U.S. Immigration Rule: Do You Need to Register if You Stay 30 Days or Longer?

Preview

This article provides general information about the registration process for individuals who intend to stay in the U.S. for 30 days or longer. This is an informational article only and does not constitute legal advice. Immigration rules are complex and situation specific. If you’re unsure about your obligations or your status, consult a licensed immigration attorney. Undocumented people should understand the consequences of registering or not registering and are especially encouraged to seek advice from an immigration lawyer before acting.

What happened?

U.S. authorities have revived an old rule that could affect individuals who stay in the U.S. for 30 days or longer.

On Jan. 20, 2025, President Trump issued Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion, which directed the Department of Homeland Security to ensure that people comply with the duty to register with the government and ensure that failure to comply with the registration requirement is treated as a civil and criminal enforcement priority.

On June 29, 2026, DHS published a final rule that adopts the earlier interim final rule as final and updates the list of immigration forms and processes that meet the registration requirement. People who must register and have not yet done so can continue to use Form G-325R.

What does this rule mean in practice — and who needs to worry?

We were able to extract three practical conclusions from the announcement:

Mandatory Registration for Undocumented Individuals Aged 14 and Older: Undocumented individuals aged 14 and older who entered the U.S. without authorization and have not had prior contact with immigration authorities are now required to register with the government. This includes providing personal information and, in some cases, biometric data.

Parental Responsibility for Children Under 14: Parents or legal guardians must register their children under 14 who entered the U.S. without authorization and have not had prior contact with immigration authorities. This is to ensure that all individuals, regardless of age, are accounted for under the registration requirements.

Obligation to Report Address Changes: All non-citizens required to register must inform the government of any change of address within ten days. Failure to do so may result in legal consequences, including fines or other penalties.

Let’s break it down.

The law requires that, with limited exceptions, all individuals 14 years of age or older who were not registered and fingerprinted (if needed) when applying for a U.S. visa and who remain in the United States for 30 days or longer must apply for registration and fingerprinting. The 30-day test applies to each trip: USCIS says to check whether you need to register every time you enter the United States for 30 days or longer.

Parents and legal guardians of children under 14 must ensure they are registered. Within 30 days of their 14th birthday, all previously registered children must apply for re-registration and fingerprinting.

Once an individual has registered and appeared for fingerprinting (unless waived), the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) will issue evidence of registration, which any individual 18 years of age or older must always carry and keep in their possession.

The law also requires that all unregistered individuals (or previously registered children who turn 14 years old) in the United States for 30 days or longer comply with these requirements.

How do you know if you need to register?

You might fall under two categories to determine if you must register.

The first category consists of individuals who are already considered registered

Many groups in the U.S. are considered registered. In dry legalese, 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.

Here are some examples of people who are registered:

• Lawful permanent residents (green card holders), although a permanent resident who turns 14 must re-register by filing Form I-90;
• People who were paroled into the U.S. for humanitarian reasons or a significant public benefit even if the period of parole has expired;
• People who came to the U.S. as nonimmigrants who were issued Form I-94, I-94A or I-94W (paper or electronic), even if the period of admission has expired;
• People admitted to the U.S. as crewmen who were issued Form I-95 or Form I-184;
• All people present in the U.S. who were issued immigrant or nonimmigrant visas by the Department of State before their most recent date of arrival and were admitted into the U.S. using that visa;
• People whom DHS has placed into removal proceedings;
• People who have an expedited removal order;
• People who reentered the U.S. illegally and whose prior order of removal has been reinstated;
• People issued an employment authorization document;
• People who have applied for lawful permanent residence using Form I-485, I-687 or I-698 and provided fingerprints (unless waived), even if the applications were denied;
• People who were issued Border Crossing Cards; and
• People who were last admitted to the U.S. through one of the Trusted Traveler Programs: NEXUS, SENTRI, FAST or Global Entry.

The second category is – all the rest

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. This list includes:

• Individuals present in the U.S. without inspection and admission or inspection and parole who have not otherwise registered – by that, they mainly mean people who crossed the border illegally;
• Canadian visitors who entered the United States at land ports of entry and were not issued evidence of registration, such as a Form I-94, and have not otherwise registered;
• People who submitted specific benefit requests to the USCIS, including applications for deferred action or Temporary Protected Status, and who were not issued evidence of registration; and
• Children born in the U.S. to a foreign government employee, if neither parent is a U.S. citizen, who have not otherwise registered.

Is there a deadline for registration?

Yes. If you must register, the law sets these deadlines:

Any person 14 years of age or older who was not registered and fingerprinted (if required) when applying for a visa to enter the United States and who remains in the United States for 30 days or longer must apply before the expiration of those 30 days;

The parents or legal guardians of children less than 14 years of age 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 child who turns 14 in the United States must apply within 30 days after their 14th birthday.

All individuals required to register must report a change of their address within 10 days of such change.

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. Nonimmigrants in A status (diplomats and other foreign government officials) or G status (people associated with international organizations) who remain entitled to that status are also not required to register.

What if you’re undocumented?

Undocumented immigrants need to understand the consequences of registration; for that reason, we recommend consulting with a trusted legal representative. Signing up to register could lead to detention, deportation, and possibly criminal prosecution. Government officials have said that they plan to use the information they get from registration to find and arrest people, deport them, or pressure them to leave the United States on their own.

What information is collected when registering?

One way to register is by submitting Form G-325R, which collects detailed personal information, including:

• Name and all other names used
• Mailing and physical address, and all addresses for the past five years
• Date of birth and country of birth
• Country of citizenship or nationality
• Alien Registration Number (A-Number) and U.S. Social Security number, if any, and current passport details
• Immigration history, including date and place of last arrival in the U.S., immigration status at arrival and Form I-94 number
• “Activities” the person has done in the U.S., activities they plan to do in the future, and how long they expect to stay in the U.S.
• Biographic information including sex, ethnicity, race, height, weight, and eye and hair color
• Detailed criminal history, including arrests, charges, convictions and sentences anywhere in the world, and any crime committed even without an arrest
• Detailed biographic information regarding the person’s current and previous spouses, children, father, and mother, including name, date of birth, and country of birth

How to register?

There are a few steps you must take to register:

• Step 1: Create a personal USCIS account. Everyone, including children under 14, must have their own USCIS online account. A parent or legal guardian creates the account for a child under 14, in the child’s name.

• Step 2: Submit form G-325R. After you and your children have created your USCIS online account, fill out and submit an electronic G-325R. Form G-325R must be filed online; it cannot be filed by mail or in person.

• Step 3: USCIS review. Now you have to wait. The USCIS will review the information you have submitted and compare it with their records. There are two options here:
  • Suppose you’ve already complied with the registration requirements in some other way and do not need to submit Form G-325R. In that case, USCIS will notify you that you have already complied with the registration requirement. It will not schedule you for a biometric appointment, nor will it provide you with evidence of registration.
  • Suppose you are required to register. In that case, USCIS will review your submission to determine if you must appear for a biometric services appointment. If you must appear, USCIS will notify you electronically through your USCIS online account and will not send the appointment notice by mail. Suppose you are not required to appear for a biometric services appointment (for example, Canadian visitors and aliens under 14). In that case, USCIS will provide you with evidence of registration.

• Step 4: Attend an appointment for biometrics collection. If you are required to register and provide biometrics, USCIS will schedule you for a biometric services appointment at a USCIS Application Support Center (ASC). Registrants are not required to pay a biometric services fee. A willful failure or refusal to attend a required biometric services appointment may result in a determination that you have failed to register, and may result in criminal penalties.

• Step 5: Receive registration documentation. Once you have registered and provided your biometrics (if required), you’ll get a notice (USCIS Proof of G-325R Registration) in your USCIS online account that provides proof of your registration. In your USCIS online account, you can download and print a PDF version of the notice. Always keep this document on you.

What happens if you fail to comply with these requirements?

If you willfully fail or refuse to apply – for yourself or your children – to register or be fingerprinted, if required, you risk being guilty of a misdemeanor. You will, upon conviction, be fined an amount not to exceed $5,000 or be imprisoned not more than 6 months, or both.

What if you fail to carry the evidence of registration?

Same as failure to register. Suppose you are 18 years of age or older and don’t carry the evidence of registration. In that case, you risk being guilty of a misdemeanor and will, upon conviction, for each offense be fined an amount not to exceed $5,000 or be imprisoned not more than 30 days, or both.

What if your address has changed?

If you are in the United States and are required to register, you must report a change of address to USCIS within 10 days of moving. If you don’t, you risk being found guilty of a misdemeanor punishable by a fine of up to $5,000 or imprisonment for not more than 30 days or both. You also risk being deportable unless you establish that your failure was reasonably excusable or not willful.

Does registration mean you secured immigration status in the United States?

NO! registration is not an immigration status; registration documentation does not create an immigration status, establish employment authorization, or provide any other right or benefit under U.S. law.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do Canadian snowbirds need to register with USCIS?

It depends on how they entered. A Canadian who was issued a Form I-94 (paper or electronic) at entry, or who was last admitted through NEXUS, SENTRI, FAST or Global Entry, is already registered. A Canadian visitor who entered at a land port of entry, was not issued an I-94, has not otherwise registered and stays 30 days or longer must apply to register before those 30 days end. USCIS gives Canadian visitors as an example of registrants who do not need a biometric services appointment.

Does the 30-day registration rule apply to every trip to the U.S.?

Yes. USCIS says the registration requirement applies to each trip of 30 days or more, so check whether you need to register every time you enter the United States for 30 days or longer. If you are already registered for your current stay, for example because you were issued a Form I-94 at your most recent entry, you do not need to submit Form G-325R. Anyone who is outside the United States does not need to register.

Do green card holders need to register?

Usually not. Lawful permanent residents are already registered, and the Permanent Resident Card (Form I-551) is evidence of registration. A permanent resident aged 18 or older must carry the card at all times and must report a change of address to USCIS within 10 days of moving. A permanent resident child who turns 14 in the United States must re-register and be fingerprinted by filing Form I-90 within 30 days after their 14th birthday.

Can a lawyer submit Form G-325R for me?

No. USCIS says attorneys and accredited representatives may not submit Form G-325R on behalf of their clients. A registrant aged 14 or older must submit the form from their own USCIS online account, and a parent or legal guardian submits it for a child under 14 through an account created in the child’s name. A lawyer can still advise you on whether you need to register and which registration option fits your circumstances.

Can I show my proof of registration on my phone?

Yes. USCIS says you can meet the carry requirement by carrying a mobile device that can display your evidence of registration, such as your Form I-94 or your USCIS Proof of G-325R Registration, or by carrying a printed copy of the evidence of registration that DHS issued to you electronically. The requirement applies at all times to everyone 18 years of age and over who is required to register.

What if my biometrics appointment is scheduled after the 30-day deadline?

USCIS says that if you have submitted Form G-325R and your biometric services appointment has not yet been scheduled, or is scheduled for a future date, you have not willfully failed or refused to register or be fingerprinted, even if the 30-day period has passed. You must still attend the appointment. A willful failure or refusal to attend a required appointment may be treated as a failure to register and may lead to criminal penalties.

What should you do next?

Check your current status, especially your I-94 if you’ve got one, to confirm your class of admission and stay limits.

Know your entry details, especially if you’re Canadian and didn’t receive an I-94

Keep track of your time in the U.S. on each trip, and consult a lawyer if you’re approaching 30 days.

Avoid assuming you’re exempt.

Why should you talk with a lawyer?

A lawyer can help determine if you must register under the registration requirement, especially if you’re uncertain about your immigration status or prior interactions with U.S. immigration authorities.

For individuals without legal status, registering may expose you to enforcement actions, including detention or deportation. Legal counsel can evaluate your situation and advise on the safest action.

An attorney can guide you through the registration process, ensuring that all information provided is accurate and complete. This can help you avoid penalties for non-compliance or misinformation.

Need Help Clarifying Your Status or Obligations?

At Mayo Law, we work with clients across the U.S. and Canada to ensure full compliance with immigration laws, including visitors, students, workers, and those without current legal status.

Visit http://www.mayo.law or contact us to schedule a consultation.