Foreign Nationals Security Processing Keisha Risby Foreign National
Foreign Nationals Security Processing Keisha Risby Foreign National Visitors Program Manager Personnel Security Staff
Who are “Foreign Nationals”? People who are not citizens or nationals of the United States or its territories: American Samoa, the Northern Mariana Islands, Guam, Puerto Rico, or the U. S. Virgin Islands by birth or naturalization are foreign nationals. Lawful Permanent Residents (LPR) (persons issued a ‘green card’) showing they have been granted the right to permanently reside in the U. S. , are considered foreign nationals until they become naturalized.
U. S. Citizenship (or nationality) can only be proven in one of three ways: 1. Presentation of a U. S. passport U. S. Citizenship 3. Presentation of a Naturalization Certificate, Form N-550 or 570 (Replacement) 2. Presentation of a birth certificate from a U. S. state or territory or a State Departmentissued Report of Birth Abroad Form FS-240 or DS-1350
What is Required when a Foreign National Plans to Visit a USDA Facility � � The foreign national must be hosted and escorted by a USDA employee. A Foreign National Data Sheet (ARS-230) must be submitted for an all source check (name trace) If a J-1 Visa will be obtained, additional documents must be provided (listed on another slide) A favorable result of the all source check
Required Forms J-1 PROGRAM � � � � � SECURITY CHECK (ONLY) Assistance Memo for issuance of a DS 2019 ARS-230 Electronic scan of the passport data page. (include a copy for each family member) Letter of Invitation Student Transcripts (if a student) or curriculum vitae (if not a student) AD-672 Proof of Health Insurance (must be provided within 3 calendar days of arrival into the U. S. ) Copies of all applicable documents listed in Section II of the ARS-230 � � � ARS – 230 Copies of applicable documentation Send electronically to ARS 230 Securitycheck@ars. usda. gov Extensions � Extension Request Memo (J-1 only) � ARS-230 � Copy of Current DS-2019 (J-1 only) � Any new funding or health insurance documents, if applicable(J-1 only) Send electronically to J-1 Exchange. Visitor. Program@ars. usda. gov 5
Who Needs an All Source Check (name trace) � � Foreign visitor from a country on the State Sponsor of Terrorism list (Cuba, Sudan, Iran, Syria) Foreign visitor requesting access to a USDA Facility Critical Infrastructure � Foreign visitor who requires IT login credentials to access a USDA network. 6
ARS-230 U. S. Department of Agriculture Foreign National Data Sheet
What is the ARS-230 form?
When is Submission of an ARS-230 Required? An ARS-230 must be submitted whenever a foreign national will: be present for more than five (5) days (consecutive or non-consecutive days within a 30 -day period); perform hands-on work; be applying for a visa sponsored by a USDA office or agency; receive Government funding; be an employee of ARS; Extended their visit; It’s been over 30 days since the initial ARS-230 was cleared and the visitor hasn’t arrived yet.
Location Contact(s) Name Beltsville Area Denise Skinner-Marshall Dan Thessen Denise. Marshall@ars. usda. gov Dan. Thessen@ars. usda. gov Rita Keeling Teresa Privott Ars. Msa. Foreign. Visitor. Program@ars. usda. gov Debbie Agee Deb. Agee@ars. usda. gov Elizabeth Jackson Elizabeth. Jackson@ars. usda. gov Maria Dallara Maria. Dallara@ars. usda. gov Northern Plains Lynda Jensen Lynda. Jensen@ars. usda. gov Office of International Programs Tanya Wran Irene Santos Tanya. Wran@ars. usda. gov Irene. Santos@ars. usda. gov Pacific West Fran Sichel Veronica Laird Fran. Sichel@ars. usda. gov Veronica. Laird@ars. usda. gov South Atlantic Irene Fortson Earl Griffin Irene. Fortson@ars. usda. gov Earl. Griffin@ars. usda. gov Southern Plains Jaycee Mc. Kinzie Edna Taylor Jaycee. Mc. Kinzie@ars. usda. gov Edna. Taylor@ars. usda. gov ARS-230 � � Who submits the ARSMid-South 230? Mid-West Who is the National Agricultural POC for my Library North Atlantic area? Contact Email POC’s
Where to submit the ARS-230 form? For ARS-230 Only Ars-230 Securitycheck@ars. usda. gov For J-1 Program Applicants Only J-1 Exchange. Visitor. Program@ars. usda. gov
Common Errors on the ARS-230 Section I � All of the requested information is required; � NAME - lastname, first name middle name (a comma must separate the last and first name or the form will be returned to the POC); � Date of Birth – must be in the correct format MM/DD/YY; � Place of Birth – must list city and country � Marital Status – must specify single, married, divorced, etc. ; � Country of Residence – the name of the country which granted the foreign national permission to legally reside within its borders; � Home Address – must list the full current physical address � Home Telephone and Mobile Number – list the number only if it’s a home or cell. Do not put the employer’s phone number 12
Common Errors on the ARS-230 cont. � � � � Fax – list only if there is one Residential Address in Other Countries During the Past 7 years – need the full address and the length of time at the address. This can be listed as exact dates or the number of years. Occupation – list the occupation (i. e. Researcher) , or if a student, write “student”; Employer/School’s Address – need the full address of either the school or employer; Employer/School’s Telephone Number – should be the correct number and not the same number as the home or cell unless an individual is self-employed or something similar; USDA Facility You Wish to Access – need the full name and address of the facility; Date you expect to arrive and depart this facility – only list the proposed dates that the individual is expected to visit a USDA facility and not the dates they are in the U. S; Will anyone accompany you on this trip – list the gender of the accompanying guest (i. e. , spouse = husband or wife, child = son or daughter); 13
Common Errors on the ARS-230 cont. Section II � Only list the information that the visitor currently has; � Passport expiration date – must be in the correct date format (mm/dd/yyyy); � � Visa Type – must specify the type of Visa (B 1, J 1, H 1 B, etc). Or Visa Waiver Program (VWP) Visa Number – the 8 digit number in the lower right side of the Visa; If under VWP, list the ESTA number Visa Expiration Date – must be in the correct format (mm/dd/yyyy); Form I-94 admitted until date – this is either a stamped date or DS (duration or study); Section III � Use the section for any changes Section IV � List the actual arrival and departure date to and from a USDA facility. * The ARS-230 should also be submitted when the visitor has arrived and departed the facility. 14
Roles and Responsibilites Host Escort Area Point of Contact (POC) Personnel Security Staff (PSS) Office of Homeland Security – Personnel & Document Security Division (OHSEC – PDSD) 15
Host Responsibilities Hosts are responsible for: � Ensuring all required information is included in the submission of foreign national screening requests within the timeframes stated in the policy; � Meeting foreign visitors at the designated building entrance on the arrival date to check them in, visually inspect their identification, and obtain the proper USDA badge or sticker; � Informing all foreign visitors of prohibited items or items that will be controlled in certain areas while visiting USDA facilities, such as cell phones, cameras, and laptop computers; � Collecting all USDA issued badges or stickers on the last day of the visit; 16
Host Responsibilities � � � cont. Ensuring escorts are assigned foreign visits as required; Responding to requests for additional information on follow-up checks and/or corrections Immediately reporting any security anomalies, concerns, or incidents to agency leadership, the USDA Operations Center, the Office of the Inspector General (if applicable) and local law enforcement (if applicable). 17
Who May Host a Foreign National? Only U. S. citizens employed by USDA in permanent positions (this excludes careerconditional employees) that have a favorably adjudicated background investigation on file may host a foreign national.
ESCORT RESPONSIBILITIES As an escort, you will be responsible for: � Escorting foreign visitors according to the Foreign Visitor Access Management Policy (1: 5 = 1 escort for every 5 visitors. Special Agent areas 1: 1) � Ensuring foreign visitors wear their USDA issued badge or visitor sticker at all times above their waist in an easily observable position � Arranging multiple escorts, if necessary, to accommodate multiple visitors in different locations � Immediately reporting any security anomalies, concerns, or incidents to agency leadership, the USDA Operations Center, the Office of the Inspector General (if applicable) and local law enforcement (if applicable). 19
Area Point of Contacts (POC) POC’s are responsible for: � Reviewing all documents that are submitted by the host, checking for accuracy and completeness; � Serving as the liaison between the Personnel Security Staff (PSS) and the host; � Electronically submitting ARS-230’s and supporting documentation to PSS (password protected); � Submitting ARS-230 clearance results to the Host 20
PERSONNEL SECURITY STAFF Personnel Security Staff is responsible for: � � � � Ensuring the ARS-230 is completed in it’s entirety Requesting corrections to forms Maintaining an electronic tracking system of all foreign visits Serving as liaison between the Area POC’s and Office of Homeland Security -Personnel Security Division (OHSEC – PDSD) Submitting all source check requests to OHSEC Reporting all source check clearance results to Area POC’s, FAS, and FSIP Providing guidance and updates to USDA employees on program matters 21
Office of Homeland Security PDSD is responsible for: � Entering the data from the ARS-230’s into a secured database to initiate the all source check; � Rejecting incomplete and/or inaccurate ARS 230’s and returning them to the PSS; � Retrieving all source check data from the secured database and reviewing the results; � Providing the results to the PSS; � Providing program guidance to PSS. 22
The Process The host collects, prepare, review all documentation and submits it to the area POC The area POC conducts a second review of the documentation ensuring the ARS-230 is complete and accurate, then electronically submits it to the PSS staff designated mailbox Results are returned to Homeland Security Staff and reviewed and compiles a clearance list Homeland Security enters requests into secured database Clearance List is forwarded to the PSS reviews the clearance list and forwards it to the POC’s, FAS, and/or FS The PSS conducts a brief third review of the ARS-230. If no corrections are required, its forwarded to Homeland Security If corrections are needed, it’s returned to the POC via email outlining what corrections are necessary Once corrections are made, the POC resubmits the corrections to the PSS using the designated mailboxes 23
Processing Timeframes Personnel Security Staff Receives and Reviews ARS-230’s (within 45 days of the planned visit) The ARS-230’s are forwarded to OHSEC Submitted weekly Clearance list is sent to Area POC’s Normally within 24 hours of receiving the list TIMEFRAMES Clearance list is sent to PSS from OHSEC. Within 45 days of the submission date OHSEC Receives and enters data into secure database OHSEC retrieves and reviews the results. Within 45 days of the date of submission On average 1 -2 days 24
Participating Visa Waiver Countries Andorra Hungary New Zealand Australia Iceland Norway Austria Ireland Portugal Belgium Italy San Marino Brunei Japan Singapore Czech Republic Latvia Slovakia Denmark Liechtenstein Slovenia Estonia Lithuania South Korea Finland Luxembourg Spain France Malta Sweden Germany Monaco Switzerland Greece Netherlands United Kingdom
Terms and Definitions � � � � All-Source Check: A procedure whereby a request is made to appropriate U. S. Government agencies to determine whether information exists on a particular foreign national. Also none as the name trace. Dual Citizenship: Recognition of a person as a citizen by more than one country. Foreign National: A person who was born outside the jurisdiction of the United States and who has not been naturalized under U. S. law. Foreign National Status: The period of time a foreign national is authorized to be in the United States and what type, if any, work he/she can participate in while in the United States as determined by his/her valid passport, visa, Permanent Resident Card, or other U. S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) documentation. Foreign Visit: Any access by a foreign national to a USDA facility. Green Card - The Permanent Resident Card, is known informally as a Green Card but its correct name is Form I-551 or ‘Permanent Resident Card’. Host: The federal USDA employee who is the sponsor and point of contact responsible for the activities associated with the successful accomplishment of a visit to a USDA facility. State Sponsors of Terrorism: Countries that have been identified by the Department of State as sponsors of groups and/or activities which support terrorism or terrorist activities and are on the list of state sponsors or terrorism. 26
REFERENCES � � � Presidential Decision Directive – 12 (PDD-12), Security Awareness and Reporting of Foreign Contacts, August 5, 1993. Presidential Policy Directive (PPD) – 21, Critical Infrastructure Security and Resilience, February 12, 2013 Title 7, Code if Federal Regulations (CFR), Agriculture, section 2. 95 (7 CFR 2. 95) Director, Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Coordination Homeland Security Presidential Directive-12 (HSPD-12), Policy for a Common Identification Standard for Federal Employees and Contractors, August 27, 2004 Departmental Manual (DM) 4620 -002, Common Identification Standards for U. S. Department of Agriculture Employees and Contractors, January 14, 2009 Departmental Regulation (DR) 3440 -2, Control and Protection of Sensitive Security Information (SII), January 30, 2003 27
Contacts Personnel Security Staff Forest Service (FSIP) Keisha Risby Program Manager - Operations Desk – 301 -504 -1525 keisha. risby@ars. usda. gov Rim Eid (BA, NAA, SAA, MSA) reid@fs. fed. us Maya Callender Program Assistant Desk – 301 -504 -4605 maya. callender@ars. usda. gov Misty Sidhu (PWA, NPA, SPA, MWA) msidhu@fs. edu Foreign Agriculture Service (FAS) Jean Good Jean. good@fas. usda. gov) 28
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