Moved? Report your new address to USCIS within 10 days
When you move, reporting your new address to USCIS is easy to forget, and it matters. Notices, interview appointments and your green card or work permit are mailed to the address USCIS has on file. For most noncitizens it is also a legal requirement.
General information only, not legal advice. If you are in immigration court proceedings or your case is complicated, ask a licensed immigration attorney or DOJ-accredited representative what to update.
The short answer
- Most noncitizens in the U.S. must report a new address to USCIS within 10 days of moving.
- This applies even if you have no pending case, for example a green card holder.
- The main exceptions: people in A or G (diplomatic) status and visa waiver visitors.
How to report it
- Use the online change of address tool on uscis.gov/addresschange. USCIS prefers it, because a paper Form AR-11 does not automatically update your pending cases.
- Enter the receipt number of every pending case, so each one gets the new address. It works for cases you filed by mail too.
- Save the confirmation for your records.
Special cases
- Immigration court: updating USCIS does not update the court. If you are in proceedings, you must tell the immigration court separately (Form EOIR-33).
- Sponsors: if you signed an Affidavit of Support (Form I-864) as a sponsor, you report a move on Form I-865 within the same 10 days.
- VAWA, T and U cases and I-751 abuse waivers: follow the special address instructions on the USCIS page, to keep your information safe.
Why it matters
The law allows a fine, jail or removal for not reporting a change of address, and a missed notice can mean a missed interview or a denied case. Ten minutes online avoids both.
While you are at it
- Set up mail forwarding with the U.S. Postal Service.
- Update your address with your school’s DSO (F and J students), your employer, the IRS and your state’s motor vehicle agency.
- Check your document dates with the document expiration dashboard.
Need help organizing your documents?
One Path Finder can help you gather and organize documents where permitted by law. We are not a law firm and can’t tell you what applies to your case. Contact us to start a conversation. For legal advice, ask us for a referral to our partner law firm.