How To Notify U.S. Immigration About a Change of Address?

If you’re an immigrant, you must inform the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) whenever you change your address. An address change is crucial to ensure you receive up-to-date information on your case—plus, it’s the law.

However, be aware that changing your address with the postal service will not change it with USCIS. If you willfully fail to notify USCIS that you’ve moved, it is technically a misdemeanor. Without their knowledge of your relocation, there could also be case delays. We’ll help you learn how to notify U.S. Immigration about an address change.

Why Do I Need to Tell USCIS About My New Address?

For immigrants, the primary reason to update your address is so that you can get notifications from the USCIS about your immigration status as well as documents such as work authorization documents and green cards.

The USCIS may require you to submit additional information related to your address, based on its discretion under § 265 of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA). Additionally, if you are a minor, or a parent/legal guardian is required to apply for your registration, then all notices will be given to such parent.

Who Needs To Inform The USCIS Of Change In Address?

Most non-citizens must report a change of address to the USCIS within 10 days of entering the U.S. or its territories. Even if you have a conditional 2-year green card or an unconditional 10-year green card, you still need to notify them if your situation changes.

As A U.S. Citizen

If you have filed Form I-864, Affidavit of Support, then you should notify the USCIS about your address changes. Further, if you have a pending or approved orphan or Hague Adoption petition, then you must inform the USCIS as it is considered to be a serious change, and any delay can negatively affect your adoption process. 

If you are a U.S. Citizen who sponsors their relative for a green card, and you change your address, you must also inform the USCIS.  While it is not a legal requirement, however, failing to do so could delay the immigration process and may also affect your relative’s chances of becoming a lawful permanent resident.

You need to notify the USCIS within 30 days of your move. You are not required to inform them of your address change if you are no longer a sponsor because the immigrant you sponsored:

• Became a U.S. citizen
• Left the country and formally abandoned their resident status by filing Form I-407, Record of Abandonment of Lawful Permanent Resident Status
• Has received credit for 40 quarters of work in the U.S.
• Lost their resident status
• Died

Who Has Been Exempted From The Address Change Rule?

There are three categories of immigrants who have been exempted by the USCIS to inform when their address is changed. These include:

• Diplomats with visa status A
• Official government representatives to an international organization with visa status G
• Certain nonimmigrants such as Tourists who are in the U.S. for less than 30 days or enter the country under a visa waiver program.

What Happens If I Don’t Notify USCIS Of My New Address?

As per the immigration rules and regulations, if you intentionally fail to give USCIS your new address, it could be a misdemeanor and you could be punished with a fine of up to $200 and 30 days in jail. It’ll also be a black mark on your immigration history and can lead to troubles in obtaining a visa or other immigration benefits in the future. If for instance, you have an application pending to remove conditions on your green card and the USCIS is unable to contact you at your physical address then it may lead to rejection of your application. 

Though it’s rare, you can be deported from the U.S. for failing to update your address with USCIS unless you can prove it wasn’t done wilfully and you have a reasonable excuse for not informing. A reasonable excuse can include natural calamities and other circumstances which were beyond your control. Deciding to enforce this rule is solely at the discretion of the immigration authorities.

Even if you are late, update your address with the USCIS now and remember to do so in the future. It’s a simple process, so there’s little reason to avoid it.

How Can I Change My Address with USCIS?

There are multiple ways to change your address with the USCIS, however, the method of updating the address depends on whether you are a U.S. Citizen or a non-citizen. 

Procedure For U.S Citizen

If you are a U.S. Citizen, (those who are required to inform the USCIS) when you change your address you will need to file Form I-865, Sponsor’s Notice of Change of Address. If there are joint sponsors of an immigrant, they must individually file this form even if the sponsors share the same address. 

You can also notify the USCIS of an address change at the USCIS Contact Center by calling 1-800-375-5238 (TTY 800-767-1833, VRS 877-709-5797). 

Additionally, beneficiaries and immigrants can also call this number to provide their updated address, but they must also report it online or by mail to ensure compliance.

Procedure For Immigrants

An immigrant can use many different ways to update USCIS. However, it is advised to use online ways as they are quick, consume less time, and cause fewer errors. 

For example, sometimes a Form AR-11 that is mailed to the USCIS to provide notice for a change of address is lost in transit or does not reach the USCIS office due to an incorrect address. With online methods, you can easily check the progress of the form. 

Online

The easiest way to let the USCIS know that you’ve moved is by doing it on the USCIS website. It’s a simple process that you can complete online in about five minutes. To make the change, you will need to have:

• Your old address
• Your new address
• Your green card receipt number if you’re a green card holder
• Your petitioner’s name and personal information if you’re a sponsor

USCIS Change of Address Page

There are two places to change your address online. One is through the USCIS Change of Address page.

Note the question on this page. If you already have a petition in progress, you will need to let the USCIS know about every pending application you currently have. The form will look like this:

You can find your receipt number on your Form I-797 (Notice of Action). This form should have been sent to you immediately after the USCIS received your application. Your receipt number will contain 13 characters and can be used to track the status of your application. 

Once you complete the online address change form, you’re done. There is no need to file a paper AR-11.

Using myUSCIS Account

If you filed your immigration paperwork online, you likely have a USCIS online account already. You can use your account to change your address information immediately. This is the simplest way to do it. You can enter the receipt numbers for all the petitions/benefits that are pending and request to update your address. 

If you don’t have an account, we recommend creating one. It’s a great way to get information about the status of your immigration process. Plus, you won’t have to deal with mailing a paper AR-11 form.

By Mail

You can file a paper AR-11 to inform the USCIS that you’ve changed your address. Sometimes, you are required to: for example, if you’re a victim of a specific crime. To change your address by mail, download Form AR-11 from the USCIS website. Fill it out completely, sign it, and mail it through USPS, FedEx, DHL, or UPS to:

U.S. Department of Homeland Security 
Citizenship and Immigration Services
Attn: Change of Address
1344 Pleasants Dr.
Harrisonburg, VA 22801

VAWA/T/U Cases 

In case you are a protected person who is a Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) self-petitioner, or an applicant for T or U nonimmigrant status, with a pending or approved petition, then the USCIS has special confidential protections in place if you change your address. 

To inform the USCIS when your address is changed the following methods are provided:

• Call the USCIS Contact Center, verify your identity, and request an address change. 
• If the address change is unable to be done on call then you may be scheduled for an in-person interview. This will be conducted at the nearest USCIS field office. 
• Secure messaging through the USCIS online account. 
• Your attorney/accredited representative may also send an email attaching a signed Form AR-11 to the designated center to change your address. 

The USCIS after the address change will consider your new mailing address to be a safe address to send correspondence. 

How To Fill Out Form AR-11 To Change My Address? 

USCIS Form AR-11 is used by immigrant aliens to provide notice to the USCIS when they change their address. Unless you have been expressly exempted from not providing notice to the USCIS when changing your address, you must provide all details including the details of the new address. 

Filling Form AR-11 is quite simple and it is a one-page form. This is quite different from other USCIS forms that are voluminous and difficult to fill. When filing it you must remember that for immigration purposes, a PO box address is not considered to be valid.  Here are the important details that you must fill in Form AR-11:

• Complete legal name, including middle name (if applicable)) 
• Date of Birth.
• Alien Registration Number (if applicable ) 
• Present Physical Address- In this, you must fill out the street number and name, city, state, and zip code 
• Previous Physical Address- The required information is the same as above. 
• Mailing Address- While this is optional, however, it is advised that you provide the same for better communication so that you do not miss any update by the USCIS. 
• You must sign and date- If you have had a biometrics appointment and/or filed other petitions, then you must provide the same signature in Form AR-11, as is present in your other records. 

It’s vital that you fill out the form completely and sign it, or else you could run into problems. We recommend keeping a paper copy for yourself and sending off your AR-11 using registered mail. This can serve as proof that you sent it.

What Is The Difference Between Form AR-11 And Form I-865?

While both Form AR-11 and Form I-865 are to inform the USCIS of a change of address there are some differences. 

Form AR-11 is used by an immigrant alien and contains information about the immigrant, and their old and new address. 

On the other hand, Form I-865 is used by a U.S. Citizen sponsor to report a change in their address. In addition to providing personal details, and new physical and mailing addresses, as a sponsor, you will also have to provide the names, alien numbers, and other relevant information about all the immigrants that you are sponsoring. 

You must also provide a statement in Part 3 of Form I-865 that you have submitted valid photocopies of unaltered, original documents. 

If you have any questions or require any assistance, you may also contact the licensed immigration experts at FileRight.com. 

How Do I Change My Address for an Application or Petition Currently in Progress?

Changing your address on a pending petition or application is a two-step process. 

• First, file Form AR-11 via mail or online for your USCIS change of address.
• Second, change your address on any recently approved or pending applications through the USCIS website or by phone at 1-800-375-5283. If you are TTY (deaf or hard of hearing), you can call 1-800-767-1833.

If you use the online system, you can achieve steps one and two at the same time. Once you finish Form AR-11 online, you will have the chance to change your address on any recently approved or pending applications. 

Can I Use The U.S. Postal Service Change of Address Form?

While this is the most common way to update an address for a citizen, it will not work for an immigrant. This is because the U.S. Postal Service and USCIS keep separate records. Also, the U.S. Postal Service does not forward mail from the USCIS.

It’s still a good idea to fill one out so that you can continue receiving your other mail, but you still need to update your address with USCIS. It only takes five minutes if you do it online.

Conclusion

It’s essential to keep the USCIS updated on your most current address, especially if you have a pending immigration application. If the USCIS does not have your updated address, you can miss important updates, which can jeopardize your immigration status. FileRight.com streamlines your immigration experience by automating the application process. We offer immigration solutions that include filing packages and providing access to address change forms. Plus, we guarantee your success. So, get started today!

FAQs

If I am currently in immigration proceedings do I still have to update USCIS when I change my address? 

Yes, you still have to update the USCIS if you change your address. Further, you have to inform the immigration court as well if you change your address, as updating the USCIS does not update the Immigration Court. 

Am I required to update my address with the USCIS if I become homeless? 

Yes, even if you lose your home you must update the USCIS with your new address within 10 days, even if it’s a temporary one. It’s free to change the address with the USCIS and you can fill it out multiple times. This will ensure that you do not lose your immigration status and the USCIS can notify you of any changes in your petitions and status.

I am sponsoring a relative and they have changed their address but haven’t notified the USCIS of the change. Can I file Form AR-11 on their behalf? 

No, Form AR-11 is required to be filed by the beneficiary/immigrant alien and the sponsor cannot file the form. However, if the relative has changed their physical address then you can contact the USCIS Contact Center or the office that has jurisdiction over your case. 

My USCIS Form-130, Petition for an Alien Relative has been approved. If I am residing outside the U.S., then should I change my address? 

When your petition has been accepted, and you become the beneficiary of an approved petition, if are requesting consular proceedings, it is advised for you to change your address with the Department of State (DOS) as soon as possible.