The US Citizenship and Immigration Services has reminded immigrants in the United States that they generally must report a change of address within 10 days of moving, warning that failing to update agency records could result in missed immigration notices and delays in receiving documents.
The reminder is particularly relevant to foreign nationals with pending or previously filed immigration cases, as updating an address with the US Postal Service does not automatically change the address held by USCIS. The agency says individuals are responsible for keeping their address current with both USCIS and USPS.
USPS address change does not update USCIS records
USCIS says most people can report an address change through their USCIS online account using its Enterprise Change of Address tool. The agency recommends doing so as soon as possible after moving.
An online update is intended to satisfy the legal reporting requirement and can allow USCIS to process the change more quickly than a paper filing. Applicants with pending, approved or previously filed cases can update their address online even when their original application was submitted by mail.
Those updating their address through an online account may need to provide the receipt numbers for each pending benefit request so the new address is applied to the relevant cases.
USCIS also permits eligible individuals to submit Form AR-11, the Alien’s Change of Address Card, by mail. However, the agency recommends using its online self-service system because a paper AR-11 does not automatically update the address across USCIS systems.
Federal law sets 10-day reporting requirement
The 10-day requirement is rooted in Section 265 of the Immigration and Nationality Act. Federal law requires each foreign national covered by the registration provisions who is in the United States to notify the government of a change of address within 10 days.
USCIS notes that the requirement does not apply to certain categories, including A and G visa holders and visa-waiver visitors. Specific procedures can also apply to people involved in immigration court proceedings or certain other immigration cases.
People with cases before the immigration courts have a separate obligation: the Executive Office for Immigration Review says changes to address or contact information must generally be reported to the immigration court or Board of Immigration Appeals within five working days.
USCIS has warned that failing to update its records can mean missing notices, experiencing delays in immigration cases or not receiving immigration documents. The agency therefore advises people who move to update their address with USCIS as well as USPS rather than relying on a postal-service change of address alone.