What is the new non-U.S. citizen registration requirement?

The law requires non-U.S. citizens residing in the United States to register with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), providing personal information such as fingerprints and home addresses. The new rule aims to enhance national security and ensure compliance with U.S. immigration laws.

Effective April 11, 2025, and subject to limited exceptions, the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) requires all noncitizens aged 14 and older who were not fingerprinted or registered when applying for a U.S. visa and who remain in the United States for 30 days or longer to apply for registration and fingerprinting. Additionally, parents and guardians are responsible for registering children under 14. Once a child reaches their 14th birthday, they must apply for re-registration and fingerprinting within 30 days.

Who is already considered to be registered?

The government considers many groups of people, including some people without lawful status, to have already registered with the government. According to the new rule, the following groups of people are considered to have already registered:

  • Green card holders (lawful permanent residents)
  • People who were granted parole, including advance parole (even if that parole has expired)
  • People who came to the U.S. on a nonimmigrant or immigrant visa (even if it has expired)
  • People who are already in immigration court (removal) proceedings
  • People granted employment authorization on any basis (even if it has expired)
  • Refugees
  • People who applied for lawful permanent residence (even if the application was denied)
  • People who have border crossing cards or entered the U.S. as a “crewman”

Please contact us if you have questions about your specific situation.

Who is required to register?

The registration requirement applies to:

  • Individuals aged 14 and older: Non-U.S. citizens who were not fingerprinted or registered when applying for a U.S. visa and who plan to stay in the United States for 30 days or longer must register before the expiration of the 30 days
  • Children under 14: If not registered during the visa application process, children who will remain in the U.S. for 30 days or longer must be registered by a parent or legal guardian before the 30-day period expires
  • Previously registered children turning 14: Must re-register and provide fingerprints within 30 days after their 14th birthday

Who is not registered?

The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announcement specifically notes the following groups are not considered to be registered:

  • Those who entered the U.S. without inspection
  • Canadians who entered at a land port and were not issued evidence of registration
  • Those who applied for immigration benefits other than the following:
    • 1-67, Inspection Record
    • 1-94, Arrival-Departure Record
    • I-95, Crewmen’s Landing Permit
    • I-181, Memorandum of Creation of Record of Lawful Permanent Residence
    • I-485, Application for Status as Permanent Resident
    • I-590, Registration for Classification as Refugee
    • I-687, Application for Status as a Temporary Resident
    • I-691, Notice of Approval for Status as a Temporary Resident
    • I-698, Application to Adjust Status from Temporary to Permanent Resident
    • I-700, Application for Status as a Temporary Resident
    • I-817, Application for Voluntary Departure under the Family Unity Program

What is the process of registration?

The first step is to create an online account with USCIS. The second step is to fill out and submit the new Form G-325R through that account, which asks for personal information (more details on this below). After the form is submitted, USCIS will send the person registering an appointment notice to get fingerprinted at a USCIS service center. At the appointment, officials will collect fingerprints, photos, and a signature. The government will then run background checks, including a criminal history check. Once that’s done, the government creates a “Proof of Alien Registration” document, which will then be available in the person’s USCIS online account.

What is the process for children?

The rule instructs young people aged 14 and older to complete the same registration process as described above for adults. For children approaching the age of 14, the rule says those who meet the registration requirements must submit their own registration form and be fingerprinted within 30 days of their 14th birthday. For children under the age of 14 who meet the registration requirements, the rule instructs their parent(s) or legal guardian(s) to register for them, including by creating an online account with USCIS for them. For children under 14, there is no fingerprinting requirement, and the “Proof of Alien Registration” document will be made available in the child’s USCIS account after the G-325R is submitted.

Is there a deadline for complying with registration?

The new rule does not give a specific deadline for registration. However, it says that children who are instructed to register must do so and get fingerprinted within 30 days of their 14th birthday.

What is the change of address rule? 

The rule also reminds the public that all noncitizens who are instructed to register must also report changes of address to the government within 10 days of changing their address. The change of address for all noncitizens should be done through a USCIS online account. The registration rule notes that failure to file a change of address is punishable by a fine of up to $5,000 and 30 days in prison.  While this has not been strictly enforced in the past, the emphasis placed on this requirement in the registration announcement suggests it will be more strictly enforced in the future.  

What information goes into registration?

Registration involves completing and submitting the new Form G-325R through an online USCIS account. This form requests detailed personal information about the person completing the form and their family, including:

  • Name
  • Mailing and physical address, along with U.S. address history from the past five years
  • Date and country of birth
  • Country of citizenship or nationality
  • Immigration history, including date of arrival in the U.S.
  • “Activities” the person has engaged in while in the U.S., activities they plan to engage in, and the expected duration of their stay
  • Biographic information, including gender, ethnicity, race, height, weight, and eye and hair color
  • Detailed criminal arrest and conviction history
  • Detailed biographical information regarding the person’s spouse and parent(s), including name, date of birth and country of birth

Is there a fee for the new form G-325R?

No, there is currently no fee for the registration process. The government says in the new rule that it is considering in the future charging a $30 fee for the fingerprinting process but has not done so yet.

What happens if I register my information?

What could happen will depend on your individual situation. Both complying with registration and failing to comply may have negative, long-lasting consequences. The Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security has publicly stated the goal of the registration process is to force people to leave the United States.

If you are undocumented and have not had contact with immigration authorities before, registering could have immigration and criminal consequences:

  • Immigration consequences: The government could – and has stated that it likely will – use the information you provide during registration to arrest and deport you. Depending on your individual situation, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) may send you a letter directing you to report to an ICE office. When you report, ICE may detain you or place you in deportation proceedings. If you are unable to show you have been in the U.S. for more than two years, ICE could put you in “expedited removal,” a fast-track deportation process that allows ICE to deport people quickly without a hearing before a judge.
  • Criminal consequences: Coming forward to register may also expose you to potential criminal charges related to immigration. If you have been in the U.S. for less than five years and entered without inspection, you may be charged with the federal crime of illegal entry. If you were deported from the U.S. before and later returned by crossing the border without authorization, the government may charge you with the federal crime of illegal reentry.

What happens if I do not register my information?

The government has also threatened consequences for people who are instructed to register but do not, including criminal and immigration penalties:

  • Criminal consequences andpenalties: The government has threatened to bring criminal charges against people who are instructed to register but fail to do so. This could mean that any contact with law enforcement, including ICE or local police, could lead to criminal charges for failing to register in addition to immigration detention and possible deportation. Specifically, the government is threatening to prosecute people under several federal misdemeanor offenses related to the registration requirement:
    • failure to register, punishable by a fine of up to $5,000 or up to six months of imprisonment;
    • failure to carry proof of registration, punishable by a fine of up to $5,000 or up to 30 days of imprisonment; and
    • failure to notify the government within 10 days of a change of address, punishable by a fine of up to $200 or up to 30 days of imprisonment.

Additionally, registering using false statements may result in a separate criminal offense and serve as a ground for deportation.

  • Immigration consequences and penalties: Most immigration benefits and visas are “discretionary,” meaning the government can use someone’s past negative action to deny them the immigration benefit or visa. If you do not register and later apply for an immigration benefit or visa, the government may deny that benefit or visa for failing to register.

If I already registered or register in the future, do I need to carry specific documents?

Yes. Failing to carry a noncitizen registration document is a federal misdemeanor crime. The government is threatening to prosecute anyone who is a noncitizen who is stopped or arrested and does not have proof of registration. People who have proof of registration (see below) may want to carry this proof with them for this reason. Everyone living in the U.S. still has basic rights under the U.S. Constitution, including undocumented immigrants. Read this document for more information about your rights if stopped by immigration.

What documents count as proof of registration?

The new “Proof of Alien Registration” document will count as proof that someone has registered under the process. Many noncitizens in the U.S. already have a document that shows proof of registration, however. The rule includes two slightly different lists of “registration forms” and forms that are “evidence of registration.” It is likely both sets of documents will count as proof of registration.

  • “Registration forms” include:
    • I-94 Arrival-Departure Record
    • I-485 Application for Status as a Permanent Resident and Form I-698
    • Application to Adjust Status from Temporary to Permanent Resident
    • I-590 Registration for Classification as a Refugee
  • “Evidence of registration” listed in the regulations includes:
    • I-94 Arrival-Departure Record
    • I-551 Permanent Resident Card (“Green Card”)
    • I-766 Employment Authorization Document (EAD)
    • I-862 Notice to Appear and I-863 Notice of Referral to Immigration Judge
    • I-185 Border Crossing Card and I-186 Border Crossing Card for citizens of Canada and Mexico

Author’s note: Special thanks to American Immigration Lawyers Association and the National Immigrant Justice Center as this blog post relies heavily on materials published by both organizations.