U.S. govt. 30 day warning to foreign nationals for registration

The US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) stressed the need for self-deportation and asked foreign nationals to register with the government within 30 days or face fines or imprisonment.

(Source: NPR)

The U.S. government made it mandatory for all foreign nationals residing in the country for more than 30 days to register with federal authorities. A failure to comply will result in steep penalties, including fines and jail.

“Foreign nationals present in the US longer than 30 days must register with the federal government. Failure to comply is a crime punishable by fines and imprisonment,” the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) said on Saturday.

The post also said self-deportation will keep open a future opportunity for legal immigration, and such deportees may also be eligible for a subsidised flight if they cannot afford to leave, whereas it also mentioned the consequences, like immediate deportation, a fine up to $5000, and possible imprisonment.

Who will be affected?

While this latest move will not immediately impact legal visa holders, such as those with H-1B work permits or student visas, but aims to tighten immigration enforcement.

These individuals will be affected:

• H-1B visa holders who lose their jobs but remain in the country past their grace period.
• International students must remain in strict compliance with their visa terms or risk being considered unlawfully present.

Impact on Indians

A majority of Indian professionals in the U.S. are on H-1B and L-1 work visas. These visa holders often stay for years addresses, cities, and jobs. Due to the strict compliance with the Alien Registration requirement, every working professional has to register within 30 days of arrival. They must carry proof of registration at all times and need to report every address change within 10 days.