The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) have finalized a new regulation that expands biometric entry and exit screening for all non-U.S. citizens beginning December 26, 2025. The rule amends 8 CFR 215.8(a) and 8 CFR 235.1(f) to authorize CBP to collect photographs and other biometric identifiers from foreign nationals both at the time of entry and departure from the United States.
The change means that all non-citizens, including lawful permanent residents and those traveling on temporary visas, may be required to provide facial images or fingerprints at any airport, seaport, or land port of entry and exit. The earlier pilot-program limitation and age exemptions for children under 14 and adults over 79 have been removed.
CBP stated that this initiative will strengthen border security, improve identity verification, and help detect individuals who overstay their authorized period of admission. The agency noted that biometric comparison technology, particularly facial recognition, offers faster and more accurate matching between travelers and government records.
While the regulation formally takes effect on December 26, 2025, CBP acknowledged that full deployment of exit-biometric systems across all ports and modes of travel will take several years. Travelers should nevertheless expect to undergo facial or fingerprint screening during departures or arrivals once implemented at their location.
The new rule does not change visa categories or admission criteria, but it significantly enhances the government’s ability to track entries and exits. Non-citizens are advised to comply with all biometric requirements at ports of entry and to maintain accurate travel documentation, as failure to provide biometrics where required could be treated as a violation of immigration terms.
CBP emphasized that the expanded biometric program is designed to comply with statutory mandates under the Immigration and Nationality Act and to close gaps in departure tracking that have existed for decades. The agency projects that the comprehensive entry-exit system will be operational nationwide within three to five years.
For attorneys and immigration professionals, this regulation marks a major procedural shift in border processing. Clients traveling internationally—particularly those with pending immigration petitions or past status violations—should be counseled on the implications of the enhanced biometric collection and ensure consistency in their travel and I-94 records.
(Source: Federal Register, DHS/CBP Final Rule published October 27, 2025)
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