National Security Entry - Exit Registration System (NSEERS)

International Student and Scholar Services | National Security Entry - Exit Registration System (NSEERS)
(Special Registration)

As a result of the USA PATRIOT Act, certain nonimmigrants are required to register their presence with the United States Department of Homeland Security (DHS). They must update their registration at certain pre-determined intervals and notify DHS of any change of address, employment or educational institution.  Prior to any departure from the United States, these individuals must notify the Department of Homeland Security of their intended departure AND may only depart the United States from certain authorized airports.

The individuals who must comply with these requirements are those who have been fingerprinted, photographed and interviewed about their plans during their stay in the United States  This may have occurred when they entered the United States or if they were part of the special call-in registration process conducted in later 2002 and early 2003.  If you are not sure whether these requirements apply to you, take a look at your I-94 card or at the visa stamp in your passport.  If there is a hand written ìFINî number or if ìNSEERSî appears on the back of your I-94 card, you are subject to these requirements.

At the time you were registered, you should have received a packet from Immigration Office that explains your responsibilities, the interviewing schedule and documentary evidence you are expected to bring to your interview(s). This document is also available on-line: walk-away brochure

Brief Summary of the Requirements of Special Registration
If you are subject to Special Registration, you must:

1. Register with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) upon entering the United States
2. Inform Immigration within 10 days of any change of address, change of employer or change of school. Note: Students in F-1 and J-1 statuses may satisfy the requirement to update their address and/or change of educational institution by notifying their international student advisor who will update their record in SEVIS.
3. Notify the Department of Homeland Security of your departure by departing the United States from a designated port of departure.  This currently includes specifically reporting to the Immigration Office at the port of departure prior to leaving the country.

For full list of requirements please refer to the walk-away materials, you received when you were registered.

Traveling Out of the United States

If you are a special registrant and plan to leave the United States, even for only relatively short visits to Canada or Mexico, you must notify Immigration of your departure on the date of your departure from the United States.  Additionally, you may only leave the United States from a designated departure port.  A list of designated departure ports can be found in the walk-away brochure you received when you were registered.

Pay special attention to the information about the individual ports that begins on page 9 of this document as this provides information on where to go for your exit procedures.

For your convenience, the information about the closest ports of departure is listed below:

Failure to Comply with Special Registration Requirements

The Department of Homeland Security indicated that failure to comply with the registration requirements constitutes violation of the aliens legal status in the United State. Student who fail to comply may be subject to arrest, detention, fines and/or removal from the US.  This could impact any future plans those students may have to apply for any immigration-related benefits.  Decisions regarding the impact of any noncompliance will be made on an individual, case by case basis.
 
Some individuals who have traveled and failed to follow the exit procedures are facing difficulties either when they apply for a new visa at the consulate over seas or when they try to re-enter the United States at the port of entry.

• Special Registration home website walkaway materials