Why The New American Immigration Crackdown Requires All Visa Holders To Keep ID On Them At All Times Or Risk Penalties, Fines, Or Even Jail

Pōʻakahi, ʻApelila 14, 2025

New US immigration rules require Green Card, H-1B, and F-1 visa holders to carry valid ID 24×7, with penalties for non-compliance, including fines and jail time.

US enforces updated immigration policy requiring all visa holders to carry ID at all times

In a recent policy shift, the United States has introduced a mandatory regulation requiring all immigrants—including those on Green Cards, H-1B work visas, and F-1 student visas—to carry valid identification at all times while within the country.

The Trump administration has rolled out a new directive mandating that all immigrants in the United States—including those holding Green Cards, H-1B work visas, and F-1 student visas—must carry valid identification documents at all times. This policy follows a recent U.S. court decision that granted the administration the authority to require immigrant registration with federal authorities. The regulation officially took effect on April 11.

On January 30, former President Donald Trump signed an executive order titled ‘Protecting the American People Against Invasion’, instructing the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to initiate enforcement of the long-overlooked Alien Registration Act.

Mandatory Compliance with Alien Registration Act Provisions

Individuals entering the United States on or after April 11 are now required to complete registration within 30 days of arrival. Non-compliance may lead to penalties, including fines, imprisonment, or both.

Under the updated regulation, parents or legal guardians are responsible for registering children under the age of 14. Upon reaching the age of 14, these individuals must re-register independently and provide fingerprint data within a 30-day window.

According to the Department of Homeland Security, once fingerprints are submitted and registration is approved, immigrants aged 18 and older will be issued proof of registration—an identification document that must be kept on their person at all times.

The regulation includes specific exemptions for American Indians born in Canada who have entered the U.S. under Section 289 of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA), as well as members of the Kickapoo Traditional Tribe of Texas entering through provisions of the Texas Band of Kickapoo Act.

Authorities have cautioned that non-compliance with the new requirements could lead to both civil and criminal consequences. Offenders may be charged with a misdemeanor, face fines reaching up to $5,000, serve up to six months in jail, or be subjected to both penalties.

USCIS has made it clear that completing the registration process does not grant any immigration status, work authorization, or legal rights or benefits under U.S. law.

Once registered, all immigrants aged 18 and older are required to carry their proof of registration at all times. Failure to produce this documentation when requested could result in penalties of up to $5,000, a jail term of up to 30 days, or both.

The revised policy also mandates that all immigrants must notify USCIS of any change in address within 10 days. Ignoring this requirement could lead to similar consequences—fines of up to $5,000, up to 30 days of imprisonment, or both.

Who does the new regulation not apply to?

As per USCIS guidelines, certain individuals are already regarded as registered and are therefore exempt from the new registration requirement. This includes lawful permanent residents, applicants for permanent residency, individuals with valid work authorization, and those paroled into the U.S. Additionally, non-immigrants admitted with a valid Form I-94, holders of Border Crossing Cards, individuals placed in removal proceedings by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), and those who entered the country using immigrant or nonimmigrant visas issued prior to their most recent arrival are also exempt.

Individuals who have not applied for a visa through the U.S. Department of State, entered the country without inspection, submitted benefit requests to USCIS, or Canadian nationals who entered via land ports of entry without receiving official registration documents are not exempt from the new regulation.

What does this mean for Indian nationals with Green Cards, F-1, or H-1B visas?

Indian citizens who have legally entered the United States on valid visas—such as student (F-1), work (H-1B), or travel visas—and those holding Green Cards, employment authorization, Border Crossing Cards, or an I-94 record are generally deemed registered under the updated rule. However, they are still required to carry valid identification at all times and must be prepared to show it if requested by immigration or law enforcement authorities.