Executive Order & USCIS Policy Update: Alien Registration

Dear UT Dallas International & Immigrant Students

OICS is working to continue to keep you apprised of developments with the federal administration that could potentially affect our international and immigrant population at UT Dallas. The following immigration policy update will not affect the majority of legal permanent residents or non-immigrant visa holders, but may affect some dependent children, as well as those on DACA, TPS, and non-visa holders. We want to make you aware of the changes and any scenarios that could apply.

On Jan. 20, 2025, President Trump issued the Protecting the American People Against Invasion executive order which directed the Department of Homeland Security to ensure that aliens comply with their duty to register with the government and ensure that failure to comply is given priority in enforcement.

The Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) requires that, with limited exceptions, all aliens 14 years of age or 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. Similarly, parents and guardians must ensure that their children below the age of 14 are registered. Within 30 days of reaching their 14th birthday, the previously registered alien child must apply for re-registration and to be fingerprinted.

Who is already considered “registered”?

• Noncitizens admitted to the United States as nonimmigrants who were issued Form I-94 or I-94W (paper or electronic), even if the period of admission has expired;
  • The majority of non-immigrant visa status holders in the U.S. are already registered via I-94, including those who changed their status by I-539 petition within the U.S.
• Lawful permanent residents;
• Noncitizens paroled into the United States under INA 212(d)(5), even if the period of parole has expired;
• All non-citizens present in the United States who were issued immigrant or nonimmigrant visas prior to arrival;
• Noncitizens whom DHS has placed into removal proceedings;
• Noncitizens issued an employment authorization document;
• Noncitizens who have applied for lawful permanent residence using Forms I-485, I-687, I-691, I-698, I-700, even if the applications were denied; and,
• Noncitizens issued Border Crossing Cards.

Who is not registered?

Anyone who has not been issued one of the documents designated as evidence of registration under 8 CFR 264.1(b) and has not submitted one of the forms designated at 8 CFR 264.1(a) and provided fingerprints (unless waived) is not registered. This includes:

• Noncitizens who are present in the United States without inspection and admission or inspection and parole;
• Canadian visitors who entered the United States at land ports of entry and were not issued evidence of registration; and,
• Aliens who submitted one or more benefit requests to USCIS not listed in 8 CFR 264.1(a), including applications for Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals or Temporary Protected Status, who were not issued evidence of registration.

Dependent Children and New/Ongoing Registration Requirements

• Any noncitizen, whether previously registered or not, who turns 14 years old in the United States, within 30 days after their 14th birthday. If you have dependent children who have or will turn 14 years old since your last entry into the U.S., they are subject to registration.
• All noncitizens 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 will remain in the United States for 30 days or longer must apply before the expiration of those 30 days.
• The parents and legal guardians of noncitizens less than 14 years of age who have not been registered and remain in the United States for 30 days or longer  must register, prior to the expiration of those 30 days.

If you are in a scenario that requires registration, DHS will soon announce a form and process to complete the registration requirement. Beginning Feb. 25, 2025, DHS advises noncitizens whom they require to register to create a USCIS online account in preparation for the registration process, if they don’t already have one. See the How to Create a USCIS Online Account page for more information. Once the registration process is implemented, noncitizens will submit their registration, and parents and guardians will submit registration applications on behalf of their children under 14, through their USCIS online account.

USCIS states that all noncitizens over 18 must keep evidence of their immigration status at all times. You can continue to monitor the USCIS Alien Registration page for updates and additional information.

OICS is here for you

Our goal is to ensure that you have the information you need to manage your immigration status during your time in the U.S. You can reach out to OICS through your iComet Portal,  or schedule an appointment.

Do not reply to this email. Clicking “reply” will send a message to the entire listserv. Unapproved listserv messages will be rejected. Instead, contact the OICS directly – OICS.utdallas.edu/advising/

Warm regards,

Office of Immigrant and Citizenship Services (OICS)

The University of Texas at Dallas

Immigration Advising

isso.utdalls.edu/advising/