- Non-citizens age 14 and older must register with USCIS if staying over 30 days.
- The A-Number serves as a permanent identification number for almost all immigration-related filings.
- Applicants must report address or contact changes within ten days to ensure compliance.
(UNITED STATES) Alien registration is now a routine part of immigration compliance for many non-citizens in the United States. If you are 14 or older and have been in the country for 30 days or more, USCIS expects you to register, create a record, and keep that record current. The process also ties every case to an Alien Registration Number, better known as an A-Number.
That number follows a person through most immigration systems. It appears on notices, work permits, green cards, and removal papers. It also helps agencies connect identity, travel history, and case status across government databases. According to analysis by VisaVerge.com, accurate registration now sits at the center of both immigration benefits and enforcement.
The modern process rests on a long legal history. Congress created the basic registration framework in the Alien Registration Act of 1940, and Section 262 of the Immigration and Nationality Act still supports it today. Under that system, USCIS collects biographic, biometric, and contact data from many non-citizens. That includes full name, birth date, nationality, address, phone number, prior immigration history, and fingerprints.
For people entering the system for the first time, the journey begins online. USCIS directs applicants to its alien registration portal through a free account. Applicants then complete Form G-325R, the biographic information form. The form itself carries no fee, although biometrics cost $85 unless a waiver applies. After that filing, USCIS schedules a biometrics appointment at an Application Support Center, usually within 30 days. Adults and many children 14 or older must provide fingerprints and a photograph, and some cases also include iris scans.
After biometrics, USCIS issues confirmation. That notice includes the A-Number and proof of registration. People age 18 and older are expected to carry that proof in physical or digital form. The record becomes part of the person’s permanent immigration history unless they later naturalize. From there, it affects nearly every future filing, from employment authorization to adjustment of status.
The A-Number matters because it links every related file. A person may find it on an old green card, an approval notice, an Employment Authorization Document, or a deportation order. It also appears on many USCIS forms, including Form I-485, Form I-765, Form I-90, and Form N-400. Anyone who has lost the number can search prior paperwork or request a copy through a Freedom of Information Act request using Form G-639.
Accuracy matters at every step. A wrong A-Number, a biometric mismatch, or an outdated address can slow or derail a filing. In April 2026, matching errors blocked a share of employment-based adjustments, showing how fast a small mistake can spread through the system. USCIS and DHS use these records for benefits processing, security checks, and enforcement decisions. The same file can support a green card application one month and a removal case the next.
Recent policy changes have made the process stricter. Enforcement expanded on April 11, 2025, after Executive Order 14159. USCIS also reported broad processing of registrations into 2026, with more than 2.8 million registrations processed as of April 2026. The system now reaches far beyond first-time entrants. It affects nonimmigrant workers, students, exchange visitors, parolees, asylees, and some family members waiting for adjustment.
Not everyone must register. U.S. citizens do not. Lawful permanent residents already satisfy the requirement through their green cards. Certain diplomats and NATO officials are also exempt, as are children under 14 unless USCIS directs otherwise. Everyone else must treat registration as a live obligation, not a one-time event. Address, phone, email, and employment changes must be reported within 10 days.
The government is using the records in more ways than before. USCIS data now feeds other DHS systems, including ICE and CBP. It also supports identity checks for public benefits, school compliance, and employer verification. In 2026, local enforcement partnerships under 287(g) began checking A-Numbers during encounters, which made accurate documents even more important. Travelers from restricted countries also face closer inspection and may need proof of registration at entry.
For applicants, the timeline is usually straightforward but not always quick. Filing the online form can take a short time. Biometrics follows next. Confirmation may arrive in 45 to 90 days, although digital processing has shortened some waits. Over 80% of 2025-2026 registrants completed the process online, showing how quickly USCIS is shifting toward paperless case handling.
When records look wrong, quick action prevents bigger problems. A person should first review their account or request an in-person appointment if needed. If a record is missing, Form G-639 can request the full file. If the A-Number is wrong, Form I-102 is used to replace or correct it. Address changes belong on Form AR-11 or through the online account. If USCIS denies a fix, Form I-290B opens the appeal path.
The practical effect is simple. Clean registration records help people move through green card filings, work authorization, and naturalization with fewer delays. They also reduce the risk of problems during travel, employer checks, or police encounters. USCIS now treats the Alien Registration Number as a core identifier, not a background detail. The agency’s official registration page, USCIS Alien Registration, explains the current filing process and links to the online system.
For people building a life in the United States, the file created today may shape every later step. A correct A-Number, an updated address, and a complete registration record keep the immigration path open. A missing digit can do the opposite.
