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Special Registration Special Registration is tracking system for certain nonimmigrants that requires them to register with the INS at a U.S. port of entry or a designated INS office according to special registration procedures such as interviews, photographs, and fingerprints. Nonimmigrants staying for 30 days or more will need to report in person to a designated INS district office for an interview. They will also have to notify the INS anytime they change address, employment, or institution. Nonimmigrants subject to special registration will also have to notify INS when they leave the country. They must do so ONLY by reporting in person to an INS officer at designated ports of departure. Male nationals from the following countries who are 16 years of age or older are subject to special registration: Afghanistan, Algeria, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Egypt, Eritrea, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Morocco, North Korea, Oman, Pakistan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates, Yemen For more information, visit the INS website at http://www.ins.gov/graphics/lawenfor/specialreg/index.htm INS Announces New Rules on Student Visas On Monday, April 8, 2002, the INS announced important changes to student visas. Non-immigrants who want to study at American schools will have to obtain a student visa before beginning coursework. Previously, non-immigrants who were already in the US on a tourist or business visa could apply for a change of status to a student visa and take classes while their application was pending. The INS will try to shorten the processing time of these applications, which is typically 5-6 months, to 30 days from the date the request is received. Non-immigrants who already have applications pending will be allowed to continue their coursework. The Service proposed reducing the length of time for tourist visas from 6 months to 30 days, allowing for extensions of up to 6 months only for compelling humanitarian reasons, such as medical needs, or extra time needed to finish business dealings. Another proposal will prevent non-immigrants who enter the country on business or tourist visas from changing to student visas unless they state at the time of arrival their intention to study in the United States and receive a notation on their arrival and departure record of "prospective student." Read more about new INS Restrictions for Students: New INS Fees New INS application fees went into effect starting February 19, 2002. Applications such as the I-765 Application for Employment Authorization and the I-539 Application to Extend/Change Nonimmigrant Status are subject to the new fees. For a current listing, visit the INS website. State Department Eliminates "Automatic Revalidation of Visa" Benefit for Some Aliens Starting April 1, 2002, the State Department will implement 2 changes to the "automatic revalidation of visa" benefit, which allows F and J visa holders to reenter the United States without renewing their visa after a visit of 30 days or less to Canada, Mexico, and adjacent islands other than Cuba. -Citizens of "state sponsors of terrorism" (Iraq, Iran, Syria, Libya, Sudan, North Korea, and Cuba) will no longer be eligible for this benefit. -Any non-immigrant (not just someone from the seven countries listed above) who applies for a new visa in Canada, Mexico, and adjacent islands will no longer be eligible for this benefit during the trip, but will have to wait until the visa is granted in order to reenter the United States. For a more information on this ruling, please visit the NAFSA website. Additional Name Check Clearance Procedures On November 13, 2001, the U.S. State Department announced that certain nonimmigrant visa applicants will be subject to an additional name check clearance in applying for a nonimmigrant visa. These individuals may be subject to a background check using information in various security, law enforcement, and intelligence databases. The Washington Post reported that visa applicants may be subject to the additional name check if they have the following characteristics:
The extra screening procedures could take up to 20 additional business days (i.e., 4 weeks). Visa applicants who believe they might be subject to the requirement should factor that period into their entry or travel/reentry plans. The Department of State has not confirmed any of these details of the program or released a list of countries. It has not stated whether individuals meeting this criteria who are traveling with valid visas or traveling to Canada or Mexico will be affected. It is advisable to avoid unnecessary travel outside the US until these procedures are clarified. Argentina Removed from the Visa Waiver Program The Department of Justice removed Argentina from the visa waiver program due to the recent economic turmoil in that country. The program waives the visa requirement for citizens from certain countries who wish to enter the U.S. for 90 days or less as nonimmigrant visitors for business or pleasure. Read more about this ruling at the Department of Justice website. |
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Office of International Education | University of Richmond VA 23173 | Phone 804-289-8836 | Fax 804-289-8904 |
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