How to Change Address with USCIS?

Most non-U.S. citizens are required to report a change of their residential address within 10 days of moving within the U.S. or its territories.    This requirement becomes even more important when there is an application pending with USCIS.   The change of address notification is done by either USCIS online account or by submitting (on paper!) Form AR-11 with USCIS.    It should be noted that an USPS address change or forwarding does NOT change the address with USCIS.

Who Must File and Who Does Not Have to File Change of Address?

The rule (8 CFR 265.1) is that all non-U.S. citizens in the United States are required to inform USCIS of their new address within 10 days of moving.   There are exceptions:  diplomats (visa status A); official government representatives to an international organization (visa status G), and certain nonimmigrants who do not possess a visa and who are in the U.S. for fewer than 30 days are not required to file AR-11.

U.S. citizens normally not required to file address change with two important exceptions.    U.S. citizen petitioners who are petitioners in an application (for example, I-130 filing) should inform USCIS and update their address on the pending application so that they receive correspondence relating to the case.     Also, U.S. Citizens who have previously submitted a Form I-864 (Affidavit of Support) on behalf of someone who has become a permanent resident are legally required to notify USCIS of a change of address – in this case, a different form, Form I-865 must be submitted within thirty days of moving to inform USCIS of changed address.

How to File Change Address Online

The fastest and preferred method to change address online is using the USCIS self-service change of address tool under the USCIS Online Account.     An account can be created by anyone even if no online application has been filed in the past.   If there is a pending, approved, or previously filed case with USCIS, the applicant may change their address using their USCIS online account even the application was filed by mail (on paper).

If there are one or more pending applications, it is very important to enter the receipt numbers for each pending benefit request to apply the address change. Providing receipt numbers helps ensure that USCIS updates the address where needed and that important correspondence and benefits related to these cases are not sent to an old address.    Beneficiaries (such as H-1B or I-140) generally should not provide H-1B or I-140 receipt notices because these petitions are filed by the respective employer.

How to File Change Address by Mail

As an alternative, applicants may file a paper Form AR-11 by mail to change address.  This meets the legal requirement to notify USCIS of a change of address; however, we do not recommend this option due to the lack of clear record of the change.

Conclusion:  Electronic Filing Options Make it Easy to File Address Change

Compliance should not be burdensome.   USCIS allows electronic submission of change of address and compliance in most cases takes 5 to 10 minutes.    There are no government filing fees associated with this filing.   The form provides electronic confirmation and we urge everyone who files address change to make and keep a record of the confirmed address change.

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