US to Revamp 2025 Immigration Rules: Visa, CSPA, and Country Impacts

The United States is rolling out the most sweeping immigration shifts in years, with new registration rules under EO 14159, fresh funding and fees from the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, and a high‑profile but not‑yet‑enacted proposal, the Dignity Act of 2025. Taken together, the moves immediately raise compliance duties for millions of non‑citizens, expand detention, and add costs for legal pathways, while dangling possible long‑term relief for backlogged green card applicants from India, China, Mexico, and the Philippines.

Executive Order 14159 and the Alien Registration Requirement

Executive Order 14159, issued January 20, 2025, directs the Department of Homeland Security to enforce alien registration under INA §262.

• USCIS launched a national program requiring most non‑citizens who were not registered and fingerprinted at visa processing to register if they stay in the country 30+ days.
• People age 18 and older must carry proof of registration at all times.
• Parents or guardians must register children under 14, and anyone who turns 14 must re‑register within 30 days.
• USCIS requires online filing of Form G‑325R through an individual USCIS account; biometrics may follow.
• Failure to comply can trigger misdemeanor prosecution, fines, and incarceration, and the order makes noncompliance an enforcement priority.

USCIS’s instructions and filing portal are posted on its Alien Registration Requirement page: https://www.uscis.gov/alienregistration.

According to analysis by VisaVerge.com, the requirements affect students, workers, dependents, and visitors who never completed registration at the consulate stage — many with valid status who now must add a new step simply to remain compliant. Each person must file from their own account, so families should plan for separate submissions.

One Big Beautiful Bill Act (effective July 4, 2025)

On July 4, 2025, the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act” became law, reshaping enforcement and benefits architecture.

Key funding and enforcement changes:
– $45 billion for immigration detention — explicitly authorizing family detention and indefinite detention of children and families — funds available through September 30, 2029.
– At least $14 billion to states and localities for border‑related activity, including:
– $10 billion for a State Border Security Reinforcement Fund
– $450 million for Operation Stonegarden
– $3.5 billion to reimburse state enforcement and detention costs since January 21, 2021

New fee and cost structure:
– Asylum seekers must now pay $100 to file plus $100 per year while a case is pending.
– Temporary Protected Status (TPS) applicants and people in immigration court face higher fees, including for motions and appeals.
– Nonimmigrant visas now include a $250 refundable visa bond for every applicant, returned only after proof of perfect compliance following visa expiration — creating new up‑front costs for travelers, students, and workers.

Enforcement posture and litigation risk:
– Early 2025 also saw an aggressive enforcement posture beyond EO 14159: attempts to limit birthright citizenship for babies born after February 19, 2025, daily detention targets communicated to ICE field offices, and cross‑agency assignments bringing Department of Justice personnel into immigration support.
– Several of these actions are expected to face litigation.

Dignity Act of 2025 (proposal)

The Dignity Act of 2025, introduced July 15, remains a proposal and is not law.

Main proposals:
– Raise per‑country caps from 7% to 15% for both family‑ and employment‑based immigrant visas.
– Add a $20,000 premium path for applicants waiting 10+ years, aiming to clear decade‑long backlogs by 2035.
– Protect “Documented Dreamers” who age out as derivatives.

Caveats:
– No 2025 law changed the Child Status Protection Act (CSPA), so age‑out rules remain the same for now.
– Unless and until Congress passes the Dignity Act, current numerical limits and wait times remain in place.

Impact on Applicants — Country‑Specific Effects

For nationals of China and India:
– EO 14159’s registration requirement is the most immediate change.
– Large populations in F‑1, OPT, J‑1, H‑1B, O‑1, and L‑1 categories should confirm whether they were registered and fingerprinted when applying for a U.S. visa.
– If not, and if they remain in the United States for 30 days or more, they must file Form G‑325R online and appear for biometrics if scheduled.
– Adults must carry proof of registration at all times.
– The Act’s $250 visa bond will apply to most future nonimmigrant visa applications.
– Asylum seekers and other relief applicants from China and India now face mandatory fees and higher court costs.
– Any true backlog relief depends on whether the Dignity Act advances.

For Mexican nationals:
– Likely to see the greatest enforcement exposure due to the Act’s detention surge and heavy state funding that can scale border and interior operations.
– Expanded Operation Stonegarden and new state reinforcement grants can intensify joint policing in mixed‑status communities.
– Mexican families with long family‑sponsored waits could benefit if per‑country caps are raised — but nothing has changed yet.

For the Philippines:
– The longest effects today are financial and administrative.
– Many Filipino families sit in multi‑year queues; a move to 15% per‑country caps and the 10‑year premium option would be meaningful if passed.
– Until then, Filipino travelers and workers must meet the same 30‑day registration trigger if they were not previously registered and budget for the $250 bond and higher humanitarian and court fees.

For Japan and other nationalities:
– Japanese nationals face lower exposure at the southern border but are fully subject to the registration mandate and the new visa bond.
– Universities and multinational firms should plan for possible longer consular processing and careful document checks when employees and students travel.
– Other nationalities — including large TPS populations and high‑volume visa users — are equally affected by the nationwide registration rule and the Act’s fee structure.

Advocates warn that the combination of new funding, fees, and expanded detention will raise costs for humanitarian programs and strain families balancing work, school, and legal deadlines.

Practical Compliance Steps (How to Comply with EO 14159)

To comply with EO 14159, follow these practical steps:

1. Confirm whether you were registered and fingerprinted at visa issuance.
2. If you were not registered and you will remain 30+ days in the U.S., you must register.
3. Create your own USCIS online account and submit Form G‑325R via the portal at https://www.uscis.gov/alienregistration.
4. Watch for any biometrics notice and attend as required.
5. If you’re 18+, carry proof of registration at all times.
6. Re‑register within 30 days after turning 14.

Important: Each person must file from their own USCIS account, so families should prepare for separate submissions and potential biometrics appointments.

Key Warnings and Deadlines

• Registration trigger: Remaining in the U.S. for 30+ days without prior consular registration triggers the requirement.
• Proof requirement: Adults 18+ must carry proof of registration at all times.
• Child re‑registration: Re‑register within 30 days of turning 14.
• New fees: Expect $100 asylum filing + $100/year, higher TPS and court fees, and a $250 refundable visa bond for most nonimmigrant visa applicants.
• Detention funding: $45 billion allocated through September 30, 2029 for expanded detention, including family and indefinite detention options.

If you need personalized guidance about how these changes affect your immigration status, consider consulting an immigration practitioner as some measures are likely to be litigated and may change through court decisions or further legislation.