To curb illegal immigration and enforce stricter immigration policies, President Trump signed Executive Order 14159, titled “Protecting the American People Against Invasion”, on January 20, 2025. Driving this policy shift forward, on February 25, 2025, the USCIS announced a new alien registration requirement mandating many foreign nationals to register and undergo fingerprinting.

This blog discusses all important details regarding this new update that immigrants must know to maintain compliance with the USCIS guidelines.  

What is an Alien Registration Number?

An alien registration number (A-Number) is a 7-9-digit unique number that allows USCIS to track immigrants and record their history. Previously, an alien registration number was only issued to certain lawful immigrants, including green card applicants, asylum seekers and refugees, immigrant visa applicants, Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA), and Temporary Protected Status (TPS).

However, starting February 25, 2025, alien registration became a legal requirement for certain undocumented immigrants, and failure to register will result in serious legal and financial consequences.  

An A-Number is used for several purposes, such as:  

• Tracking immigrants: An A-Number allows USCIS to track applicants and keep a record of their immigration applications, petitions, and case progress.  

• Legal identification: It confirms the lawful presence of immigrants, allowing the government to identify them easily from other undocumented immigrants.

• Immigration case management: It helps USCIS, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), and the executive officer for Immigration Review (EOIR) to maintain case records effectively.    

• Eligibility verification: It helps the government assess an immigrant’s eligibility for work, social security benefits, and federal services.  

Understanding the New Requirement

Trump’s executive order 14159 aims to align immigration policies with the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) section 262.  

According to the government, the implementation of this policy will:  

• Increase national security: The government will have access to immigrants’ crucial details, such as location, immigration records, and other important information, enhancing the overall security of the United States.  

• Enforcement of stricter policies: Executive Order 14159 will strengthen the immigration policies by expanding expedited removal, increasing ICE and CBP personnel, and increasing the involvement of local law enforcement.  

• Reduce illegal immigration: Illegal immigration will significantly decrease with the incorporation of measures such as elevated border security, expanded criminal prosecution for violations, and mandatory registration and tracking of these undocumented immigrants.

USCIS Interim Final Rule

On March 7, 2025, USCIS published an Interim Final Rule (IFR) to bring the alien registration requirement announced in February in action. This rule will be published in the Federal Register on March 12, 2025, and will take effect on April 11, 2025.

Key provisions of IFR include:

• Starting April 11, 2025, all noncitizens must register through a myUSCIS online account.

• Applicants must register using Form G-325R, which will collect important details such as contact information, legal name, addresses, birth date, email, nationality, and past activities.  

• Registration is initially free, but in future noncitizens may have to pay a $30 fee.

• Failure to register or carry valid proof will result in a fine up to $5,000/ imprisonment for up to 30 days, or both.

Key Provisions of Executive Order 14159

• Mandatory registration for certain foreign nationals: Foreign nationals 14 years of age or older must apply for registration and schedule a fingerprinting appointment.      

• Immigration enforcement & legal consequences: DHS, ICE, and USCIS will keep track of all registered immigrants, and any sort of non-compliance will lead to serious penalties, criminal charges, and complications in immigration cases.

• Expansion of biometric data: Biometric data collection, including fingerprinting and facial recognition, will become mandatory for many immigrants

• Federal & local agency involvement: The Government will allow authorities to broaden their reach, enabling the FBI, DOL, and local law enforcement to intervene when required.

Who Needs to Register?

Foreign nationals who fall under these categories must register:

• 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 there for 30 days or more. They must apply prior to the expiry of those 30 days.  

• The parents and legal guardians of aliens under 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.   

• Aliens, whether previously registered or not, who turn 14 years old in the U.S. within 30 days after their 14^th birthday.

Who is Considered Registered?

A foreign national will be considered registered if they fall into any of the following categories:

• Lawful permanent residents

• Individuals paroled into the U.S. under I.N.A. 212(d)(5), even if their parole is expired.

• Individuals admitted to the United States as nonimmigrants with a Form I-94 or I-94W (paper or electronic)

• Individuals issued immigrant or nonimmigrant visas before they arrived in the U.S.

• Individuals placed in removal proceedings by DHS.

• Individuals with employment authorization documents (EADs)

• Individuals who have applied for lawful permanent residence using Forms I-485, I-687, I-691, or I-700. Even if their applications were denied, they will be considered registered.

Who is Considered Not Registered?

• Aliens who are present in the United States without inspection and admission or inspection and parole.

• Canadian visitors who came into the United States at land ports of entry but were not issued evidence of registration.

• Aliens who submitted one or more benefit requests to USCIS, including applications for DACA or TPS, but were not issued any proof of registration.

Process for Registration

DHS will soon announce the official registration process for undocumented immigrants. However, starting February 25, 2025, applicants are required to create their USCIS online account.  

Key steps applicants will have to follow include:  

1. Create an online account: Aliens must sign up for their online account by visiting the official website of USCIS.  

2. Complete and submit the Form G-325R: Once the new form is released, they must fill in all the details carefully and complete their registration via their account.

3. Schedule fingerprinting appointment: Once the application is submitted and reviewed by USCIS, some applicants may be required to attend an in-person biometrics appointment at an Application Support Center (ASC)  

4. Receive proof of registration: After completing the registration and biometric appointment, USCIS will share a proof of registration to the applicant’s myUSCIS account.  

Consequences of Non-Compliance

The purpose of Executive Order 14159 is to enhance scrutiny and implement stricter border guidelines to protect citizens of the United States. Noncompliance in this case will lead to severe consequences such as:  

• Legal penalties: Failure to adhere to the USCIS guidelines will lead to serious fines, sanctions, or criminal charges.  

• Loss of immigration status: Failure to comply will lead to possible visa revocation, denial of renewal, or ineligibility for future immigration benefits.  

• Detention and deportation: In severe cases, aliens may be detained by immigration authorities and removed from the country.  

• Employment restrictions: Aliens will not be allowed to work legally under U.S. employers and will have difficulty in securing future employment.

• Ineligibility for benefits: Aliens will not be subject to any benefits and will be disqualified from benefit programs such as residency, naturalization, and legal protections.

How Can Immigrants Prepare?

With the help of a structured approach, immigrants can easily prepare for the registration process, maintaining compliance with the immigration laws.  

Some actionable steps to follow are:  

• Stay Informed: Stay updated on the latest immigration policies, deadlines, and legal updates by following the official website of USCIS.

• Create the account: Create a USCIS online account to avoid last-minute delays.

• Collect documentation: Collect all essential documentation, such as identification proof, past immigration records, and proof of residence.  

• Seek legal advice: To understand your rights as an immigrant and avoid any errors during the registration process, consult an experienced immigration attorney.  

• Keep proof of evidence safe: Once registered, always carry your proof with you to stay compliant with the USCIS guidelines.

Summing Up

On January 20, 2025, President Trump signed an executive order to protect the American people against invasion. In response to this order, on February 25, 2025, USCIS announced a new alien registration requirement that many foreign nationals will have to follow. Executive Order 14159 mandates alien registration to improve national security, enforce stricter policies, and reduce illegal immigration.  

The registration will be completed using the Form G-325R and DHS will soon release the official registration process. Until then, all applicants must create their myUSCIS account and stay informed on the latest immigration policies, deadlines, and legal updates. Failure to comply with these immigration guidelines will result in serious legal penalties, loss of immigration status, detention, and employment restrictions.

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OnBlick will continue to monitor USCIS and will let you know as soon as new updates become available. For now, if you’re interested, book a free demo to explore how we can assist you with your immigration case management.