On February 25, 2025, the USCIS announced the implementation of a new registration requirement, mandating that certain non-U.S. citizens register with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). Accordingly, the DHS published an interim final rule (IFR) that amended DHS regulations to designate a new registration form for noncitizens and additional documentation that may serve as evidence of registration. The IFR took effect on April 11, 2025. Additionally, the registration form (G-325R) is available in applicants' MyUSCIS accounts.

What is the New Alien Registration Requirement?

The law requires non-U.S. citizens (aliens) residing in the United States to register with DHS, providing personal information such as fingerprints and home addresses.

Under the INA, with limited exceptions, all noncitizens (aliens) 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 must 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?

Anyone who has been issued one of the documents designated as evidence of registration under 8 CFR 264.1(b) has already registered. Also, anyone who submitted one of the forms designated at 8 CFR 264.1(a) and provided fingerprints (unless waived) and was not issued one of the pieces of evidence designated at 8 CFR 264.1(b), has complied with the registration requirement of INA 262. Aliens who have already registered include:

·       Lawful permanent residents;

·       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 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.

Who is not considered to be registered?

Anyone who has not applied to the Department of State for a visa, been issued one of the documents designated as evidence of registration under 8 CFR 264.1(b), or has not submitted one of the forms designated at 8 CFR 264.1(a) and provided fingerprints (unless waived) is not registered. Aliens who have not registered include:

·       Aliens present in the United States without inspection and admission or inspection and parole who have not otherwise registered (that is, aliens who crossed the border illegally);

·       Canadian visitors who entered the United States at land ports of entry and were not issued evidence of registration; and

·       Aliens who submitted one or more benefit requests to USCIS not listed in 8 CFR 264.1(a), including applications for deferred action (DACA) or Temporary Protected Status (TPS) who were not issued evidence of registration listed in 8 CFR 264.1(b).

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: Parents or legal guardians must register their children who were not registered upon visa application and who will remain in the U.S. for 30 days or longer must register before the expiration of the 30 days.
• Previously registered children turning 14: They must re-register and provide fingerprints within 30 days after their 14th birthday.

How To Register?

Step 1: Create a USCIS Online Account

To register, you must first create a USCIS online account.

Each non-U.S. citizen (alien) submitting Form G-325R must have their own individual USCIS online account. This includes non-U.S. citizens (aliens) under the age of 14. If you are the parent or legal guardian of a non-U.S. citizen (alien) under the age of 14 who needs to register, you will need to set up an individual USCIS online account on your child's behalf and in their name.

Step 2: Submit Form G-325R

Once you create your or your child's (if you are the parent or legal guardian of a non-U.S. citizen (alien) under 14 years of age) USCIS online account, fill out an electronic version of the Form G-325R, Biographic Information (Registration). Form G-325R must be filed online through a USCIS online account. It cannot be filed by mail or in person.

Each non-U.S. citizen (alien) who needs to register must submit Form G-325R from the non-U.S. citizens (alien's) individual USCIS online account. Form G-325R can only be submitted by the named owner of the USCIS online account. If you are the parent or legal guardian of a non-U.S. citizen (alien) under the age of 14 who needs to register, you will need to submit Form G-325R on the non-U.S. citizens (alien's) behalf through their individual USCIS online account.

As you fill out Form G-325R, please carefully consider whether you have already registered. For example, if you have an Arrival-Departure Record number to provide in response to the question “What is your Form I-94 Arrival-Departure Record Number,” then DHS already issued you evidence of registration. Anyone issued Form I-94 or I-94W upon their admission or parole to the United States is already registered. Only non-U.S. citizens (aliens) who were previously registered but were not previously fingerprinted and who attained their 14th birthday in the United States should submit Form G-325R within 30 days of attaining their 14th birthday.

Step 3: USCIS review of Form G-325R

Once you have submitted Form G-325R, USCIS will review the information you provided and any DHS records that are available about you. If it appears that you have already complied with the registration requirements in some other way and do not need to submit Form G-325R, USCIS will notify you that you have already complied with the registration requirement. If you have already registered as required under INA 262, USCIS will not schedule you for a biometric services appointment or provide you with evidence of registration. If it appears that you are required to register, USCIS will review your Form G-325R to determine if you are required to appear for a biometric services appointment. If you are not required to appear for a biometric services appointment (for example, Canadian visitors and aliens under 14 years of age), USCIS will provide you with evidence of registration (see Step 5 below).

Step 4: Attend appointment for biometrics collection

If you are required to register and provide biometrics, USCIS will schedule you for a biometric services appointment at one of our Application Support Centers (ASCs). Registrants are not required to pay a biometric services fee.

A willful failure or refusal to attend your biometric services appointment (if required) may result in a determination that you have failed to register under INA 266(a), 8 U.S.C. 1306(a), and may result in criminal penalties.

Step 5: Receive registration documentation

Once you have registered and provided your biometrics (if required), we will post a notice (USCIS Proof of G-325R Registration) that provides proof of your registration to your USCIS online account.In your USCIS online account, you will be allowed to download a PDF version of the notice and can print it. The notice will contain an unique identifier.

Criminal Penalties for Willful Failure or Refusal to Register or Provide Biometrics (if required)

Any alien who willfully fails or refuses to apply to register or be fingerprinted (if required), and any parent or legal guardian who is required to apply for the registration on behalf of an alien less than 14 years of age and who willfully fails or refuses to file an application for the registration of such alien, will be guilty of a misdemeanor and will, upon conviction, be fined not to exceed $5,000 or be imprisoned not more than 6 months, or both.

DHS Regulation identifies the following forms as registration forms:

·      I–67, Inspection Record-Hungarian refugees;

·      I–94, Arrival-Departure Record-Aliens admitted as nonimmigrants, aliens paroled into the United States under section 212(d)(5) of the Immigration and Nationality Act, aliens whose claimed entry prior to July 1, 1924, cannot be verified, they having satisfactorily established residence in the United States since prior to July 1, 1924, aliens lawfully admitted to the United States for permanent residence who have not been registered previously, aliens who are granted permission to depart without the institution of deportation proceedings or against whom deportation proceedings are being instituted;

·      I–95, Crewmen's Landing Permit-Crewmen arriving by vessel or aircraft;

·      I–181, Memorandum of Creation of Record of Lawful Permanent Residence-Aliens presumed to be lawfully admitted to the United States under 8 CFR 101.1;

·      I–485, Application for Status as Permanent Resident—Applicants under sections 245 and 249 of the Immigration and Nationality Act as amended, and section 13 of the Act of September 11, 1957;

·      I–590, Registration for Classification as Refugee—Escapee—Refugee-escapees paroled pursuant to section 1 of the Act of July 14, 1960;

·      I–687, Application for Status as a Temporary Resident—Applicants under section 245A of the Immigration and Nationality Act, as amended;

·      I–691, Notice of Approval for Status as a Temporary Resident—Aliens adjusted to lawful temporary residence under 8 CFR 210.2 and 245A.2;

·      I–698, Application to Adjust Status from Temporary to Permanent Resident—Applicants under section 245A of the Immigration and Nationality Act, as amended;

·      I–700, Application for Status as a Temporary Resident—Applicants under section 210 of the Immigration and Nationality Act, as amended;

·      I–817, Application for Voluntary Departure under the Family Unity Program;

·      I–184, Alien Crewman Landing Permit and Identification Card-Crewmen arriving by vessel;

·      I–185, Nonresident Alien Canadian Border Crossing Card—Citizens of Canada or British subjects residing in Canada;

·      I–186, Nonresident Alien Mexican Border Crossing Card—Citizens of Mexico residing in Mexico;

·      I–221, Order to Show Cause and Notice of Hearing—Aliens against whom deportation proceedings are being instituted;

·      I–221S, Order to Show Cause, Notice of Hearing, and Warrant for Arrest of Alien—Aliens against whom deportation proceedings are being instituted;

·      I–551, Permanent Resident Card— Lawful permanent resident of the United States;

·      I–766, Employment Authorization Document (‘‘EAD'');

·      Form I–862, Notice to Appear-Aliens against whom removal proceedings are being instituted;

·      Form I–863, Notice of Referral to Immigration Judge—Aliens against whom removal proceedings are being instituted.

In addition, under a note to section 264.1(b), a valid, unexpired nonimmigrant DHS admission or parole stamp in a foreign passport constitutes evidence of registration.

Always carry or have in personal possession evidence of your registration.

All aliens 18 years of age and over in the United States are required to register under INA 262, including but not limited to those who register using this new process, must carry and have in their personal possession evidence of their registration at all times.

Any alien who fails to comply with the requirement that they carry evidence of registration, and have in their personal possession evidence of registration will be guilty of a misdemeanor and will upon conviction for each offense be fined not to exceed $5,000 or be imprisoned not more than 30 days, or both.

All aliens in the United States required to register must report a change of address to USCIS within 10 days of moving. Any alien who has failed to comply with the change-of-address notification requirements is deportable unless the alien establishes that such failure was reasonably excusable or was not willful.

Important Note

Registration does not provide a legal immigration status or work authorization.

Disclaimer

This blog is intended for general information purposes only and is not intended to be nor should it be construed as legal advice. You should not act or rely on any information in this blog without seeking the advice of a competent, licensed immigration attorney. We regularly update our blog section to acquaint the community with the latest changes in Immigration policies. We can promptly and efficiently represent clients located anywhere in the US or abroad on US Immigration Policies. If you seek further clarification, don't hesitate to contact SanSha Law Office at [email protected] or call us at 469-777-6161.