Background
All non-U.S. citizens (aliens) who are required to be registered are also required to keep the USCIS informed of their current address. This is particularly important when you have filed an application or petition for a benefit under the Immigration and Nationality Act and expect notification of a decision on that application. In addition, the USCIS may need to contact you to provide other issued documents or return original copies of evidence you submitted.
Penalties for Failure to Comply
A willful failure to give written notice to the USCIS of a change of address within 10 days of moving to the new address is a misdemeanor crime. If convicted, you (or parent or legal guardian of an alien under age 14 who is required to give notice) can be fined up to $200 or imprisoned up to 30 days, or both. The alien may also be subject to removal from the United States. (INA § 266(b)). Compliance with the requirement to notify the USCIS of any address changes is also a condition of your stay in the United States. Failure to comply could also jeopardize your ability to obtain a future visa or other immigration benefit.
Most non-U.S. citizens must report a change of address within 10 days of moving within the United States or its territories. Exceptions include:
- 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.
If you have no pending cases;
Then you must File Form AR-11 (online OR by mail) If you use USCIS’s Online Change of Address, you do NOT need to file a paper Form AR-11.
If you have any pending OR recently approved applications or petitions
(except for VAWA, T or U visa); you need to complete two steps
Step1: File Form AR-11 (online OR by mail),
AND
Step 2: Change your address on any pending or recently approved applications or petitions (online OR by phone at 1-800-375-5283)
Use USCIS’s Online Change of Address system to complete steps 1 and 2 at the same time. Once you complete Form AR-11 online – the system will also provide you the opportunity to change your address on any pending or recently approved applications. If you use our Online Change of Address to complete Form AR-11, you do NOT need to file a paper Form AR-11.
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If you have a pending or approved VAWA I-360, T nonimmigrant I-914 (“T visa”), or U nonimmigrant I-918 (“U visa”), AND you have also filed an I-485, I-765, I-601, I-192, I-131, or I-929
File your change of address request at:
USCIS
Vermont Service Center
75 Lower Welden Street
St. Albans, VT 05479-0001
You may NOT change your address online.
[/ez_box]Those that have submitted and USCIS has accepted their I-864, must file an I-865 as long as the affidavit of support is in force.