Data / Federal rules / 2025-19747
Collection and Use of Biometrics by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services
The Homeland Security Department published this proposed rule in the Federal Register on November 3, 2025. Comments closed on January 2, 2026.
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What the agency says
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) proposes to amend its regulations governing biometrics use and collection. DHS proposes to require submission of biometrics by any individual, regardless of age, filing or associated with an immigration benefit request, other request, or collection of information, unless exempted; expand biometrics collection authority upon alien arrest; define "biometrics;" codify reuse requirements; codify and expand DNA testing, use and storage; establish an "extraordinary circumstances" standard to excuse a failure to appear at a biometric services appointment; modify how VAWA self-petitioners and T nonimmigrant status applicants demonstrate good moral character; and clarify biometrics collection purposes.
Key facts
- Document number
- 2025-19747
- Type
- Proposed rule
- Action
- Notice of proposed rulemaking
- Agency
- Homeland Security Department
- Published
- November 3, 2025
- Comments due
- January 2, 2026
- Dates
- Submission of Public Comments: Written comments on the proposed rule must be submitted on or before January 2, 2026. Comments on the information collection described in the Paperwork Reduction Act section of this proposed rule must be received on or before January 2, 2026. The electronic Federal Docket Management System will accept comments prior to midnight eastern time at the end of that day.
- Docket
- CIS No. 2814-25; DHS Docket No. USCIS-2025-0205
- Regulation ID (RIN)
- 1615-AC99
- Code of Federal Regulations
- 8 CFR 1; 8 CFR 103; 8 CFR 204; 8 CFR 207; 8 CFR 208; 8 CFR 209; 8 CFR 210; 8 CFR 212; 8 CFR 214; 8 CFR 215; 8 CFR 216; 8 CFR 235; 8 CFR 236; 8 CFR 240; 8 CFR 244; 8 CFR 245
- Topics
- Administrative practice and procedure; Adoption and foster care; Aliens; Authority delegations (Government agencies); Citizenship and naturalization; Education; Employment; Fees; Foreign officials; Freedom of information; Health professions; Immigration; Law enforcement officers; Migrant labor; Passports and visas; Privacy; Refugees; Reporting and recordkeeping requirements; Students; Surety bonds; Travel restrictions
- Significant
- Yes, under Executive Order 12866
- Pages
- 84
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Everything from the Homeland Security Department · Rules on administrative practice and procedure · Rules on adoption and foster care · Rules on aliens · Published in November 2025
Read from the Federal Register API, last updated 2026-10-23. The document on federalregister.gov is the official record; dates and dockets can change through later corrections. Free to reuse with credit to SpecStream under CC BY 4.0.