Immigration E-Newsletter - Law Firm Bracken, Richard Attorneys Riverside, California

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Security Measures for Entering the United States

Receiving your visa is only the first step to entering the United States. A visa merely allows you to travel to a US port of entry — the border, a US sea port or a US airport — but does not, on its own, allow you to enter the country. The decision to allow a visa holder into the United States is determined by a Department of Homeland Security (DHS) officer at the port of entry.

After the terrorist attacks in 2001, the US tightened security at its borders and has since taken new measures to protect its citizens and visitors. These measures include collecting biometric data and creating the US-VISIT and NSEERS programs.

Biometric Information

As part of the visa application process, each applicant is required to submit an electronic or digital photograph and have his or her fingerprints digitally scanned. The photograph is normally required as part of the visa application, but the fingerprints will be taken at the US embassy or consulate. This data, known as biometric data, is then used to check the applicant's criminal history and cross-reference databases containing information on terrorists.

US-VISIT

The US-VISIT (US Visitor and Immigrant Status Indicator Technology) program uses the biometric data collected during the visa application process to verify the identity of the person using the visa to enter the country. The purpose of the program is to identify those attempting to use another person's visa to enter the United States illegally.

With limited exceptions, all non-citizens entering the US between the ages of 14-79 are required to submit biometric data to the US-VISIT program. This includes those visiting the country with nonimmigrant and immigrant visas, as well as those who are part of the Visa Waiver Program. Once visitors reach the port of entry, they will meet with a DHS official who will check their visa and other paperwork, ask questions about their stay in the US and check their biometric data.

NSEERS

NSEERS (National Security Entry Exit Registration System), or special registration, is run by the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) division of the Department of Homeland Security. Only nonimmigrant visa holders from certain countries are required to complete the special registration. Currently, this means citizens from Iran, Iraq, Libya, Sudan and Syria seeking to enter the US on nonimmigrant visas are required to register with NSEERS at the port of entry. Immigration officers also have the authority to identify others at the port of entry that will be required to register with NSEERS before being allowed to enter the country.

Those required to enroll in NSEERS must comply with all of the specifications of the program, or they face arrest, detention, fines and even removal from the US. This includes notifying ICE of any changes in address, employment and school enrollment.

Getting Ready To Apply for a Visa

To read and print out a copy of the checklist, please follow the link below.

Getting Ready to Apply for a Visa

You can download a free copy of Adobe Acrobat Reader here.

DISCLAIMER: This site and any information contained herein are intended for informational purposes only and should not be construed as legal advice. Seek competent counsel for advice on any legal matter.

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From our home office in Riverside and satellite offices throughout the Inland Empire, the attorneys of R. Bracken & Associates, Attorneys at Law serve clients throughout Southern California (CA) including:

Riverside County communities such as Banning, Beaumont, Blythe, Calimesa, Canyon Lake, Cathedral City, Coachella, Corona, Desert Hot Springs, Hemet, Indian Wells, Indio, La Quinta, Lake Elsinore, Moreno Valley, Murrieta, Norco, Palm Desert, Palm Springs, Perris, Rancho Mirage, San Jacinto, and Temecula;

San Bernardino County communities, including Adelanto, Apple Valley, Barstow, Big Bear Lake, Blythe, Chino, Chino Hills, Colton, Fontana, Grand Terrace, Hesperia, Highland, Loma Linda, Montclair, Needles, Ontario, Rancho Cucamonga, Redlands, Rialto, San Bernardino, Upland, Victorville, Yucaipa, and Yucca Valley

Orange County communities including Aliso Viejo, Anaheim, Brea, Buena Park, Costa Mesa, Cypress, Dana Point, Fountain Valley, Fullerton, Garden Grove, Huntington Beach, Irvine, La Habra, La Habra Heights, La Palma, Laguna Beach, Laguna Hills, Laguna Niguel, Laguna Woods, Lake Forest, Los Alamitos, Mission Viejo, Newport Beach, Orange, Placentia, Rancho Santa Margarita, San Clemente, San Juan Capistrano, Santa Ana, Seal Beach, Stanton, Tustin, Villa Park, Westminster, and Yorba Linda

Los Angeles County communities of Agoura Hills, Alhambra, Arcadia, Artesia, Avalon, Azusa, Baldwin Park, Bell, Bell Gardens, Bellflower, Beverly Hills, Bradbury, Brentwood, Burbank, Calabasas, Carson, Cerritos, Claremont, Commerce, Compton, Covina, Cudahy, Culver City, Diamond Bar, Downey, Duarte, El Monte, El Segundo, Gardena, Glendale, Glendora, Hawaiian Gardens, Hawthorne, Hermosa Beach, Hidden Hills, Huntington Park, Industry, Inglewood, Irwindale, La Canada, La Mirada, La Puente, La Verne, Lakewood, Lancaster, Lawndale, Lomita, Long Beach, Los Angeles, Lynwood, Malibu, Manhattan Beach, Maywood, Monrovia, Montebello, Monterey Park, Norwalk, Palmdale, Palos Verdes Estates, Paramount, Pasadena, Pico Rivera, Pomona, Rancho Palos Verdes, Redondo Beach, Rolling Hills, Rolling Hills Estates, Rosemead, San Dimas, San Fernando, San Gabriel, San Marino, Santa Clarita, Santa Fe Springs, Santa Monica, Sierra Madre, Signal Hill, South El Monte, South Gate, South Pasadena, Temple City, Thousand Oaks, Torrance, Vernon, Walnut, West Covina, West Hollywood, Westlake Village, and Whittier

San Diego County communities, including Carlsbad, Chula Vista, Coronado, Del Mar, El Cajon, Encinitas, Escondido, Imperial Beach, La Mesa, Lemon Grove, National City, Oceanside, Poway, San Diego, San Marcos, Santee, Solana Beach, and Vista