Understanding the Alien Registration Requirement, Effective April 11, 2025

Starting April 11, 2025, USCIS will begin requiring certain foreign nationals to register with the agency and submit to fingerprinting if they remain in the United States for 30 days or longer. Foreign nationals who remain in the U.S. for less than 30 days are not required to register.

Failure to comply may expose you to criminal or civil penalties, but registering also means providing sensitive personal information to USCIS that may be used in future enforcement actions.

This makes it important for noncitizens to seek the guidance of an immigration attorney. (See important warnings below.)

In this blog post you will learn what the registration requirement is about, who is required to register, the risks of registering, and information about the registration process.

What is the Alien Registration Requirement?

The requirement for foreign nationals to register with the U.S. government is not new—it began in 1940, when Congress first passed a law requiring all foreign nationals to register with the federal government, to provide biographic details (fingerprints), and carry proof of their registration.

Most foreign nationals have been unaware of this requirement because the vast majority are considered “automatically registered” when undergoing the routine visa issuance process and lawfully entering the United States through a port of entry.

However, the alien registration requirement had one glaring flaw. Those who entered the country unlawfully had no way to comply with the registration requirement and meet their obligations under the law.

On January 20, 2025, President Trump issued Executive Order 14159, “Protecting the American People Against Invasion,” directing the Secretary of Homeland Security to enforce the alien registration requirement on foreign nationals who entered the country without inspection, by creating a way for them to register with the U.S. government and meet their obligations.

To address this issue, the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) established a new form, G-325R, Biometric Information (Registration), that can be submitted online by creating a USCIS online account. This new form provides unregistered aliens an avenue to register and comply with the alien registration requirement.

USCIS notes that failure to comply may result in criminal and civil penalties, up to and including misdemeanor prosecution, the imposition of fines, and incarceration.

Who is already registered?

There are several classes of immigrants who are considered “automatically registered,” and DO NOT need to worry about the alien registration requirement.

These individuals include:

Lawful permanent residents (green card holders)
Aliens paroled into the United States under INA 212(d)(5), even if the period of parole has expired
Aliens admitted to the United States as nonimmigrants who were issued Form I-94 or I-94W (paper or electronic), even if the period of admission has expired
All aliens present in the United States who were issued immigrant or nonimmigrant visas before their last date of arrival
Aliens whom DHS has placed into removal proceedings
Aliens issued an employment authorization document
Aliens who have applied for lawful permanent residence (a green card) using Forms I-485, I-687, I-691, I-698, I-700, and provided fingerprints (unless waived), even if the applications were denied and
Aliens issued Border Crossing Cards.

If you were issued one of the above documents, you have already registered. Non-US citizens over the age of 18 must carry and keep in their personal possession at all time proof of their registration.

Who must register?

Foreign nationals not falling under one of the above categories may be required to register by filing Form G-325R, Biometric Information (Registration) with USCIS.

These include:

Foreign national children who turn 14 years of age in the United States, regardless of whether they were previously registered. The application for registration must be submitted within 30 days of the child’s 14th birthday.
Canadian visitors not issued a Form I-94 when entering the United States, typically at a land port of entry. This applies only if the visit to the United States is for a period of 30 days or more. Canadian citizen travelers may reference the U.S. Mission to Canada webpage on this topic.
Foreign nationals who entered the United States without inspection and admission, and who are not otherwise registered.

DISCLAIMER: IMPORTANT WARNINGS BEFORE REGISTERING

Before registering, one should seek the guidance of an immigration attorney. Please be aware of the following precautions.

No Legal Protections Granted

Registration does not grant any immigration status, protection from removal, or work authorization.
It does not protect against deportation if you’re otherwise out of status.

Disclosure of Personal Information

By registering, you are voluntarily providing sensitive personal information such as your residential, criminal history, and other biometric data to the Department of Homeland Security.
This could be used in future immigration enforcement, especially for those unlawfully present or with prior violations.

Potential Immigration Consequences

If you’re in the U.S. without lawful status, registering could potentially make your information more accessible to government agencies such as Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), which may increase the risk of enforcement actions such as removal from the United States.

What is the Registration Process?

You may register and submit Form G-325R with USCIS by creating a USCIS Online account and completing the form. The form cannot be submitted by mail or in person.

Submit Form G-325R: DHS has introduced a new Form G-325R, which is now available in individual USCIS online accounts and will be used to collect the registration data. The current version of the form requests extensive biographic details, address history for five years, history of activities and planned actions in the U.S., estimated departure date, criminal history, and details for all immediate family members; and allows for uploading all relevant documentation related to the applicant’s criminal history and other supporting documents. The form G-325R is not available on legal representative accounts and must be submitted through the applicant’s own individual account.
Attend Fingerprint Appointment: Once the G-325R has been submitted, USCIS will review the application to determine if scheduling a Biometrics Services Appointment is required at the USCIS Application Support Center. Currently fingerprinting is not subject to fees. Fingerprinting will be waived for Canadians and for those registrants under the age of 14. If fingerprinting is waived, the applicant can download “Proof of Alien Registration” once G-325R is submitted.
Download Proof of Registration and Carry at All Times: Once registration and fingerprinting (if required) are completed, the individual will be able to download and print proof of registration from their USCIS online account, which they must carry with them at all times if 18 or older.

For step-by-step information about how to register, please click here.

What is Acceptable Proof of Registration?

Acceptable Proof of Registration includes any of the following:

Proof of Registration issued by USCIS following submission of G-325R online and completion of biometrics (if required)
Alternate Proof of Registration: If the applicant has one of the following documents, this is sufficient proof that the individual is ALREADY registered:

Please see the full list of acceptable documents at 8 CFR 264.1(b)

- Form I-94,Arrival-Departure Record – noncitizens admitted as nonimmigrants, noncitizens paroled into the U.S. under 212(d)(5) of the INA, noncitizens who claimed to have entered prior to July 1, 1924, and noncitizens granted permission to depart without the institution of deportation proceedings
- Form I-551, Permanent Resident Card
- Form I-766, Employment Authorization Document (EAD)
- Form I-862, Notice to Appear, for those noncitizens against whom removal proceedings are being instituted
- Form I-863, Notice of Referral to Immigration Judge, for those noncitizens against whom removal proceedings are being instituted
- Valid, unexpired nonimmigrant DHS admission or parole stamp in a foreign passport and
- Form I-186, Nonresident Alien Mexican Border Crossing Card.

Final Takeaways

Please review the official USCIS announcement to understand whether you have already complied with the registration requirement or fall into a category of those who are not registered.

Before registering, please contact your Law Offices of Jacob Sapochnick Immigration Attorney for further guidance and an informed understanding of the risks associated with registering.

As a reminder, proof of registration is not an immigration status and does not establish employment authorization or any other immigration benefit under the INA or any U.S. law.

Contact Us. If you would like to schedule a consultation, please text 619-483-4549 or call 619-819-9204.

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