In January 2025, President Trump issued Executive Order 14159 which directed the Department of Homeland Security to ensure that foreign nationals in the United States comply with their duty to register with the government under section 262 of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) (8 U.S.C. 1302).
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.
Foreign nationals in H-1B and H-4 status have already been registered. The only exception is if the H-4 national entered the U.S. prior to their 14th birthday. In that case, the foreign national will need to register when they turn 14 years old.
Foreign nationals who are already registered and thus DO NOT need to register using Form G-325R include:
Lawful permanent residents;
Foreign nationals paroled into the United States under INA 212(d)(5), even if the period of parole has expired;
Foreign nationals 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 Foreign nationals present in the United States who were issued immigrant or nonimmigrant visas before their last date of arrival;
Foreign nationals whom DHS has placed into removal proceedings;
Foreign nationals issued an employment authorization document;
Foreign nationals 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
Foreign nationals 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).
Additionally, the following foreign nationals need to register:
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 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 foreign national children less than 14 years of age: Parents or legal guardians must apply for the registration of children 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 foreign national, whether previously registered or not, who turns 14 years old in the United States, within 30 days after their 14th birthday.
Please note it remains the recommendation that you always carry Evidence of Registration with you. Evidence of Registration to be carried is:
Legal permanent resident ("green cards”);
I-94 – whether issued by Customs and Border Patrol or USCIS (even if the document has expired); and/or
Employment Authorization Document (“EAD”).
