USCIS will send you notices at the address they have on file, so if they do not have your correct address, then you risk the possibility of not receiving important immigration notices and documents. This can drastically delay your immigration matter because it can take significant time and effort to obtain the documents again.
You are legally required to update USCIS with a new address within 10 days of moving—even if you already have a Green Card.
There are a couple ways you can notify USCIS of your address changes. We’ll cover both below.
Through Your USCIS Account
If you filed your paperwork without an attorney, then you can login to your own USCIS account. If you haven’t created an account yet, then you will need to do so. You should have received instructions in the mail on how to set up your account a few weeks after you filed your immigration matter. If you never received this notice, then you can find instructions here.
After logging into your own account, then you can update your address there. This ensures that all future correspondence with USCIS will be sent to your current address. However, sometimes USCIS takes a few weeks to update your address in their system. You should keep an eye on your old mailbox in case they send you anything in the weeks after your move.
What If I Already Changed My Address with USPS?
If you already changed your address with the United States Postal Service (USPS), that’s great! However, USPS will not forward USCIS letters to your new address. If you move, you still must update your address with USCIS.
Filing an AR-11
If you do not want to file through your USCIS online account, then you can physically file for your address change. You will need to send in a completed AR-11 form to the appropriate USCIS office. You can download this form and find the instructions on the USCIS website.
There are some unique situations where you should not physically file an AR-11 for your change of address. These situations are described in detail here. Some of the circumstances where you would not want to file a physical AR-11 are as follows:
- If you are a victim of domestic abuse, trafficking, or other crimes
- If you have submitted an abuse waiver
Consult with an immigration attorney if you have any questions or concerns about filing a physical AR-11 submission to change your address.
Through Your Attorney
If you hired an attorney to represent you throughout your immigration matter, then notify your attorney of your address change as soon as possible. Even if you haven’t moved, but are planning to, you should let your attorney know as this might affect how your attorney would like to file and process your case.
Moving can potentially affect various aspects of your immigration process, such as where your interview might take place or which USCIS center we need to send your paperwork to, among others.
Additionally, your attorney will be able to update your address with USCIS and will be able to navigate the process so you don’t have to.
Are There Instances Where I Don't Need To Update My Address with USCIS?
If you have gone through the whole immigration process and have become a U.S. citizen, then you will not typically need to update your address with USCIS. You will still need to update your address to USPS and other personal accounts, but USCIS no longer needs to correspond with you once you are a citizen.
If you have questions about other circumstances, consult with your attorney.
Attorney Tim Jones
If you hire us for your immigration case, we will receive copies of your notices at our office. This means that if you move during your immigration process, we will still receive the notices even if USCIS is slow at updating your new address into their system. Additionally, at our office, we email our clients with copies of USCIS documentation mailed to us so that you won’t miss a biometrics appointment, an interview, or other important information regarding your paperwork—this is one of the many advantages of hiring an immigration attorney. We are happy to assist you with your immigration paperwork whether you are local to the Idaho Falls area or if you need remote assistance.
