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Cite as "Posted on AILA InfoNet at Doc. No. 02121642 (Dec. 16,
2002) ."
USCIS OFFICE-BY-USCIS OFFICE SUMMARY OF
HOW CALL-IN REGISTRATION IS
BEING HANDLED
Updated 12/16/02
“USCIS Office statements” are based on information provided
by that USCIS office to immigration attorneys. “Reports from individuals/attorneys
of actual experiences” are based on information provided by immigration
attorneys and their clients. This information is changing constantly.
The information provided below is from reports provided to AILA as of
December 16, 2002.
Terminology:
NTA=Notice to Appear, the document issued by USCIS to begin removal proceedings.
245(i)=A provision whereby certain people who began certain processes
for obtaining permanent residence prior to April 30, 2001, may complete
the process without having to depart the United States even if they have
not continually maintained legal status.
ARLINGTON, VA
USCIS Office statements:
Reports from individuals/attorneys of actual experiences:
- Persons attempting to register during the week of 12/9 were told to
return after 12/16, but the District Office advised USCIS HQ that this
is not happening.
- On deadline date (12/16), person attempting to register was told to
go to Dulles Airport, because the Arlington Office is not equipped to
handle registration.
- Early on, process took about 20 minutes. Social security card, driver’s
license, credit card, passport, I-94, and proof of employment (pay stub)
were requested. Fingerprinted and photographed. A registration number
was placed on the back of the I-94
ATLANTA, GA
USCIS Office statements:
Reports from individuals/attorneys of actual experiences:
- All registrants are to ask to see DAO Thomas or Benton. Brief interview.
Passport, work authorization card and copy of lease were brought to
interview and reviewed.
- Waiting time of 4 hours, in room 104.
BALTIMORE, MD
USCIS Office statements:
- Persons with “status issues” will be referred to Investigations.
- Persons who are out of status but are a beneficiary of an adjustement
application will not be placed in proceedings, but will be referred
to investigations.
- Attorneys are being allowed to attend the interviews.
- I-94 cards being marked to show that registration occurred.
Reports from individuals/attorneys of actual experiences:
-
Early on, attorneys were being barred from clients’
interviews. Also was not marking I-94 cards of those who appeared.
-
Credit card numbers requested and taken down.
BLOOMINGTON, MN
USCIS Office statements:
Reports from individuals/attorneys of actual experiences
- Registrant with pending Immediate Relative-based
adjustment (adjustment interview already held) interviewed briefly by
Exams, then sent to Detention & Removal. USCIS indicated that anyone
with an apparent gap in status would be so referred. Attorney barred
from D&R interview. NTA was issued, and appeared to based on information
obtained during this interview.
BOSTON, MA
USCIS Office statements:
CHICAGO, IL
USCIS Office statements:
Reports from individuals/attorneys of actual experiences:
- Registration of Iranian-born Canadian citizen on TN was “quick
and cordial”. Questions were routine.
CINCINNATI, OH
USCIS Office statements:
Reports from individuals/attorneys of actual experiences:
- Person with approved I-140 and adjustment application pending arrested
at special registration interview. No bond.
- Individual who was admitted on a visa waiver was removed without hearing
even though he had an immediate relative adjustment application, based
on a long-standing marriage, pending.
CLEVELAND, OH
USCIS Office statements:
- Registrant with pending employment-based 245(i) adjustment application
taken into custody. Eventually released, but advised that an NTA will
be issued.
- Registrants asked to empty their wallets. Credit card, bank account
numbers recorded.
DALLAS, TX
USCIS Office statements:
- Palestinian born in Gaza and carrying an Egyptian travel document
was referred to call-in Special Registration when he went to the ASC
for adjustment fingerprints, because he had different A numbers on his
LIFE legalization receipt and his I-765 receipt.
DES MOINES, IA
USCIS Office statements:
Reports from individuals/attorneys of actual experiences:
- Swedish citizen born in Lebanon (family members are all Swedish) was
told he did not need to register. Given form to show he attempted to
register.
DETROIT, MI
USCIS Office statements:
Reports from individuals/attorneys of actual experiences:
- Two reports of simple and courteous process. Wait time approx. 2 hours.
HARTFORD, CT
USCIS Office statements:
- Report to room 456.
- Registrant with pending 245(i) adjustment application taken into custody,
but released after attorney faxed the I-797 receipt notice and approval
notice for the I-140. USCIS called VSC, where adjustment is pending, to
verify. No NTA issued.
HONOLULU, HI
USCIS Office statements:
Reports from individuals/attorneys of actual experiences:
- 1/27 was the first registration in that office. Process took 3 hours.
Only index fingerprints taken, not full 10-finger.
HOUSTON, TX
USCIS Office statements:
KANSAS CITY, MO
USCIS Office statements:
Reports from individuals/attorneys of actual experiences:
- Three-hour wait. Interview itself lasted 20-30 minutes. Questions
included such items as whether registrant is married, what transportation
he uses, where and how often he travels, where he was born. Passport
and current pay stubs requested. I-94 was notated.
LAS VEGAS, NV
USCIS Office statements:
Reports from individuals/attorneys of actual experiences:
- Office was uncertain how to handle registrant
with pending asylum application, but who plans to withdraw that application
and file an adjustment application under 245(i). Interview conducted,
and registrant sent home with statement that USCIS may call. USCIS Investigations
did call later in the day, asking registrant to return. Indicated that
detention is mandatory with no bond until all inquiries are negative.
LOS ANGELES, CA
USCIS Office statements:
- In two instances in which registrants were interviewed by USCIS District
Adjudications Officers, the following information was requested:
1) Family name
2) First name
3) Middle initial
They were then asked to provide their drivers' licenses, passport,
I-94 form and asked the following questions:
4)What's your nationality
5) Place of Birth
6) Sex
7) Date of Birth
8) Height
9) Weight
10) Hair color
11) Eye color
12) Purpose of your visit
13) Names of Mother and Father
14) Mother/Father dates of birth
15) Last address in country of origin
16) Social security number
17) Place of issuance of visa
18) Date of issuance of visa
19) Expiration date of issuance of visa
20) Passport Number
21) City of issuance of the passport
21) Date of issuance of the passport
22) Expiration date of issuance of the passport Although all the information
requested is on the passport, the USCIS District Adjudication Officers
did not look at the passport and asked the clients directly for the
information.
23) What airline did you fly in entering the United States
24) Flight number
25) Date of arrival
26) Time of arrival
Following the interviews, the interviewer made photocopies of employment
verification letters and paycheck stubs. Fingerprints were taken of
the right and left index fingers. The USCIS interviewer then took the
I-94 form and signed the back of the I-94 form and also printed their
District Adjudication Officer number. The interviewer then annotated
the I-94 form acknowledging the person had registered. The passport,
driver's license, and I-94 were then given back to the registrant.
MIAMI, FL
USCIS Office statements:
Reports from individuals/attorneys of actual experiences
- “Polite but stumbling.” Took 3-5 minutes for each question,
with USCIS staff uncertain how to enter answers into computer. Overall,
took 8 hours for a completely clean case.
MINNEAPOLIS, MN
USCIS Office statements:
Reports from individuals/attorneys of actual experiences:
- Three registrants taken into custody on 12/5. One had 245(i)-based
adjustment pending and two were married to U.S. citizens with long-pending
petitions. Handcuffed and separated from attorney. Threatened to set
$10,000 bond, but eventually released on own recognizance at the end
of the day.
- Early on, guards were not familiar with Special Registration, and
so did not allow registrants to enter. When registrant finally got in,
interview took about 45 minutes. It was the first Special Registration
interview that that office had conducted. Interview was cordial.
NEWARK, NJ
USCIS Office statements:
- Two reports of confusion and having trouble finding anyone (guards,
USCIS employees) who had heard of special registration. Eventually sent
to room 1404.
- Those who arrived later were seen first. Early arrivals had to wait
approximately 6 hours.
- Interviews vary: (1)Relaxed interview, with questions similar to those
on Form G-325. Checked passport for travel patterns, and other cards,
such as credit cards, social security, drivers license. (2) 1.5 hour
interview. (3) 30-minute interview. (4) virtually no interview at all.
- Officer indicated that they don’t take anyone into custody unless
there is an outstanding warrant, and that you don’t have to be
a NJ resident to go to this office. Also indicated that USCIS WILL deport
if you fail to register.
NEW ORLEANS, LA
USCIS Office statements:
Reports from individuals/attorneys of actual experiences:
- Citizen of Trinidad & Tobago who was born in Libya (but neither
parent was born in Libya) was told that he did not need to register.
NEW YORK, NY
USCIS Office statements:
- Out of status registrants will be referred to Investigations for possible
issuance of a Notice to Appear. Investigations will use prosecutorial
discretion in determining whether to issue an NTA, but most likely someone
who has no application pending WILL be issued the NTA.
- Persons with a 245(i) application pending most likely will not be
referred to Investigations, unless there is a “hit” from the
computer checks. If there is a hit, most likely an NTA will issue.
- Registrants who are currently in status, but have had past status
violations, generally will not be referred to Investigations if they’ve
since returned to the U.S. with the proper visa, waiver, etc. But the
District does have discretion to put in proceedings anyone it feels
is removable.
- The District does not plan to detain out of status registrants, but
reserves the discretion to do so.
Reports from individuals/attorneys of actual experiences:
- Enter in front and go to room 310.
- Questions include names, addresses and dates of birth of parents;
2 contacts in U.S.; email address; social security number; whether you
are a terrorist. Asked to see passport, I-94, driver’s license,
proof of status (employment letter; transcript, etc.) Photo and fingerprint
taken.
- Registrant with pending 245(i) adjustment application detained and
issued NTA.
- In another case, interview went smoothly, and USCIS “very nice”.
OKLAHOMA CITY, OK
USCIS Office statements:
Reports from individuals/attorneys of actual experiences:
- First attempted to register on 11/12, but USCIS office was not familiar
with special registration
.
- Attorney barred from interview.
OMAHA, NE
USCIS Office statements:
- Registrants are given long interview under oath. Questions include:
last 3 addresses, parents’ names and dates of birth, names and
addresses of at least 2 people from home country who are currently in
the U.S. Took credit card and bank account information.
PHILADELPHIA, PA
USCIS Office statements:
Reports from individuals/attorneys of actual experiences
- Registrant taken into custody despite pending 245(i)-based adjustment
of status application. Eventually released and issued an NTA.
PHOENIX, AZ
USCIS Office statements:
PORTLAND, OR
USCIS Office statements:
SACRAMENTO, CA
USCIS Office statements:
Reports from individuals/attorneys of actual experiences:
- Long wait. Attorney representation allowed, but registrant’s
brother not permitted in the interview. Registrant has pending 245(i)
adjustment application. Not referred to Investigations. Registrant was
asked to complete questionnaire similar to the Chicago airport questionnaire.
Same questions asked in interview under oath.
SALT LAKE CITY, UT
USCIS Office statements:
SAN FRANCISCO, CA
USCIS Office statements:
- Two Canadian citizens born in Iran were determined not to be subject
to Special Registration. One was given a stamp on his I-94 indicating
that he had appeared to register.
- There for 5 hours, including waiting time. Asked extensive questions.
- Requested driver’s license, credit and medical cards. Account
number taken down from ATM card. I-94 notated.
- Early on, office was unfamiliar with call-in registration and registrants
were turned away.
SAN JOSE, CA
USCIS Office statements:
Reports from individuals/attorneys of actual experiences:
- No appointments, but registrants should come early.
- Total wait of approx. 1.5 hours.
- Interviewer friendly, but inexperienced and unfamiliar with basic
immigration documents. Interviewer read prepared statement asking registrant
to confirm that process is strictly voluntary (which it is not) and
that he is free to leave at any time. Documents requested were passport,
driver’s license, employment verification letter, and credit cards.
Interviewer was completing a 30-question computerized form. Interview
itself took 3 hours. Notation of registration made on I-94.
SEATTLE, WA
USCIS Office statements:
Reports from individuals/attorneys of actual experiences:
- Wait in “take a number” line outside, but don’t need
a number once inside. Wait was approx. one hour, and interview lasted
about 15-20 minutes. Attorney allowed to be present. Fingerprints captured
electronically. Passport was the only document reviewed. Questions included:
Where were you born?
Home address and phone number
Approximately when did you move there?
height, weight, hair color, eye color
Do you work or go to school?
name and address of school/work
(For student) What is your major?
Where was your visa issued?
Who would be your contact if something should happen to you?
WICHITA, KS
USCIS Office statements:
Reports from individuals/attorneys of actual experiences
- B-2 overstay with pending 245(i) labor certification application not
referred for proceedings. Decision made after call to Kansas City USCIS
office. Entire process took 20 minutes.
(12/16/2002)
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