Alien Registration Requirement Fingerprinting, Registration, Change of Address, and Possession of “Papers”
The form for those subject to the registration requirement, is the Form G-325R, which is available for submission to USCIS via the registrant’s USCIS online account – https://my.uscis.gov/,https://www.uscis.gov/file-online/how-to-create-a-uscis-online-account, https://omb.report/icr/202502-1615-014/doc/153036400, and https://omb.report/icr/202502-1615- 014/doc/153035300
Who is excluded from registration?
• U.S. citizens
• American Indians born in Canada possessing at least 50% of blood of the American Indian race, who are present in the U.S. pursuant to 8 USC §1359
• Members of the Texas Band of Kickapoo Indians who entered the U.S. pursuant to the Texas Bank of Kickapoo Act
Who qualifies as being registered?
“Any foreign national, who was issued one of the documents designated as evidence of registration under 8 CFR §264.1(b) has already been 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. Although the March 12, 2025 Federal Register notice implementing the new G-325 form did not reference this point, it is stated on the USCIS registration page. Per the USCIS registration page, the following individuals are considered registered:
• 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 required to register under this new online registration requirement?
In the IFR, DHS estimates that between 2.2 and 3.2 million foreign nationals may be required to use the registration process considering those foreign nationals who previously filed qualifying registration forms under 8 CFR §264.1(a) or (b). The primary examples of groups affected by the new registration requirement are:
• Canadian visitors entering the U.S. at land ports of entry, who were not issued an I-94 admission record.
• These individuals are also referred to as non-controlled Canadian visitors.
• Unlike most Canadian B visitors, Mexican B visitors are not visa exempt. Thus, most Mexican visitors will not be subject to the new registration requirement. Mexican nationals must obtain a B visa or border crossing card from a U.S. consular post. Consular applications for a visitor visa require fingerprinting of all nonimmigrant visa applicants ages 14 to 79.6 It is important to remember that some Mexican B visitors may be exempt from the I-94 requirement for certain border zone admissions (see chart below), but their visa constitutes registration.
• Foreign nationals present in the U.S. without inspection and admission (also known as entry without inspection – EWI).
• Foreign nationals present in the U.S. after inspection and parole, who have not yet registered [not filed a registration form listed in 8 CFR §264.1(a)] and do not have evidence of registration.
• Foreign nationals, previously registered or not, who become 14 years of age in the U.S. are required to register within 30 days after their 14th birthday.
• Cases when the acceptable evidence of registration under 8 CFR §264.1(b) is the result of an approved application only, which may leave denied or pending applicants without any acceptable evidence that they have complied with the requirement to register. This can apply to a nonimmigrant worker with a pending extension petition post-expiration of the I-94 admission record.
Foreign nationals who have not registered include:
• Foreign nationals present in the U.S. without inspection and admission or inspection and parole;
• Canadian visitors who entered the U.S. at land ports of entry and were not issued evidence of registration (I-94)7; and,
• Foreign nationals who submitted one or more benefit requests to USCIS not listed in 8 CFR §264.1(a), including applications for Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) or Temporary Protected Status (TPS), who were not issued evidence of registration.
Who must apply for registration?
• All foreign nationals 14 years of age or older, who were not registered and fingerprinted (if required) when applying for a visa to enter the U.S. and who remain in the U.S. for 30 days or longer. They must apply before the expiration of those 30 days.
• The parents and legal guardians of foreign nationals less than 14 years of age, who have not been registered and remain in the U.S. for 30 days or longer, prior to the expiration of those 30 days.
• Foreign nationals, previously registered or not, who turn 14 years of age in the U.S. are required to register within 30 days after their 14th birthday
What are the deadlines regarding registration?
The registration requirement took effect on April 11, 2025. Those required to register must comply with the registration requirement after the effective date. The statute requires that registration be applied for before the expiration of the 30 days post entry to the U.S. Noncitizen children who turn 14 while in the U.S. must register within 30 days of their 14th birthday. Their parents or legal guardians are responsible for their compliance.
