The US Citizenship and Immigration Service (USCIS) has revised the ways a non-citizen can file a change of address with them. A properly filed change of address ensures that your immigration case continues without interruption and delay and also complies with a USCIS regulation.
Avoid this common mistake for your change of address
Avoid the common mistake of filing a change of address with the US Postal Service (USPS) and assuming that this will change your address with the USCIS.
Also, the US postal service will not forward your mail from USCIS. You need to update your new address information with both the USCIS and USPS.
Finally, sending the USCIS a letter telling them of your new residence will not result in a complete address change on your immigration application, file or records.
Must I tell the USCIS that I have moved?
- A non-citizen petitioner, requestor, beneficiary, or applicant in an immigration case is required to inform USCIS of their address change.
- Most applicants and noncitizens are required by regulation to file a Change of Address within 10 days of their move.
- Keep Proof of Mailing. If you change your address by mail, try to use a certified mail or a delivery tracking method. Keep this as proof in case the USCIS says that they never received it. If you use a courier delivery service, check that you are using the USCIS courier delivery service address which is sometimes different from their postal address.
How To File a USCIS Change of Address
At the present time, the two available methods for address change are:
- Through a USCIS online account (attorney or individual account),
- A paper Form AR-11, Alien’s Change of Address Card; complete and mail it to the USCIS.
I am an Affidavit of Support sponsor; do I need to notify the USCIS when I move?
Yes, Affidavit of Support Sponsors File a Change of Address each time they move.
A sponsor in Form I-864, Affidavit of Support Under Section 213A of the INA, must file Form I-865 Sponsor’s Notice of Change of Address within 30 days of their move. This is a requirement under a USCIS Regulation at 8 CFR §213 a.3.
Currently, a sponsor files their updated address using a paper format (not electronically) at the location listed on the USCIS webpage for the form.
For People with a pending Freedom of Information Act request
People with a pending Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) or Privacy Act (PA) request should file a change of address by contacting USCIS by email at FOIAPAQuestions@uscis.dhs.gov.
For VAWA/T/U applicants
For VAWA/T/U applicants, including related Form I-485 applications and Form I-751 abuse waivers, submit a change of address through the USCIS Contact Center or by filing a paper AR-11. This has an extra verification process.
Which non-citizens do not need to Notify the USCIS when they move?
Non-citizens with A and G visas, and certain visitors in the US for less than 30 days do not need to file a change of address with the USCIS.
Thank you for reading this article. For questions about your immigration matter or for immigration assistance, please call our immigration lawyer, Attorney Doreen: (626) 256 8500. www.emenikelaw.com
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