On January 20th, 2025, President Trump issued Executive Order 14159, which directed the Department of Homeland Security to ensure that aliens comply with their duty to register with the government, as set forth by section 262 of the Immigration and Nationality Act.
Failure to comply with that registration requirement may result in criminal and civil penalties.
What is alien registration?
Pursuant to the INA, every foreign national 14 year of age or older, who will be in the US for 30 days or longer, must be registered and fingerprinted.
Many aliens in the US have already registered, as required by law. However, a great number of foreigners present in the country have had no direct way to register and meet their obligation under INA 262. Therefore, USCIS has established a new form, G-325R, Biometric Information (Registration) and an online process by which unregistered aliens may now register and comply with the law.
It is important to note that registration is not an immigration status, thus it does not establish employment authorization or any other right or benefit.
How to register
To register, aliens must complete the following steps:
- Create an online USCIS account on the USCIS website
- Complete and submit Form G-325R
- Attend a biometric appointment at a USCIS application center
- Receive a proof of alien registration document, which will become available on the USCIS online account
When submitting the Form G-325R, personal information must be included such as the applicant’s physical address and address history for the past 5 years, immigration and family information, biographic information, and a police/criminal record.
Exemptions
Some individuals are exempt from the registration requirement or are considered to have already registered. This is the case of visa holders who have been already registered and fingerprinted through their visa application, or people admitted to the US as nonimmigrants who were issued a Form I-94 (paper or electronic).
As a result, people who travelled through the ESTA program are considered exempt from the alien registration requirement.
Penalties
Individuals who entered the US without inspection and do not have legal status are required to register as non-citizen. However, registering does not grant legal status and it may result in the registrant being detained and placed in removal proceedings.
Also, those who are 18 years or older must always carry their registration documents with them. Failure to do so could amount to a misdemeanor punishable by a fine of up to $5000 or imprisonment of not more than 30 days, or both.
Finally, if you do not register and later apply for an immigration benefit or a visa, the government might deny the benefit or visa.
Take a look also at our guide on US Immigration Law.