 |
 |
| Registration |
 |
|
|
|
 |
 |
|
 |
|
|
 |
| Who Has To Register | |
|
With certain exceptions, all persons and organizations that intend to do business as futures professionals must register under the Commodity Exchange Act (Act). The primary purposes of registration are to screen an applicant's fitness to engage in business as a futures professional and to identify those individuals and organizations whose activities are subject to federal regulation. In addition, all individuals and firms that wish to conduct futures-related business with the public must apply for NFA Membership or Associate status. Click on the links below to obtain specific information to help you determine whether, by law, you are required to seek CFTC registration and, if so, in which category. Each link defines the business activity associated with the category and lists the forms and fees required for registration in the category. Templates of electronic forms can be viewed, completed, downloaded and printed to assist in filing forms electronically using the Online Registration System. Notice registration forms and Form 8-W can also be viewed, completed, downloaded and printed and must be sent in hardcopy format to NFA for processing. To access the templates and forms, you need Adobe Acrobat Reader.
NFA offers a fingerprinting service for NFA applicants at the Chicago office (300 South Riverside Plaza, Suite 1800) between the hours of 8:30 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. for $15 (cash, check or money order). In order to use NFA's fingerprint service, visitors must be pre-registered in the building's visitor registry. Visitors should contact NFA's Information Center (either by phone at 312-781-1410 or send an email to information@nfa.futures.org to register their name and date of visit so that they can receive access to NFA's offices on the 18th floor. NFA recommends that visitors pre-register at least a day prior to their visit. NFA now submits digital images of fingerprints to the FBI for criminal background checks. Results are received in three days or less, and in some cases within several hours, resulting in a faster and more efficient registration process. If you have any questions regarding the fingerprint process, please contact NFA's Information Center at 312-781-1410 or 800-621-3570. Registration Categories
If you have any questions as to whether you qualify for a particular exemption from registration, you should seek guidance by referring to the appropriate section of the Commodity Exchange Act and the Commodity Futures Trading Commission Regulations or by consulting NFA registration personnel. Requests for exemption or for "no action" opinions with respect to the applicable registration requirements should be submitted to the CFTC and a copy of any such request should be provided to NFA. Foreign entities that transact business directly with U.S. customers solely in futures contracts and commodity options traded on foreign exchanges are exempt from registration if:
(b) it has filed a request for exemptive relief and an agreement with NFA appointing an authorized U.S. agent for service of process for communications in connection with activities that would otherwise require registration. IBs, CPOs and CTAs request exemption relief by filing a Form 7-R. To order a directory of NFA Members or CFTC Registrants, click NFA Directories for an explanation of what's available and how to obtain the information.
|