Students from Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Oman, the United Arab Emirates and China may not be able to go home over winter break, because they would not be able to receive visas to return to the United States for spring semester.

Some students from countries the United States has recently dubbed "terrorist" states will also have to re-register to remain in the United States legally and avoid deportation.

Visas for students from these countries are only good for one U.S. visit, which arrive in visit the United States ÷ and getting new visas may take too long for some students to start class on time in the spring.

When overseas students are accepted to the UA, they receive immigration documents from the university. They use the documents to apply for a visa, said Dale LaFleur, assistant director of international student programs and services.

"Some visas last for six months, some for the duration of their academic program," LaFleur said.

International students from the countries the United States is wary of must get new visas when they visit their home countries. The process takes longer and the students undergo more scrutiny than it would for students from countries the United States is on good terms with.

"That's kind of a sticky situation," LaFleur said.

Tensions with China also mean that Chinese students coming to the United States are more highly scrutinized as well as students from Middle Eastern countries, LaFleur said.

More international students last fall came from China ÷ 473 ÷ than from any other country.

India was the runner-up with 429 students.

Additionally, male students who are nationals, citizens or dual citizens of Iran, Iraq, Libya, Sudan or Syria and who were born on or before Nov. 15, 1986, are required to "special register," with the Immigration National Service by Dec. 16, 2002.

Male students born after Dec. 2, 1986, who are nationals, citizens or dual citizens of Afghanistan, Algeria, Bahrain, Eritrea, Lebanon, Morocco, North Korea, Oman, Qatar, Somalia, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates or Yemen also have to special register, by Jan. 10.

In Tucson, special registration can be done at the INS office at 6431 S. Country Club Rd. Walk-in special registration is available Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.

The number of UA's international students has increased since last year.

This year, there are 3,011 students from 135 countries, compared to 2,951 from 137 countries last year, said Anna Wilkinson, senior program coordinator for Decision and Planning Support.

This year, there are 1,814 international graduate students, up from 1,718 in 2001, but fewer undergrads, at 1,197 this year compared to 1,233 in 2001.

Additionally, the total number of international students has been increasing every year since 1996.

Still, obtaining a visa can be difficult for students not from Middle Eastern countries or China, at least at first, said Kwon do Song of South Korea, who is a Center for English as a Second Language student, which means he is not enrolled for academic credit.

"At first, it is very hard," Song said.

A friend of Song's was initially rejected for no apparent reason, but after six months he was approved, Song said.

More information on special registration is available at the INS's Web site, http://www.ins.usdoj.gov/graphics/lawenfor/specialreg/.