Who Must Register With DHS — and How to Use Form G-325R

USCIS has confirmed and formalized the alien registration requirement — the legal duty of most noncitizens in the United States to register with the government, be fingerprinted, and carry proof. On June 29, 2026, the Department of Homeland Security published a final rule adopting its earlier interim rule and making procedural and technical updates, including the list of immigration forms and processes that satisfy the requirement. The requirement flows from Section 262 of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) (8 U.S.C. 1302) and was made an enforcement priority by Executive Order 14159 (Jan. 20, 2025). This article explains, in plain language, what USCIS says the requirement is and how the Form G-325R registration process works.

This is general information about a federal requirement, not legal advice. You can read the official page directly at uscis.gov/alienregistration.

Who must register

Per USCIS, the INA requires — with limited exceptions — that these people apply for registration and fingerprinting:

• All aliens 14 years of age or older who were not registered and fingerprinted (if required) when applying for a U.S. visa, and who remain in the United States 30 days or longer. They must apply before those 30 days expire.
• Children under 14: a parent or legal guardian must ensure a child who remains in the U.S. 30 days or longer is registered.
• Turning 14 in the U.S.: any alien — whether previously registered or not — who reaches their 14th birthday in the United States must apply to re-register and be fingerprinted within 30 days of that birthday.

USCIS adds an important point that's easy to miss: the requirement applies to each trip of 30 days or more. So you should check whether you must register every time you enter the United States for 30 days or longer.

Who is already registered (and generally does not need to file)

USCIS says many people have already registered through the ordinary immigration process and do not need to submit a new form. According to the page, those already registered include:

• Lawful permanent residents (green card holders) — though an LPR who turns 14 must re-register and be fingerprinted, generally by filing Form I-90;
• Anyone issued an immigrant or nonimmigrant visa by the State Department who was admitted on that visa at their most recent arrival;
• Aliens admitted as nonimmigrants who were issued a Form I-94, I-94A, or I-94W (paper or electronic), even if the admission period has expired;
• Aliens paroled into the U.S. under INA 212(d)(5), even if parole has expired;
• Aliens issued an Employment Authorization Document or a Border Crossing Card;
• Aliens who applied for a green card on Forms I-485, I-687, or I-698 and were fingerprinted (unless waived), even if denied;
• Aliens in removal proceedings, with an expedited or reinstated removal order; and
• Aliens last admitted through a Trusted Traveler Program (NEXUS, SENTRI, FAST, or Global Entry).

USCIS also lists people who are not registered — for example, those who entered without inspection (crossed the border illegally) and have not otherwise registered, certain Canadian land-border visitors who were not issued I-94 evidence, and people whose only filings with USCIS (such as deferred action or Temporary Protected Status requests) are not on the designated registration list and who were not issued registration evidence.

Who is not required to register at all

The page lists categories the requirement does not apply to, including: U.S. citizens and nationals; anyone outside the United States; aliens in the U.S. less than 30 days; American Indians born in Canada who entered under INA 289; members of the Kickapoo Traditional Tribe of Texas under the Texas Band of Kickapoo Act; and certain nonimmigrants who remain in A (diplomats/foreign-government officials) or G (international-organization) status.

Form G-325R: the new registration form

USCIS created Form G-325R, Biographic Information (Registration), and an online process for people who had no other way to register. Key points from the page:

• Online only. G-325R must be filed through a USCIS online account — it cannot be filed by mail or in person.
• Each person needs their own account. Every registrant — including children under 14 — must have their own individual USCIS online account; a parent or legal guardian creates and controls the account for a child under 14 and files on their behalf.
• Attorneys cannot file it for you. USCIS states that attorneys and accredited representatives may not submit Form G-325R on behalf of clients.
• Not a status. Registration is not an immigration status and does not create status, work authorization, or any other benefit.
• No biometrics fee. Registrants are not required to pay a biometric services fee. USCIS notifies you electronically through your online account if you must attend a biometrics appointment — it does not mail the notice.
• Other forms count too. Filing certain other forms — such as I-94, I-95, I-485, I-590, I-687, I-698, or I-817 — can also satisfy the requirement under 8 CFR 264.1(a).

Carry your proof — and the penalties

Once registered and fingerprinted (unless waived), DHS issues evidence of registration. USCIS says aliens age 18 or older must carry and keep this evidence in their personal possession at all times — which can be a printout or a mobile device displaying it (for example, Form I-94 or the USCIS Proof of G-325R Registration).

The page spells out the penalties USCIS points to:

• Willful failure or refusal to register or be fingerprinted (including a parent/guardian failing to register a child under 14): a misdemeanor, punishable on conviction by a fine of up to $5,000, up to 6 months in jail, or both.
• Failure to carry evidence of registration (age 18+): a misdemeanor, punishable by a fine of up to $5,000, up to 30 days in jail, or both.
• Failure to update your address: under INA 265, aliens required to register must report a change of address to USCIS within 10 days of moving. Noncompliance is a misdemeanor (up to $5,000 or 30 days), and the person may be deportable unless the failure was reasonably excusable or not willful. USCIS warns that filing an EOIR-33 address change with the immigration court does not satisfy the separate USCIS requirement — and vice versa.

Why this matters for you

This is a fast-moving, heavily enforced area. Whether you already count as "registered," whether a 30-day trip triggers the duty, whether your child must be registered, and which form is right for your situation all depend on your specific immigration history — and the consequences of getting it wrong now include criminal penalties. USCIS itself notes that if you've already registered, filing G-325R is unnecessary; filing when you shouldn't, or failing to file when you must, both carry risk. Because registration is not a benefit and does not grant status, it's worth confirming where you stand before you act.

Talk to a lawyer before you register

Because attorneys cannot file Form G-325R for you, the value of counsel here is in the analysis — determining whether you're already registered, whether the requirement applies to you or your child, which form fits, and how registration interacts with any pending case or removal proceedings. Carlos Maury Law is a national firm of former U.S. Immigration Judges. To talk about your situation, call (213) 769-0050. We speak Spanish.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I have to register with DHS?

Per USCIS, most aliens 14 or older who were not registered and fingerprinted when getting a U.S. visa and who stay in the U.S. 30 days or longer must register — unless they are already registered or fall within a listed exception. Parents or guardians must register children under 14, and anyone who turns 14 in the U.S. must re-register within 30 days. Check the official page or an attorney to confirm whether it applies to you.

I already have a green card / visa / I-94 — do I need to file Form G-325R?

Generally no. USCIS says lawful permanent residents, people admitted on a visa, and those issued a Form I-94/I-94A/I-94W are already registered and do not need to submit G-325R — with one exception: an LPR who turns 14 must re-register and be fingerprinted, generally via Form I-90.

Can my attorney file Form G-325R for me?

No. USCIS states that attorneys and accredited representatives may not submit Form G-325R on a client's behalf. It must be filed by the registrant through their own USCIS online account (or by a parent/guardian for a child under 14). An attorney can still advise you on whether and how the requirement applies.

What are the penalties for not registering?

USCIS points to criminal penalties: willful failure to register or be fingerprinted is a misdemeanor (up to $5,000, 6 months, or both); failing to carry your registration evidence if you're 18 or older is a misdemeanor (up to $5,000, 30 days, or both); and failing to report an address change to USCIS within 10 days can bring the same fine/jail exposure and make you deportable.

Does registering give me legal status or a work permit?

No. USCIS is explicit that registration is not an immigration status and does not create status, employment authorization, or any other right or benefit under U.S. law.

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This article is general information only and is not legal advice. Reading it does not create an attorney–client relationship. Immigration law is complex and fact-specific, and policies change; consult a qualified immigration attorney about your situation and verify current requirements at uscis.gov. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome. Attorney advertising.