Recently, the U.S. government announced that all immigrants within the United States, including those holding valid work or student visas, must carry proof of their legal status with them at all times. The implementation of this new regulation stems from the "Alien 30-Day Registration Order" that took effect on April 11.
This regulation requires foreign nationals who remain in the U.S. for 30 days or longer to register with the federal government by April 11, 2025. This move is the latest in a series of measures by the Trump administration to crack down on undocumented immigrants and accelerate the deportation process for those without legal residency status.
A White House spokesperson stated, "Failure to comply with this regulation is a criminal offense, punishable by fines, imprisonment, or both... otherwise, you will be arrested, fined, deported, and permanently barred from returning to the United States."
Under current law, foreign nationals who fail to complete the registration as required may face the following penalties—a fine of up to $5,000 or imprisonment for up to 6 months, or both. This will affect future visa applications, immigration petitions, and may even lead to deportation.
Who needs to register?
The core target of the new regulation is illegal or undocumented immigrants. Specifically, all non-citizens aged 14 and older who stay in the U.S. for more than 30 days must complete registration by filling out "Form G-325R"; non-citizens under the age of 14 must be registered by their parents.
In addition, individuals entering the U.S. on or after April 11 must complete registration within 30 days of arrival. If you change your address, you must report it to the government within 10 days, or you may be fined up to $5,000. Immigrant children who turn 14 must also re-register and submit fingerprint information within 30 days.
Who does not need to register?
l Lawful permanent residents, i.e., green card holders;
l Foreign nationals admitted to the U.S. for humanitarian or other reasons under Section 212(d)(5) of the Immigration and Nationality Act, even if the parole period has expired;
l Foreign nationals who entered the U.S. in a non-immigrant status and have been issued Form I-94 or Form I-94W (paper or electronic), even if the authorized period of stay has expired;
l All foreign nationals who are in the U.S. and have obtained an immigrant or non-immigrant visa prior to their last date of arrival;
l Foreign nationals who have been placed in removal proceedings by the Department of Homeland Security;
l Foreign nationals who have obtained an Employment Authorization Document (EAD);
l Foreign nationals who have filed the following forms to apply for lawful permanent resident status and have provided fingerprints (unless exempted), even if the application is denied; forms include I-485, I-687, I-691, I-698, and I-700;
l Foreign nationals who have obtained Border Crossing Cards (BCC).
It can be seen that for green card/valid EAD holders or applicants who have already filed Form I-485, there is no need to worry; the U.S. government considers them to have completed registration, and no further form submission is required.
However, it should be noted that all non-citizens aged 18 and older must carry valid identification documents with them. Immigration officials have the right to inspect them at any time, and failure to produce them may result in law enforcement consequences.
In general, the direct purpose of this new regulation by the Trump administration is to crack down on illegal immigration. Of course, Worldway Group advises all foreign nationals planning to travel to the U.S. or currently in the U.S. to carry their green card, I-94, or EAD card and other identity documents when going out to avoid compliance risks due to missing information.
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For inquiries in mainland China: 400-138-2929, Hong Kong customer service center: (852)2802 8798* Investment involves risks, the above information is for reference only.*