When a mobile node moves to a network (foreign network) other than its home network, it must register with the home network so that the home agents are able to tunnel messages to the mobile node while it is operating in the foreign network. The present invention enables the mobile node to register with its home network substantially faster than it would take the mobile node to register under the currently available methods. The mobile node of the present invention includes a retrieval module and a registration module that allows it to register with the home network in accordance with the present invention.