may download and print the Adobe Acrobat file linked below. It includes a list of all designated ports of departure as well as other pertinent information. It is very important that you follow all the rules described or you may not be allowed to re-enter the U.S.

As part of the non-immigrant visa application process, consular officers at U.S. Embassies and Consulates are required to identify individuals who will have to follow the special registration requirements in the United States. Likewise, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers at ports of entry may identify non-immigrants who will have to follow the special registration requirements. The above will apply only to persons who want to enter the United States for a temporary period of time (such as a tourist or a student, etc.). Persons who have been approved to stay permanently in the United States do not have to follow special registration procedures at this time.

Whenever possible you will be told by a consular officer as part of the process of obtaining your non-immigrant visa. The U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) inspectors will notify you each time you enter the United States if you are required to follow the special registration procedures.

Whenever you apply for admission to the United States the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) inspectors will notify you if you are required to follow the special registration procedures.

We cannot know how long you will be delayed because it will depend upon how many persons will be receiving special registration processing on the same day that you arrive in the U.S. We recommend you arrive at least three hours before departure time or that you anticipate a wait at the border.

A U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officer will inform you if you will need to follow the special registration procedures. You will be instructed to go to an area where you will be fingerprinted, photographed, asked to show documents, and interviewed as to the length and purpose of your stay in the United States. Additional information on how to follow the special registration procedures will be provided to you when you are registered.

You may be temporarily separated from your family for the length of time required to carry out the described special registration procedural steps. Depending on the individual circumstances, some or all of your family members may also be required to follow the special registration procedures, in which case they too will be fingerprinted and photographed.

Yes. If you are subject to the special registration procedures and you remain in the United States for 30 or more days, you need to go to the nearest U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) district or sub-office that has responsibility for the area where you are staying. You can do this any time beginning on the 30th calendar day from the day that you entered the United States and up to the 40th calendar day. You will not need an appointment.

You can be interviewed at the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) district or sub-office closest to where you are travelling. You will need to bring documents to show who and where you are visiting.

Your new address must be reported to the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (CIS). You may download the Change of Address form linked below, print it and fill it out. Find the address to which it should be returned printed on the form.

Depending on the circumstances, you may be subject to arrest and detention, fines, and/or removal from the United States. You could also be denied re-entry into the United States for many years.

It is your responsibility to make certain that your departure is known and documented by a U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) inspecting officer, each and every time you leave. You are required to report your departure from the United States by appearing before a CBP inspecting officer on the same day that you leave.

These new regulations include restrictions as to which airports, seaports or land entry/exit points that you can use to depart from the United States. When you are initially registered, you will be given a list of those airports, seaports or overland exit ports you can use to leave the United States.

Depending on your personal circumstances, you might not be permitted to return to the United States. A consular officer or a U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) inspecting officer will decide if the reasons you give for failing to report your departure satisfy the conditions set by the Attorney General and the Secretary of State that would allow you to re-enter the country.

Yes. You will have to begin this process again each time you enter the United States.

For more information please contact Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Call (800) 375-5283 (number valid from U.S. only) or visit the ICE website: