When President Donald Trump arrived at the Oval Office to begin his second term on January 20th, his advisors had prepared 26 executive orders for his signature. At least eight of the orders signed on that day enacted new immigration policies, including Executive Order 14159, “Protecting the American People Against Invasion.” Like other orders in the flurry that Trump has been signing, 14159 is ominously titled. Nonetheless, it mostly adds a level of enforcement and bureaucracy to some provisions of Title 8 of the U.S. Code, more commonly known as the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA).
Before INA was initially enacted in the early 1950s, American laws on immigration were codified separately. One was the Alien Registration Act, which required all foreigners to register with designated federal agencies and carry proof of registration. The requirement didn’t go away with the INA implementation. Instead, it was implied, modernized, and incorporated as a step in other processes. For instance, when software developers from India apply for H-1B non-immigrant visas, they’re registered through the filing of Form DS-160, which already requires electronic fingerprinting, thereby completing the registration process. Keep reading for a more detailed explanation of this new requirement, brought to you by the experienced attorneys from KS Visa Law, the best immigration lawyers in San Diego.
The New Form G-325R for Biographic Information and Registration
To comply with the new executive order, the Department of Homeland Security created an Alien Registration Requirement (ARR) managed by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). The ARR process can be completed online or by filing a paper version of form G-325R. Foreigners entering the U.S. are subject to ARR if they:
- Are at least 14 years old
- Expect to remain in the U.S. for 30 days or longer
- Don’t have I-94 documents
- Haven’t completed a DS-160 or DS-260 form
Form G-325R was released in April 2025 with an online ARR Determination Tool companion. When the form is submitted and approved, DHS issues a receipt that a foreigner should always carry with his or her passport. To some extent, the DHS receipt for G-325R functions similarly to a green card or I-94 document. Carrying the receipt is crucial because of the anti-immigration policies and the overzealous enforcement of the Trump administration.
Should You File Form G-325R?
As mentioned before, if you already provided fingerprints to complete forms DS-160 or DS-260 as part of your visa or immigration benefits application, you’re already registered and aren’t subject to ARR. Let’s say a German tourist was approved for the Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA). In this case, fingerprinting was already completed, so there’s no ARR to worry about. The same can be said about a businesswoman from the Philippines approved for a combined B-1/B-2 visa.
A Nicaraguan activist persecuted by the Ortega regime for her political views wouldn’t need to file Form G-325R because she would be filing Form I-589, which requires biometrics for asylum requests. A 13-year-old Canadian whose parents are on a business trip that didn’t require I-94 issuance would have to file Form G-325R if he or she celebrates his or her 14th birthday in the U.S. The same can be said about foreigners who entered the U.S. without going through a Customs and Border Protection inspection.
You can check if you’re subject to ARR by visiting the USCIS website and navigating to the section on Form G-325R, where you can find the ARR determination tool. If you still have questions about your ARR status, an immigration law firm can help you.
For more information on issues such as immigration status, citizenship, naturalization, and family-based immigration, San Diego residents should reach out to the experienced immigration attorneys at KS Visa Law. Call us today to schedule an appointment.
