How to Report a Change of Address to USCIS After You Move

Most covered noncitizens must report a move within 10 days

USCIS states that noncitizens in the United States who are subject to the federal alien-registration requirements must report each change of address within 10 days of moving.

The requirement comes from section 265 of the Immigration and Nationality Act. It is separate from changing your mailing address with the U.S. Postal Service and separate from updating records with state agencies.

USCIS strongly encourages covered individuals to submit the change as soon as they move rather than waiting until the end of the 10-day period.

Use the Enterprise Change of Address tool in your USCIS account

For most people, the recommended method is the Enterprise Change of Address (E-COA) self-service tool available through a USCIS online account.

USCIS states that changing an address online allows the agency to process the update almost immediately and eliminates the need to mail Form AR-11.

You can generally use the online account even if the immigration application or petition you previously filed was submitted on paper.

Prepare your addresses and every pending case receipt number

Before starting the online change, gather:

• your previous address;
• your new physical address;
• your new mailing address if different;
• your email address and USCIS online account information; and
• the receipt number for each pending USCIS benefit request.

Receipt numbers appear on USCIS notices and are important because USCIS instructs users to enter each pending case they want linked to the new address.

Each pending immigration case should be included

If you have one or more pending USCIS applications or petitions, include the receipt number for each pending benefit request when using the online address-change tool.

USCIS explains that providing the receipt numbers helps ensure the address is updated where necessary and reduces the risk of missing notices, requests for evidence, appointment notices, decisions or immigration documents.

Do not assume that updating one receipt number necessarily updates unrelated pending cases unless the system confirms those cases are included.

A paper AR-11 remains available but is not USCIS's preferred method

You may report the move by mailing Form AR-11, Alien's Change of Address Card.

The current USCIS fee schedule lists Form AR-11 with a $0 filing fee.

A properly filed AR-11 satisfies the basic statutory notification requirement for covered noncitizens. However, USCIS strongly recommends the online process because a mailed AR-11 does not provide an automated update to your address across USCIS systems.

Paper filing does not automatically update every USCIS case system

USCIS specifically warns that filing Form AR-11 by mail does not provide for an automated update of your address in its systems.

If you have pending cases and can use the USCIS online account, the online method is therefore the safer standard route because you can identify each pending receipt number that needs the address change.

USPS does not update USCIS records

Changing your address with the U.S. Postal Service does not change your address with USCIS.

If you want mail forwarding, update USPS separately, but still complete the USCIS change-of-address process.

This distinction is especially important because immigration notices and secure documents may not be handled like ordinary forwarded mail.

The rule applies to noncitizens subject to alien registration

USCIS states that all noncitizens in the United States who are required to register under the Immigration and Nationality Act must report a change of address within 10 days.

Lawful permanent residents are among the people who generally remain subject to this obligation while residing in the United States.

The address-change obligation is not limited to people who currently have a pending immigration application.

Federal law provides criminal and immigration consequences for noncompliance

USCIS warns that a noncitizen who is required to report an address change and willfully fails to comply can face serious consequences.

USCIS's current alien-registration guidance states that failure to comply can be a misdemeanor punishable by a fine of up to $5,000, imprisonment for up to 30 days, or both.

USCIS also states that a person who fails to comply with the statutory address-reporting requirement can be deportable unless the person establishes that the failure was reasonably excusable or was not willful.

Because these consequences depend on the individual's circumstances and immigration law, obtain qualified legal advice if you believe you missed a required notification.

Update USCIS rather than continuing to leave the record incorrect

If the 10-day period has already passed, submit the address change promptly rather than leaving USCIS with an outdated address.

When there may have been a legal violation or missed immigration correspondence, consider speaking with an attorney or a Department of Justice-accredited representative because USCIS's registration guidance identifies possible criminal and immigration consequences for willful noncompliance.

USCIS and immigration court records must be updated separately

If you have a case pending before an immigration court, filing Form AR-11 with USCIS does not update your address with the Executive Office for Immigration Review.

USCIS states that individuals in immigration court proceedings must separately notify the immigration court using the applicable Form EOIR-33 and follow the court's service instructions.

Each person with a case affected by the move must comply with the applicable immigration-court address requirements.

Protected immigration cases require special handling

People with certain protected immigration matters should not assume that the ordinary address-change process is sufficient.

USCIS identifies special procedures for people with pending or previously filed matters involving:

• Violence Against Women Act protections;
• T nonimmigrant status;
• U nonimmigrant status; and
• Form I-751 abuse waivers.

USCIS applies enhanced identity-verification and confidentiality protections to these cases. Protected individuals should follow the specific instructions on the USCIS change-of-address page or contact USCIS through the protected-person process.

Sponsors have a separate 30-day Form I-865 obligation

If you are a U.S. citizen, U.S. national or lawful permanent resident who submitted Form I-864, Affidavit of Support, and the sponsorship obligation remains in force, USCIS states that you must report your own change of address using Form I-865, Sponsor's Notice of Change of Address.

The sponsor's deadline is generally 30 days after moving, not the ordinary 10-day AR-11 rule.

Each sponsor must submit a separate Form I-865 even when multiple sponsors live at the same address. USCIS's Form I-865 instructions state that there is no filing fee.

A petitioner's address change does not automatically update the beneficiary

If you filed a petition for another person and the beneficiary moves, USCIS instructs the petitioner to contact the USCIS Contact Center or the office with jurisdiction over the case.

Do not assume that changing your own address automatically changes the beneficiary's address.

Department of State records may also need a separate update

If USCIS has approved a petition and forwarded it to the U.S. Department of State for consular processing, changing an address with USCIS may not be enough.

USCIS directs petitioners to follow National Visa Center contact instructions when an approved petition is with the Department of State.

A beneficiary of an approved petition who lives outside the United States and is pursuing consular processing should update the address with the Department of State under the procedures for that case.

Online updates can be processed almost immediately

USCIS states that an online change submitted through the USCIS account can be processed almost immediately.

The agency does not publish one universal completion time for mailed Form AR-11 submissions. Because the paper form lacks the automated case-update functionality of E-COA, USCIS strongly encourages the online route when available.

Keep confirmation and monitor every pending USCIS case

After submitting online, keep the confirmation for your records and verify that you included every pending receipt number.

Continue monitoring your USCIS online account, case status and physical mail for:

• biometrics appointments;
• interview notices;
• requests for evidence;
• decisions;
• approval notices; and
• secure immigration documents.

If a notice or document has already been sent to the old address and was not delivered, changing the address alone may not resolve the missing item. USCIS provides separate e-request and Contact Center procedures for non-delivery issues.

Avoid address changes that leave immigration cases outdated

• Updating only USPS: postal forwarding does not update USCIS.
• Waiting longer than 10 days: covered noncitizens must generally report the move within 10 days.
• Entering only one receipt number: include every pending USCIS case that needs the new address.
• Assuming a paper AR-11 updates all pending cases automatically: USCIS says it does not provide an automated system-wide update.
• Forgetting immigration court: AR-11 does not update EOIR records.
• Using ordinary procedures for protected cases without checking instructions: VAWA, T, U and certain abuse-waiver matters have special confidentiality procedures.
• Confusing sponsor and immigrant obligations: an active Form I-864 sponsor generally uses Form I-865 and has a separate 30-day deadline.
• Forgetting Department of State records: consular-processing cases can require a separate address update outside USCIS.

Use the online account and update every affected government system separately

For most people eligible to use it, the USCIS online Enterprise Change of Address tool is the fastest and most complete method because USCIS says it can process the update almost immediately and lets you associate pending receipt numbers with the new address.

Complete the change within the required deadline, save your confirmation and separately update USPS, immigration court, the Department of State or another agency whenever your case requires it.