"Special Registration" is a procedure involving interviews, fingerprints and photographs that takes place at U.S. ports of entry for certain individuals (mostly male) from certain countries. In addition, from November 2002 to May 2003, a series of separate "call-in" registrations took place where fingerprints, photograph, and an in-person interview at a district office of the (former) INS was required.

On Tuesday, December 2, 2003, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security announced the suspension of certain provisions of the Special Registration process. The suspension took effect immediately, and will remain indefinitely until such time as the Department of Homeland Security publishes a new announcement.

Some articles in the national news media (and on some web sites) are portraying the announcement as an outright termination of the entire Special Registration program. Not true!

The requirement that individuals specially registered at a US Port of Entry appear at a Department of Homeland Security office within 30-40 days after their admission to the United States is suspended.

The requirement that individuals subject to special registration appear at a Department of Homeland Security office for an annual re-registration interview is suspended.

Anyone subject to special registration who is in F, J, or M non-immigrant status monitored under SEVIS (Student and Exchange Visitor Information System) and who changes his mailing address will have met the change of address requirement for special registration by reporting the change of address to his college or university (at Binghamton University, either the Registrar's Office or the ISSS). Completion of federal form AR-11 SR is no longer required for this population.

Special registration at U.S. Ports of Entry, including fingerprinting and photographs will continue.

The requirement that all special registrants go through a departure procedure at the appropriate airport, seaport or land port before leaving the United States will continue.

The Department of Homeland Security retains the right to announce future "call-in" registrations.

Individuals who, prior to December 2, 2003, failed to appear for a 30-day re-registration interview, or an annual re-registration interview, remain subject to penalties as allowed under law.

The good news is that students, scholars, and spouses no longer have to worry about trips to distant U.S. Citizenship and Immigration (USCIS) offices for 30 day re-registration interviews or annual re-registration interviews. This announcement comes just as individuals were beginning to reach their one year anniversary date for previous special registrations. Also, F, J and M students and scholars can now fulfill the required special registration ten-day change of address report by submitting the change of address to the BU Registrar's Office or the ISSS.

However, the Department of Homeland Security can, as a matter of discretion, notify specific individuals subject to special registration to appear for one or more additional continuing registration interviews in those particular cases where it may be necessary to determine if the individual is complying with the conditions of his non-immigrant visa status. The Department of Homeland Security can also continue to announce additional "call-in" registrations in the future, should it wish to do so.

Special registration at U.S. ports of entry will continue, along with the requirement that all individuals subject to special registration must go through an exit procedure before departing the United States.

To read a Department of Homeland Security fact sheet on the changes, visit:
www.dhs.gov