The Trump administration has published new Homeland Security rules that impact many Israelis – and especially Israeli families – on relocation or simply visiting in the United States. The new rules involve mandatory registration and change of address requirements, with criminal penalties for failure to comply. Compliance with these requirements will now be a critical aspect of relocation to the U.S.
The New Registration Rule
As of April 11, 2025, all foreign citizens 14 years of age and older, who remain in the United States for 30 days or more, must register and be fingerprinted with Homeland Security. Failure to do so is a misdemeanor punishable under criminal law by imprisonment of up to six months, a fine of up to $5,000, or both.
Thankfully, and with one very important exception, many Israelis on relocation in the U.S. will be automatically considered as registered under this new rule, because they applied for visas and were fingerprinted at a U.S. Embassy. Israelis visiting the U.S. under the ESTA visa waiver program will also be considered as registered.
Important Exception: Children
Children who turn 14 while in the U.S. will not be considered registered because they were not previously fingerprinted. They must now register and be fingerprinted within 30 days of their 14th birthday. This includes, for example, children holding L-2, E-1 and E-2 family and O-3 visas. Failure to do so will be considered a misdemeanor on the part of both parents, punishable by imprisonment of up to six months, a fine of up to $5,000, or both.
To register children at age 14, Form G-325R must be submitted through a USCIS online account. Once submitted, USCIS will schedule a fingerprinting appointment at a USCIS Application Support Center. Form G-325R can be accessed here.
I-94 Admission Records
The new registration rule requires all foreign citizens 18 years and older to carry proof of their registration status at all times. For Israelis on relocation, this proof will be the I-94 admission record. The I-94 can be accessed here. Failure to carry one’s I-94 admissions record is a misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment of up to 30 days, a fine of up to $5,000, or both.
Change of Address
Foreign citizens must notify Homeland Security of a change of address within 10 days of the change. This has been a requirement for many years, but the Trump administration has become serious about enforcement, with increased sanctions set forth in the new Homeland Security rule. The change of address notification should be submitted on Form AR-11, which can be accessed here. Failure to submit this notification is now a misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment of up to 30 days, a fine of up to $5,000 or both.
Note: When applying for a visa you will have answered the question “Address where you will stay in the U.S.” on the DS-160 visa application form. If after relocating you move to a different address, you must submit this AR-11 notification.
Our Recommendation
Our recommendation: Take this seriously. As of April 11th, registering your 14-year-olds, carrying your I-94 at all times, and submitting a change of address notification will become a critical aspect of every Israeli’s relocation to the United States. Risking a misdemeanor by ignoring any of these requirements can have severe and far-reaching consequences, including the possible revocation of your current visa, deportation, future visa denials and the inability to travel the United States in the future.
The content is provided for informational purposes only and is not intended to be comprehensive. It does not serve to replace professional legal advice required on a case by case basis.
