The new immigration and travel regulations for non-US citizens and Green Card holders will increase the use of biometric identification and permit more stringent border screenings.
On December 26, 2025, new immigration and travel regulations for non-US citizens—including those with Green Cards—went into force. What has changed since then?
The regulations would increase the use of biometric identification, including fingerprints, photos, and eye scans, and permit more stringent inspections at US borders. Additionally, they introduce more stringent evaluations for green card holders from specific nations.
The Biometric Entry/Exit Program's advancement rule
The rule, which goes into effect on December 26, 2025, mandates that US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) get biometric information, including face biometrics, from all non-US nationals at airports, land ports, seaports, and other authorized points of departure from the US.
Every time a non-US citizen enters or exits the country, their picture will be taken. In the past, biometric data collection (such as fingerprints and facial pictures) at the point of departure from the United States was restricted to experimental initiatives at specific ports.
Although they were previously excluded from biometric checks, children under the age of 14 and individuals over 79 are no longer exempt.
Previous exclusions, such as those for diplomats and the majority of Canadian tourists, are eliminated by the new regulation. Additionally, it eliminates restrictions on pilot programs and extends biometric collecting to additional modes of transportation, such as pedestrian exit, private aircraft, sea exit, and automobile entry/exit.
Iris scans and fingerprints may also be obtained by US Customs and Border Protection officials. The "Traveller Verification Service" will compare these facts with current travel papers.
This law does not apply to US citizens, but they are still free to choose to use face biometrics when entering and leaving the country. As necessary for foreign travel, US residents who would rather not participate in the face biometrics process can simply inform a CBP officer or airline agent and have their passport manually inspected.
More stringent Green-card evaluations
Green card holders from specific nations may soon face more stringent reviews due to new regulations. You can live and work in the US permanently if you have a Green Card.
The new mechanism allows federal authorities to monitor foreign travel by non-US citizens, according to Newsweek. Green card holders and applicants from 19 nations that the US government has identified as having security issues would receive extra consideration.
Earlier, after temporarily stopping the visa application process, Trump's administration banned travel to these nations.
What do the new regulations mean?
The Citizenship and Immigration office intends to re-evaluate and re-interview immigrants from these nations, possibly as far back as 2021, amid increased scrutiny of those who have followed the legal procedures to seek permanent residency in the United States, according to a December 3 NPR story.
"Every effort is being made by the Trump Administration to guarantee that those who become citizens are the best of the best. A DHS representative told NPR in a statement that citizenship is a privilege rather than a right.
According to the most recent regulations, individuals who now possess green cards will be photographed and may also be scanned or fingerprinted each time they enter or leave the United States.
According to the Financial Express, border questioning is anticipated to be more thorough. It further stated that authorities might inquire further about residency, travel history, or documentation.
Green card holders have been reminded to keep all documentation current and readily available because authorities may request it at any time. Delays should also be anticipated by those who have pending or upcoming visa and green card applications.
The US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced on December 2, 2025, that it will stop evaluating all pending applications from immigrants from 19 nations mentioned in a previous travel restriction for green cards, citizenship, or asylum.
New regulations effective January 1, 2026 | 19 nations prohibited from travel
Following a firebombing incident in Colorado in June of this year, US President Trump imposed a travel ban against twelve nations and partial restrictions against seven others.
Twelve nations—Afghanistan, Burma, Chad, Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, and Yemen—had their admission completely prohibited by the US administration.
Burundi, Cuba, Laos, Sierra Leone, Togo, Turkmenistan, and Venezuela are the seven nations whose citizens were subject to limited immigration restrictions.
This proclamation will take effect on January 1, 2026, at 12:01 a.m. Eastern Standard Time.
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