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The usTLD Nexus Requirements Nexus Policy

Registrants in the .US TLD must be either:
 

1.  A natural person (i) who is a United States citizen, (ii) who is a permanent resident of the

United States of America or any of its possessions or territories, or (iii) whose primary place

of domicile is in the United States of America or any of its possessions [Nexus Category 1],
 

2.  A United States entity or organization that is (i) incorporated within one of the fifty (50) U.S.

states, the District of Columbia, or any of the United States possessions or territories, or (ii)

organized or otherwise constituted under the laws of a state of the United States of America,

the District of Columbia or any of its possessions or territories (including a federal, state, or

local government of the United States or a political subdivision thereof, and non-commercial

organizations based in the United States) [Nexus Category 2], or
 

3.  A foreign entity or organization that has a bona fide presence in the United States of America

or any of its possessions or territories [Nexus Category 3].
 

Prospective Registrants will certify that they have a "bona fide presence in the United States" on

the basis of real and substantial lawful connections with, or lawful activities in, the United States

of America. This requirement is intended to ensure that only those individuals or organizations

that have a substantive lawful connection to the United States are permitted to register for usTLD

domain names.
 

It shall be a continuing requirement that all usTLD domain name Registrants remain in

compliance with Nexus. To implement the Nexus requirement, NeuStar will:

•   Require that Registrars certify that they enforce the Nexus requirement upon their

Registrants, and that Registrars require Registrants to certify tha t they meet the Nexus

requirement.

•   Conduct a scan of selected registration request information.
   

•   Conduct "spot checks" on Registrant information.

Information Collected From Registrants

To register a name, Registrants (through their Registrars) will be required to provide basic

registration information to the Registry. The minimum required information is:

•   The domain name registered;
   

•   The IP address and corresponding names of the primary and secondary name servers for

the registered name;

•   The Registrar name and URL or, where appropriate, the identity of the delegated manager

under whom the name is registered;

•   The original creation date and term of the registration;
   

•   The name and postal address of the domain name Registrant;
   

•   The name, postal address, e-mail address, voice telephone number, and (where available)

fax number of the name holder for the name registered;

•   The name, postal address, e- mail address, voice telephone number, and (where available)

fax number of the technical contact for the name registered; and

•   The name, postal address, e- mail address, voice telephone number, and (where available)

fax number of the administrative contact for the name registered.
 

In addition to the above information, Registrants will be required to provide certain additional

Nexus information to their Registrars. Except where it is noted below that a registration will be

rejected if information is missing, failure of a registration to satisfy the Nexus requirement will

result in the name being placed upon a 30-day hold, during which time the Registrar will be

notified and given the opportunity to correct the information with the Registrant. If no action is

taken by the Registrar within the 30-day period, the registration will be cancelled and the name

will be returned to "available" status. The registration fee will not be refunded. If, on the other

hand, the Registrar is able to demonstrate compliance with the requirement and the information

is corrected, the hold will be released and the name will be registered.

•   Certification that Registrant satisfies Nexus requirement – if not completed, then

registration will be rejected;

•   Basis for compliance (Nexus Category 1, 2, or 3) – if not completed, then registration will

be rejected

•   Certification that the listed name servers are located within the United States – if not

completed, then registration will be rejected

Nexus Category 1

A natural person (i) who is a United States citizen, (ii) who is a permanent

resident of the United States of America or any of its possessions or territories, or

(iii) whose primary place of domicile is in the United States of America or any of

its possessions.

•   Statement of citizenship or legal permanent residency required. If not completed,

registration will be rejected.

Nexus Category 2

A United States entity or organization that is (i) incorporated within one of the fifty (50) U.S.

states, the District of Columbia, or any of the United States possessions or territories, or (ii)

organized or otherwise constituted under the laws of a state of the United States of America, the

District of Columbia or any of its possessions or (including a federal, state, or local government

of the United States, or a political subdivision thereof, and non-commercial organizations based

in the United States).

Nexus Category 3

A foreign entity or organization that has a bona fide presence in the United States of America or

any of its possessions or territories.

•   Applicant must state country of citizenship.
   

•   Applicant must also (1) regularly engage in lawful activities (sales of goods or services or

other business, commercial or non-commercial including not-for-profit activities) in the

United States; or (2) maintain an office or other property within the United States.

Category 3 Nexus Certification

Prospective Registrants will certify compliance with Category 3 Nexus based upon

substantial lawful contacts with, or lawful activities in, the United States.

Factors that should be considered in determining whether an entity or organization has a

bona fide presence in the United States shall include, without limitation, whether such

prospective usTLD domain name Registrant:

• Regularly performs lawful activities within the United States related to the purposes for

which the entity or organization is constituted (e.g., selling goods or providing

services to customers, conducting regular training activities, attending conferences),

provided such activities are not conducted solely or primarily to permit it to register

for a usTLD domain name and are lawful under the laws and regulations of the

United States and satisfy policies for the usTLD, including policies approved and/or

mandated by the DoC;

• Maintains an office or other facility in the United States for a lawful business,

noncommercial, educational or governmental purpose, and not solely or primarily to

permit it to register for a usTLD domain name.