Chapter 10 - Changes of Address
All aliens in the United States (except A and G visa holders and visa waiver visitors) have a legal requirement to report a change of address to USCIS within 10 days of moving, regardless of whether they have a pending benefit request.[1]
Aliens who have pending applications, petitions, or other benefit requests should notify USCIS as soon as possible of an address change (and no later than 10 days after they move) to help ensure they receive correspondence and benefits in a timely manner.
The primary avenues for aliens to update their address are:
USCIS has specific procedures for change of address requests for certain populations.[4]
A. Updating Address Online
USCIS encourages requestors to submit their address change online using the Enterprise Change of Address (E-COA) self-service tool.
Aliens who do not have any pending applications, petitions, or requests can use the E-COA tool to meet the requirement to notify USCIS they have moved, eliminating the need for them to submit a paper Alien’s Change of Address Card (Form AR-11).
Requestors who have pending applications, petitions, or other benefit requests can use the E-COA tool to both meet the notification requirement and update their mailing and physical address with USCIS for such pending cases. When using E-COA, requestors should include the receipt numbers for all cases for which they would like their address updated.
The E-COA tool provides for a near-immediate change of address, helping to minimize risk of requestors not receiving correspondence and benefits in a timely manner. Requestors can access the E-COA tool through a USCIS online account and use it for all pending cases, regardless of whether the case was filed online or by mail.
The E-COA tool automates address changes for almost all form types.[5] Certain populations, however, may need to follow special procedures for change of address requests and are therefore unable to use this tool. These populations include, but are not limited to:
- Protected persons;[6]
- Certain intercountry adoption-based petitioners and applicants (for orphan and Hague intercountry adoption cases);[7]
- Certain special immigrant Afghan or Iraqi nationals;
- Attorneys and accredited representatives seeking to change their office address;
- Civil surgeons;
- U.S. citizens or nationals who have submitted an affidavit of support for another person; and
- Certain people with international addresses.
If a requestor falls into one of the above categories, they should visit the How to Change Your Address webpage for information on changing their address instead of using the E-COA tool.
B. Updating Address by U.S. Mail
Aliens may choose to file a Form AR-11 by U.S. mail to meet the requirement to notify USCIS they have moved. Some aliens may choose to send a signed written notice by mail to meet the requirement to notify USCIS they have moved.[8] However, mailing a paper Form AR-11 or signed written notice of an address change does not provide for near immediate processing of a change of address request like the E-COA online tool or the USCIS Contact Center.[9] If a requestor has a pending benefit request, filing the Form AR-11 or signed written notice of an address change by mail may increase the risk that important correspondence or benefits are sent to an outdated address.
C. Address Discrepancies
USCIS does not update the requestor’s address outside of a specific request to change the requestor’s address. For example, if the address listed for the requestor in a service request (such as a case status inquiry) is different from the address listed in USCIS case management systems, USCIS continues to use the address in USCIS case management systems as the address of record until the requestor specifically submits a change of address request.
Footnotes
[^ 1] See INA 265. See 8 CFR. 265.1 (Aliens who are required to report each change of address must do so in accordance with instructions provided by USCIS.).
[^ 2] See Section A, Updating Address Online [1 USCIS-PM A.10(A)].
[^ 3] See Section B, Updating Address by U.S. Mail [1 USCIS-PM A.10(B)].
[^ 4] For more information, see the How to Change Your Address webpage.
[^ 5] For more information, see the How to Change Your Address webpage.
[^ 6] Protected person refers to a person covered by 8 U.S.C. 1367 confidentiality protections, including VAWA self-petitioners, Form I-765V filers, and individuals seeking or who hold Continued Presence, U nonimmigrant status or T nonimmigrant status. If a protected person also has filed a benefit request that does trigger 8 U.S.C. 1367 protections (for example, a U petitioner has also filed for temporary protected status), USCIS nonetheless considers that individual as covered by 8 U.S.C. 1367 protections for purposes of E-COA requests related to all pending and approved benefits. See Chapter 7, Privacy and Confidentiality, Section E, VAWA, T, and U Cases [1 USCIS-PM A.7(E)]. See the Change of Address Procedures for VAWA/T/U Cases and Form I-751 Abuse Waivers webpage.
[^ 7] See the Updated Home Studies and Significant Changes webpage.
[^ 8] See the Change of Address Procedures for VAWA/T/U Cases and Form I-751 Abuse Waivers webpage.
[^ 9] For more information, see Section A, Updating Address Online [1 USCIS-PM A.10(A)].