Change of address
(last updated June 23, 2003)
Who must report a change of address and how
Naturalization applicants: change of address
Asylees waiting for green cards: change of address
Nebraska Service Center: change of address
Who must report a change of address and how.
Q: Do all noncitizens have to report a change of addess to U.S. immigration authorities?
A: Nearly every noncitizen in the United States – whether here on a temporary or permanent basis --- must report an address change to U.S. immigration authorities within 10 days of moving. Confusion persists because there is not yet a uniform method by which all noncitizens in the United States can make a single formal report of address change to U.S. immigration authorities: After moving, many aliens do not realize that they may have to notify two or more offices. Here are a few tips and some guidance on the most efficient and effective way to comply with the law and at the same time ensure that mail reaches applicants and petitioners who have moved.
Step1: Form AR-11. Section 265 of the Immigration and Nationality Act requires all noncitizens in the United States, with very few exceptions, to notify U. S. immigration authorities of an address change within 10 days of moving. To comply, Form AR-11 Alien’s Change of Address Card, must be completed, signed and mailed to London, Kentucky. For a printable version of Form AR-11 with mailing instructions, click on: www.bcis.gov/graphics/formsfee/forms/ar-11.htm . Change-of-address forms may also be ordered by calling the 24-hour BCIS Forms Request Line at: 1-800-870-3676.
Exception: Certain nonimmigrants who are in the U.S. temporarily and are from one of the countries designated for Special Registration by the Department of Homeland Security must file Form AR-11SR. For Form AR-11SR click : www.immigration.gov/graphics/formsfee/forms/ar-11sr.htm. For regularly updated information on the Special Registration program click on www.immigration.gov/graphics/shared/lawenfor/specialreg/index.htm .
Step 2: A separate written notice to each office where an application is pending.
In addition to mailing a Form AR-11 to Kentucky, an alien must mail a separate written notice, preferably in the format described below, to each immigration office where an application is pending. If an office has issued other special instructions on how to report an address change, then an alien should comply with those. One exception to this Step-2 procedure is that Naturalization applicants do not have to provide a written notice of an address change. Instead, they should follow the procedure described at Naturalization applicants:change of address .
Here is a handy procedure and format for notifying an office or service center of the Bureau of Citizenship and Immigration Services (BCIS) of an address change:
- Use one sheet of paper per person although several sheets can be mailed together in one envelope.Include only family members who have an application pending at that specific BCIS office.
- Print or type all information neatly.
- Mark the envelope ATTN: Address Change. Mail it to the BCIS office where the application or petition is pending.
- Clearly print Address Change at the top of the sheet and then include this information:
- Full name, with LAST NAME in capital letters;
- A-number (8 or 9 digits);
- Application receipt number (if filed at a service center);
- Date of birth and country of birth;
- Type of application pending at that office and approximate date it was filed;
- New address;
- Old address;
- Date applicant moved;
- Signature and date of signature;
It may prove helpful to indicate a day telephone number, or e-mail address, but this is not a requirement. Always keep a copy for your records.
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Naturalization applicants: change of address
Q: How does a naturalization applicant report a change of address?
A: Since they are not yet U.S. citizens, persons who have an N-400 Application for Naturalization pending at any office or service center of the Bureau of Citizenship and Immigration Services (BCIS) must comply with Section 265 of the Immigration and Nationality Act by completing Form AR-11 Alien’s Change of Address Card, and mailing it to London, Kentucky within 10 days of moving.This form, with complete mailing instructions, can be printed from the BCIS website at: www.bcis.gov/graphics/formsfee/forms/ar-11.htm .
Special instruction: In addition to filing Form AR-11, the current procedure requires a naturalization applicant to telephone the National Customer Service Center at 1-800-375-5283, Monday through Friday between the hours of 8:00 am and 6:00 pm to report a change of address. Be prepared to provide information that appears on the application receipt notice. After dialing the number for the National Customer Service Center, listen for the main menu of options and choose “1” for information about a pending case. Next, there will be another menu: choose the option “To change your address, Press 2”. Wait for a Customer Service Representative, who will ask for several items of information, including your old and new address.
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Asylees waiting for green cards: change of address
Q: How does an asylee report a change of address if she has already applied for a green card?
A: An asylee who has already applied for a green card and is waiting for one of the 10,000 annual adjustment numbers to become available should follow this procedure within 10 days of moving:
File Form AR-11 Alien’s Change of Address Card, and mail it to London, Kentucky. For a printable version of Form AR-11 with mailing instructions, click on: www.bcis.gov/graphics/formsfee/forms/ar-11.htm . Change-of-address forms may also be ordered by calling the 24-hour BCIS Forms Request Line at: 1-800-870-3676.
Next, if an asylee filed her I-485 application for Lawful Permanent Residence with any immigration office on or before February 1, 1999, she should have received a decision by now. If not, the current procedure is to telephone the National Customer Service Center at 1-800-375-5283, Monday through Friday between the hours of 8:00 am and 6:00 pm. Be prepared to provide several items of information, including one’s A-number and date of filing the application. After dialing the number for the National Customer Service Center, listen for the main menu of options and choose “1” for information about a pending case. Next, there will be another menu that offers the option “To change your address, Press 2”. Wait to speak with a Customer Service Representative.
If an asylee filed an I-485 application after February 1, 1999, and then moved, she should mail a completed Form AR-11 to London, Kentucky and should send a separate written notice to the Nebraska Service Center using the format described in Step 2 at Who must report a change of address and how. The notice should be mailed to:
BCIS Nebraska Service Center
P.O. Box 87865
Lincoln, NE 68508-7865
ATTN: CHANGE of ADDRESS
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Nebraska Service Center: change of address
Q: If an alien has any application pending at the Nebraska Service Center, how does she report an address change?
A: The alien must file Form AR-11 Alien’s Change of Address Card, and mail it to London, Kentucky within 10 days of moving. For a printable version of Form AR-11 with mailing instructions, click on:www.bcis.gov/graphics/formsfee/forms/ar-11.htm . Change-of-address forms may also be ordered by calling the 24-hour BCIS Forms Request Line at:1-800-870-3676.
Next, in addition to filing Form AR-11, a separate notice must be mailed to the Nebraska Service Center using the format described in Step 2 at Who must report a change of address and how. The notice should be mailed to:
BCIS Nebraska Service Center
P.O. Box 87865
Lincoln, NE 68508-7865
ATTN: CHANGE of ADDRESS
A U.S.citizen who has a petition pending at the Nebraska Service Center should report her address change to the above address to ensure proper delivery of mail. The U.S. citizen should follow the basic procedure described at Step 2 of Who must report a change of address and how
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