Alien Registration Requirement

Who is already 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 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 or Temporary Protected Status who were not issued evidence of registration listed in 8 CFR 264.1(b).

If you fall into the “Who is not registered?” section above, then you must register. This includes:

• All aliens 14 years of age or older who were not registered and fingerprinted (if required) when applying for a visa to enter the United States and who remain in the United States for 30 days or longer. They must apply before the expiration of those 30 days;
• The parents or legal guardians of aliens less than 14 years of age: Parents or legal guardians must apply for the registration of aliens less than 14 years of age who have not been registered and remain in the United States for 30 days or longer, before the expiration of those 30 days; and
• Any alien, whether previously registered or not, who turns 14 years old in the United States, within 30 days after their 14th birthday.

Note: American Indians born in Canada who entered the United States under section 289 of the INA, and members of the Kickapoo Traditional Tribe of Texas who entered the United States under the Texas Band of Kickapoo Act, are not required to register.

If you have already complied with your duty to register and been fingerprinted (if required) in connection with your current stay in the United States of 30 days or more and have not reached your 14th birthday in the United States since registering, do not submit this form. 

Only the following people may submit Form G-325R:

• An alien, on their own behalf; or
• A parent or legal guardian, on behalf of an alien who is less than 14 years of age.

Anyone who makes a false statement on a Form G-325R, including submitting a false or fictitious registration, may be subject to criminal penalties. 

Step 1: Create a USCIS Online Account

To register, you must first create a USCIS online account. See our How to Create a USCIS Online Account page for more information.

Each alien submitting Form G-325R must have their own individual USCIS online account. This includes aliens under the age of 14. If you are the parent or legal guardian of an 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 an 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 alien who needs to register must submit Form G-325R from the 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 an alien under the age of 14 who needs to register, you will need to submit Form G-325R on the 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 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 under the Interim Final Rule.

See our Preparing for Your Biometric Services Appointment for more information about what to expect.

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.

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. 

All aliens 18 years of age and over in the United States 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.

Criminal Penalties for Failure to Carry Evidence of Registration

Any alien required to register who is 18 years of age and older and 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.

Address Updates

All aliens in the United States required to register must report a change of address to USCIS within 10 days of moving. We strongly encourage you to submit your change of address through your USCIS online account as soon as you move. See our How to Change Your Address page for more information about updating your address.

Criminal and Immigration Penalties for Failure to Update Your Address with USCIS.

Each alien required to be registered under the alien registration requirements of the INA who is within the United States must notify USCIS in writing of each change of address and new address within 10 days from the date of such change and provide such additional information as the secretary of homeland security may require by regulation. Noncompliance is a misdemeanor punishable by a fine of up to $5,000 or imprisonment for not more than 30 days, or both. In addition, 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.

Avoid Immigration Scams

If you need legal advice on immigration matters, make sure the person helping you is authorized to give legal advice. Only an attorney or accredited representative working for a Department of Justice recognized organization can give you legal advice. Visit the Avoid Scams page for information and resources.

Under section 262 of the INA, with limited exceptions, all aliens above the age of 14 who were not fingerprinted or registered when applying for a visa to enter the United States or at the time of their admission or parole and who remain in the United States for 30 days or longer, must apply for registration and be fingerprinted before the expiration of the 30 days. This includes aliens present in the United States without admission or parole. Under INA 264, DHS is authorized and directed to prepare forms for the registration and fingerprinting of aliens. Regulations implementing the registration requirement are found at 8 CFR part 264. These regulations provide that, if an alien is not already registered, within 30 days after reaching the age of 14, any alien in the United States not exempt from alien registration under the INA and Chapter I of Title 8 of the Code of Federal Regulations must apply for registration and fingerprinting, unless fingerprinting is waived. See 8 CFR 264.1(g) and 8 CFR 264.1(e). Upon registration, DHS must issue the appropriate registration documentation. See INA 264(d) and 8 CFR 264.1(b).

Additionally, the President issued Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion (Jan. 20, 2025), 90 FR 8443 (Jan. 29, 2025). Which, in Section 7, Identification of Unregistered Illegal Aliens, specifically directs the Secretary of Homeland Security to take appropriate action to ensure that all previously unregistered aliens in the United States comply with the statutory registration and fingerprinting requirement and immediately publicize information about the legal obligations associated with registration.

• How to Create a USCIS Online Account
• Preparing for Your Biometrics Appointment
• How to Change Your Address