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Foreign Nationals Security Processing Keisha RisbyForeign National Visitors Program ManagerPersonnel Security Staff

1Who are Foreign Nationals?

People who are not citizens or nationals of the United Statesor 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.

2U.S. Citizenship (or nationality) can only be proven in one of three ways:

U.S. Citizenship

Presentation of a U.S. passportPresentation of a Naturalization Certificate, Form N-550 or 570 (Replacement)Presentation of a birth certificate from a U.S. state or territory or a State Department-issued Report of Birth Abroad Form FS-240 or DS-1350

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What is Required when a Foreign National Plans to Visit a USDA FacilityThe 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 FormsJ-1 ProgramSecurity Check (only)Assistance Memo for issuance of a DS-2019ARS-230Electronic scan of the passport data page. (include a copy for each family member)Letter of InvitationStudent 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-230Send electronically to J-1ExchangeVisitorProgram@ars.usda.gov

ARS 230Copies of applicable documentationSend electronically to ARS-230Securitycheck@ars.usda.gov

ExtensionsExtension Request Memo (J-1 only)ARS-230Copy of Current DS-2019 (J-1 only)Any new funding or health insurance documents, if applicable(J-1 only)

5*All documents must be in English. FSIP or FAS will only issue the DS-2019 after receiving notification from the ARS Personnel Security Staff that the all source check (name trace) has been cleared.5Who 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 InfrastructureForeign visitor who requires IT login credentials to access a USDA network.6

Currently th6ARS-230

U.S. Department of Agriculture Foreign National Data Sheet

Now we will briefly discuss the ARS-230 Form and its purpose.7What is the ARS-230 form?

The ARS-230 Form is a data collection form to gather information for Foreign National Visitors that are visiting an ARS facility for more than 5 consecutive days or 5 non-consecutive days in a 30 day period. The form should be completed by the visitor and include all of the requested information in Section I and any information that the visitor has in section II. An important note to make is in Section I, the section regarding who will be accompanying the visitor on the trip. This section is gender specific and therefore if anyone is accompanying the visitor they must specify whether the individual is their son, daughter, husband or wife and not spouse or child.

8When 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;Its been over 30 days since the initial ARS-230 was cleared and the visitor hasnt arrived yet.

This includes those who have permanent residence status. An updated ARS-230 is needed whenever a visitor is extending their visit.9ARS-230Who submits the ARS-230?Who is the POC for my area?POCs

LocationContact(s) NameContact EmailBeltsville AreaDenise Skinner-MarshallDan ThessenDenise.Marshall@ars.usda.govDan.Thessen@ars.usda.govMid-South Rita KeelingTeresa PrivottArsMsaForeignVisitorProgram@ars.usda.govMid-WestDebbie AgeeDeb.Agee@ars.usda.govNational Agricultural LibraryElizabeth JacksonElizabeth.Jackson@ars.usda.govNorth AtlanticMaria DallaraMaria.Dallara@ars.usda.govNorthern PlainsLynda JensenLynda.Jensen@ars.usda.govOffice of International ProgramsTanya WranIrene SantosTanya.Wran@ars.usda.govIrene.Santos@ars.usda.gov Pacific WestFran SichelVeronica LairdFran.Sichel@ars.usda.govVeronica.Laird@ars.usda.govSouth AtlanticIrene FortsonEarl GriffinIrene.Fortson@ars.usda.govEarl.Griffin@ars.usda.govSouthern PlainsJaycee McKinzieEdna TaylorJaycee.McKinzie@ars.usda.govEdna.Taylor@ars.usda.govThere are designated Area Point of Contacts (POCs) that receive the ARS-230 from the host. The area POCs and their email addresses are listed on the chart.10

Where to submit the ARS-230 form?For ARS-230 OnlyArs-230Securitycheck@ars.usda.gov

For J-1 Program Applicants OnlyJ-1ExchangeVisitorProgram@ars.usda.govUpon review of the ARS-230 form the POC forwards it (electronically) to the Personnel Security Staff for further processing. There are 2 mailboxes that were developed to separate the 2 types of ARS-230 submissions: ARS 230 (only) and the ARS-230 for the J-1 Program. The ARS-230 Only Mailbox is used when the Foreign National has a non-USDA sponsored visa and have his/her own funding. The J-1 Program Mailbox is used when ARS will sponsor the J-1 Exchange visitor visa or support funding is required.11Common Errors on the ARS-230Section IAll 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 countryMarital 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 addressHome Telephone and Mobile Number list the number only if its a home or cell. Do not put the employers phone number

12Common Errors on the ARS-230 cont.Fax list only if there is oneResidential 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/Schools Address need the full address of either the school or employer;Employer/Schools 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);

1313Common Errors on the ARS-230cont.Section IIOnly 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 (B1, J1, H1B, 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 numberVisa 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 IIIUse the section for any changes

Section IVList 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.

14In Section II, not all of the information will be applicable at this time unless the visitor is already in the U.S. Only complete the areas that you have information for. The visa information is not required if the foreign national doesnt currently have one. The visa type can be found on the right side under the heading Visa Type/Class. The visa number is the most commonly made mistake on the form. Its the 8 digit number on the lower right hand side of the Visa. If the individual is participating in the Visa Waiver program, they will need to list the ESTA# under visa #.Section III Use this section for any changes that occurred after the initial ARS-230 submission.

14Roles and ResponsibilitesHostEscortArea Point of Contact (POC)Personnel Security Staff (PSS)Office of Homeland Security Personnel & Document Security Division (OHSEC PDSD)15Host ResponsibilitiesHosts 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;

16Ensure visitors dont access unauthorized areas16Host Responsibilities cont.Ensuring escorts are assigned for foreign visits as required;Responding to requests for additional information on follow-up checks and/or correctionsImmediately 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).

17Who May Host a Foreign National?Only U.S. citizens employed by USDA in permanent positions (this excludes career-conditional employees) that have a favorably adjudicated background investigation on file may host a foreign national.Foreign nationals are required to have a host when accessing an USDA-owned, operated, or controlled facility that is not open to the public.

18ESCORT RESPONSIBILITIESAs 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 positionArranging multiple escorts, if necessary, to accommodate multiple visitors in different locationsImmediately 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). 19Under the new DR, escorts will be required to complete an Escort Responsibilities briefing. As of right now, its a hardcopy form that the escort will read, sign and date.19Area Point of Contacts (POC)POCs 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-230s and supporting documentation to PSS (password protected);Submitting ARS-230 clearance results to the Host

20Please be sure to password protect al 230s that are being sent. We can obtain a shared password for those who dont already use one.20PERSONNEL SECURITY STAFFPersonnel Security Staff is responsible for:

Ensuring the ARS-230 is completed in its entiretyRequesting corrections to forms Maintaining an electronic tracking system of all foreign visitsServing as liaison between the Area POCs and Office of Homeland Security -Personnel Security Division (OHSEC PDSD)Submitting all source check requests to OHSECReporting all source check clearance results to Area POCs, FAS, and FSIPProviding guidance and updates to USDA employees on program matters

21Office of Homeland SecurityPDSD is responsible for:Entering the data from the ARS-230s into a secured database to initiate the all source check;Rejecting incomplete and/or inaccurate ARS-230s 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.

2222The Process23PSS will not make any corrections to the forms. All corrections are returned to the POC to gather the appropriate information. There are times where PSS sends a new list to Homeland security and an ARS-230 is rejected for errors that were missed by all reviewers. If corrections are needed the form will be returned to the POC to forward to the host and then resubmitted to the appropriate mailbox upon completion. Please do not send information to our personal mailboxes.23Processing Timeframes24Please note that these times can change depending on the office workloads and higher priority submission from other agencies. These are estimates. Also please note that when corrections are needed, that extends the length of time from the date of initial submission24Participating Visa Waiver CountriesAndorraHungaryNew ZealandAustraliaIcelandNorwayAustriaIrelandPortugalBelgiumItalySan MarinoBruneiJapanSingaporeCzech RepublicLatviaSlovakiaDenmarkLiechtensteinSloveniaEstoniaLithuaniaSouth KoreaFinlandLuxembourgSpainFranceMaltaSwedenGermanyMonacoSwitzerlandGreeceNetherlandsUnited Kingdom25Terms and DefinitionsAll-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.

26REFERENCESPresidential 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, 2013Title 7, Code if Federal Regulations (CFR), Agriculture, section 2.95 (7 CFR 2.95) Director, Office of Homeland Security and Emergency CoordinationHomeland Security Presidential Directive-12 (HSPD-12), Policy for a Common Identification Standard for Federal Employees and Contractors, August 27, 2004Departmental Manual (DM) 4620-002, Common Identification Standards for U.S. Department of Agriculture Employees and Contractors, January 14, 2009Departmental Regulation (DR) 3440-2, Control and Protection of Sensitive Security Information (SII), January 30, 200327FNV program policies and procedures are derived fromThis is a partial list of references and guidelines that were used for the Draft DR. A full list will be available with the final draft once its been singed and approved. For full explanation of each reference, you can simply conduct an internet search of each one.27ContactsPersonnel Security Staff

Keisha Risby Program Manager - OperationsDesk 301-504-1525keisha.risby@ars.usda.gov

Maya Callender Program AssistantDesk 301-504-4605maya.callender@ars.usda.gov

Forest Service (FSIP)

Rim Eid (BA, NAA, SAA, MSA)reid@fs.fed.us

Misty Sidhu (PWA, NPA, SPA, MWA)msidhu@fs.edu

Foreign Agriculture Service (FAS)Jean GoodJean.good@fas.usda.gov)

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