[Code of Federal Regulations]
[Title 8, Volume 1]
[Revised as of January 1, 2001]
From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access
[CITE: 8CFR212.6]

[Page 245-247]
 
                     TITLE 8--ALIENS AND NATIONALITY
 
CHAPTER I--IMMIGRATION AND NATURALIZATION SERVICE, DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE
 
PART 212--DOCUMENTARY REQUIREMENTS: NONIMMIGRANTS; WAIVERS; ADMISSION OF CERTAIN INADMISSIBLE ALIENS; PAROLE--Table of Contents
 
Sec. 212.6  Nonresident alien border crossing cards.

    (a) Use--(1) Nonresident alien Canadian border crossing card, Form 
I-185. Any Canadian citizen or British subject residing in Canada may 
use Form I-185 for entry at a United States port of entry.
    (2) Mexican border crossing card, Form I-186 or I-586. The rightful 
holder of a nonresident alien Mexican border crossing card, Form I-186 
or I-586, may be admitted under Sec. 235.1(f) of this chapter if found 
otherwise admissible. However, any alien seeking entry as a visitor for 
business or pleasure must also present a valid passport and shall be 
issued Form I-94 if the alien is applying for admission from:
    (i) A country other than Mexico or Canada, or
    (ii) Canada if the alien has been in a country other than the United 
States or Canada since leaving Mexico.
    (b) Application. A citizen of Canada or a British subject residing 
in Canada must apply on Form I-175 for a nonresident alien border 
crossing card, supporting his/her application with evidence of Canadian 
or British citizenship, residence in Canada, and two photographs, size 
1\1/2\"  x  1\1/2\". Form I-175 must be submitted to an immigration 
officer at a Canadian border port of entry. A citizen of Mexico must 
apply on Form I-190 for a nonresident alien border crossing card, 
supporting his application with evidence of Mexican citizenship and 
residence, a valid unexpired passport or a valid Mexican Form 13, and 
one color photograph with a white background. The photograph must be 
glossy, unretouched and not mounted. Dimension of the facial image must 
be approximately one inch from chin to top of hair, and the applicant 
must be shown in \3/4\ frontal view showing right side of face with 
right

[[Page 246]]

ear visible. Form I-190 must be submitted to an immigration officer at a 
Mexican border port of entry or to an American consular officer in 
Mexico, other than one assigned to a consulate situated adjacent to the 
border between Mexico and the United States; however, Form FS-257 may be 
used in lieu of Form I-190 when the application is made to an American 
consular officer. If the application is submitted to an immigration 
officer, each applicant, regardless of age, must appear in person for an 
interview concerning eligibility for a nonresident alien border crossing 
card. If the application is submitted to a consular officer, each 
applicant, except a child under fourteen years of age, must appear in 
person for the interview. If the application is denied, the applicant 
shall be given a notice of denial with the reasons on Form I-180. There 
is no appeal from the denial but the denial is without prejudice to a 
subsequent application for a visa or for admission to the United States.
    (c) Validity. Notwithstanding any expiration dates which may appear 
thereon, Forms I-185, I-186, and I-586, are valid until revoked or 
voided.
    (d) Voidance--(1) At port of entry. Forms I-185, I-186 and I-586 may 
be declared void by a supervisory immigration officer at a port of 
entry. If the card is declared void, the applicant shall be advised in 
writing that he/she may request a hearing before an immigration judge to 
determine his/her admissibility in accordance with part 236 of this 
chapter and may be represented at this hearing by an attorney of his/her 
own choice at no expense to the Government. He/she shall also be advised 
of the availability of free legal services provided by organizations and 
attorneys qualified under part 3 of this chapter and organizations 
recognized under Sec. 292.2 of this chapter, located in the district 
where the exclusion hearing is to be held. If the applicant requests a 
hearing, Forms I-185, I-186 and I-586 shall be held at the port of entry 
for presentation to the immigration judge. If the applicant chooses not 
to have a hearing, the card shall be voided. The alien to whom the form 
was issued shall be notified of the action taken and the reasons 
therefore by means of form I-180 delivered in person or, if such action 
is not possible, by mailing the Form I-180 to the last known address.
    (2) Within the United States. If the holder of a Form I-185, I-186 
or I-586 is placed under deportation proceedings, no action to void the 
card shall be taken pending the outcome of the hearing. If the alien is 
ordered deported or granted voluntary departure, the card shall be 
voided by an immigration officer. In the case of an alien holder of a 
Form I-185, I-186 or I-586 who is granted voluntary departure without a 
hearing, the card may be declared void by an immigration officer who is 
authorized to issue an Order to Show Cause or to grant voluntary 
departure.
    (3) In Mexico or Canada. Forms I-185, I-186 or I-586 may be declared 
void by a consular officer in Mexico or Canada if the card was issued in 
one of those countries.
    (4) Grounds. Grounds for voidance of a Form I-185, I-186 or I-586 
shall be that the holder has violated the immigration laws; that he/she 
is inadmissible to the United States; or that he/she has abandoned his/
her residence in the country upon which the card was granted.
    (e) Replacement. If a nonresident alien border crossing card has 
been lost, stolen, mutilated, or destroyed, the person to show the card 
was issued may apply for a new card as provided for in this section. A 
fee as prescribed in Sec. 103.7(b)(1) of this chapter must be submitted 
at time of application for the replacement card. The holder of a Form I-
185, I-186, or I-586 which is in poor condition because of improper 
production may be issued a new form without submitting fee or 
application upon surrendering the original card.
    (f) Previous removal or deportation; waiver of inadmissibility. 
Pursuant to the authority contained in section 212 (d)(3) of the Act, 
the temporary admission of an alien who is inadmissible under paragraph 
(16) or (17) of section 212(a) of the Act is authorized if such alien is 
in possession of a Mexican Nonresident Alien Border Crossing Card and he 
establishes that he is otherwise admissible as a nonimmigrant visitor

[[Page 247]]

or student except for his removal or deportation prior to November 1, 
1956, because of entry without inspection or lack of required documents.

[30 FR 10184, Aug. 17, 1965, as amended at 34 FR 129, Jan. 4, 1969; 35 
FR 3065, Feb. 17, 1970; 37 FR 7584, Apr. 18, 1972; 37 FR 8061, Apr. 25, 
1972; 45 FR 11114, Feb. 20, 1980; 46 FR 25082, May 5, 1981; 48 FR 35349, 
Aug. 4, 1983; 60 FR 40068, Aug. 7, 1995; 62 FR 9074, Feb. 28, 1997; 62 
FR 10349, Mar. 6, 1997]