Registration Is Now Mandatory — and Most People Are Already Registered

Federal law has long required most noncitizens age 14 and older who stay in the United States 30 days or more to register with the government. That requirement was rarely enforced on its own until an interim rule took effect April 11, 2025 creating a dedicated process. On June 29, 2026, DHS finalized that rule and updated the list of forms and processes that already satisfy registration.

Most immigrants are already registered and do not need to file anything. You are already registered if you have a green card, if you were inspected and admitted or paroled at a port of entry and received a Form I-94, if USCIS issued you an Employment Authorization Document, or if you have applied for most immigration benefits and been issued an Alien Registration Number. People in these groups do not file Form G-325R.

The requirement mainly reaches people who entered the United States without inspection and have never received any registering document from immigration authorities, along with children who turn 14 and must re-register within 30 days, and some Canadian visitors who entered without an I-94. Form G-325R is filed online only, through a USCIS account.

Both registering and not registering carry real risk, and the right answer depends on your situation. Willful failure to register is a misdemeanor punishable by a fine of up to $5,000, up to six months in jail, or both, and can make a person deportable. But registering also gives the government your current address and confirms your presence — and DHS has said it will use registration data for enforcement. Adults who are registered must also carry proof of registration at all times. Do not decide alone: talk to a licensed immigration attorney or an accredited representative before you file anything.