Monday, January 24, 2011

Green card application: changing addresses

If you are not a U.S. citizen, changing your address for legal purposes does not change your address on any application or petition pending with USCIS. Moreover, changing your address on a pending application or petition does not meet the legal requirements of informing USCIS of your change of address. You will need to do both.

With the exception noted above, all non-U.S. citizens who move within the United States and its territories must submit a Form AR-11 within 10 days after completing the change of address. You can do that the Electronic Change of Address tool. If you choose to use this online tool, you can complete an electronic Form AR-11 and notify USCIS to update your address on most pending cases. This is the easiest and most convenient way to inform the USCIS. If you choose not to complete an electronic Form AR-11, you will be required to obtain a paper Form AR-11 and mail it to the address shown on the form. This will delay the process of notifying USCIS significantly. Not filing an electronic AR-11 and choosing to mail in a paper AR-11 will not update your address on any applications or petitions pending with USCIS.