A recent biometric registration regulation by the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has created confusion among Indian nationals in the US. But immigration specialists explain that the modification primarily affects unauthorized aliens and not those with genuine visas.
“There is much confusion regarding the registration requirements that came into effect from April 11, 2025, and specifically who should re-register and who need not,” commented Shilpa Gokare, managing partner at Gokare Law Firm that deals with business immigration cases both in the US and India. “We are getting plenty of calls regarding this issue from visa holders as well as green card holders,” she told The Times of India.
The cause of confusion is with a new type, G-325R, which USCIS has brought in to capture biometric information. This online registration is aimed at individuals residing in the US without legal immigration status. Individuals already having an I-94 record, such as workers, students, and visitors, are already registered and do not require any additional action.
The I-94 is an arrival/departure record from the US Department of Homeland Security. It’s issued to most non-immigrant travelers, including H-1B employees, F-1 students, and B-1/B-2 tourists. This record provides evidence of legal entry and states how long one can stay in the US. The records are normally issued electronically and are viewable at www.cbp.gov/i94.
As far as children are concerned, Gokare explained, “All those Indians who have an I-94 are already registered, including children below the age of 14 years.” Nevertheless, once children on visa types like H-4, L-2, TD, R-2, and B-2 become 14, they need to re-register within 30 days of becoming 14 and go through fingerprinting. The form needs to be submitted through a USCIS online account opened for the child.
Green card holders follow a different process. Children below the age of 14 who are permanent residents need to file Form I-90 within 30 days of reaching 14 years to inform USCIS. There may or may not be a fee to file, depending on when their existing green card expires. “If the existing green card expires after their 16th birthday, there is no filing fee. If it expires prior to that, then the filing fees come into play,” said Gokare.