Beginning in April 2025, the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) requires young nonimmigrants who turn 14 while in the United States to "re-register" with USCIS within 30 days of their birthday. This may affect, for example, F-2, J-2, H-4, O-3, and TD dependents of Harvard-sponsored students and scholars. 

What is the New Alien Registration Requirement?

The law requires non-U.S. citizens residing in the U.S. to register with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) by providing personal information including fingerprints and home addresses.  

USCIS published a web page called Alien Registration Requirement, that explains who and how certain individuals must "register" or "re-register.”  This page includes a useful tool that you can use to determine whether the requirement applies to you or not.  

Who is already considered to be registered?

Most nonimmigrants are already registered. Most nonimmigrants (for example, F-1, J-1, H-1B, O-1, etc. and their dependents) who were aged 14 or over when they entered the United States were likely already registered with the U.S. government upon their arrival. You have completed registration, and you will not have to re-register under this new program if you: 

• Received a visa at a U.S. consulate;  

• Arrived at a U.S. port of entry and were admitted by a U.S. Customs and Border Protection Officer; and  

• Received a Form I-94 (either on paper or electronically). 

Canadians are exempt from the registration requirement, except for some tourists who never received an I-94 at a land border. All Canadian citizens present in F, J, TN, H, O, or other Harvard-sponsored immigration statuses are considered registered based on their I-94 information. 

Who is required to register? 

All noncitizens aged 14 and older who were not fingerprinted or registered 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. Parents and guardians are responsible for registering children under 14. Once a child reaches their 14th birthday, they must apply for re-registration and fingerprinting within 30 days. 

• If you have dependent children who turn 14 years old while in the U.S., you must take steps to register them.

• Those in a dependent immigration status (e.g., F-2, J-2, H-4, O-3, etc.), who have turned 14 since their last entry into the U.S., should re-register. 

• Parents and guardians are responsible for registering children under 14. Once a child reaches their 14th birthday, they must apply for re-registration and fingerprinting within 30 days. 

How can I complete registration for myself and/or my dependents? 

The G-325R, which will serve as the registration form, is accessible in applicant MyUSCIS accounts. 

Is there a cost associated with registration?

The USCIS has not specified a fee for the alien registration process itself. However, according to INA 266, willful non-compliance can lead to significant penalties, including misdemeanor conviction, civil fines of up to $1,000 or imprisonment of up to 6 months, and potential immigration consequences.

Important Notes 

• Registration does not provide a legal immigration status or work authorization. 

• The HIO provides general guidance on these matters based on information obtained from reliable sources and reflecting our years of experience working with students and scholars.  We make every attempt to ensure that we provide you with the most up to date information available.  Any advice provided to you by our office (as well as the information provided here) does not constitute legal advice.   

• It is your responsibility to make sure you and your dependents continue maintaining your Harvard-sponsored immigration status.  

• The HIO does its best to provide you with the most current guidance, but please be advised that the Department of Homeland Security, USCIS, or other U.S. government agencies may change their respective interpretations of these policies, procedures, regulations, and eligibility requirements at any time.  The HIO is not responsible for any errors or omissions, or for the results obtained from the aforementioned entities. 

• Information about such changes will be provided to you by email and can also be reviewed on the What’s New section of our website.