Moving is part of life: a new job, a better neighborhood for the family, a more affordable rent. But for anyone who is not a U.S. citizen and lives in the United States, the move is not over when the boxes are unpacked. There is a legal obligation, set out in federal law, to report your new address to USCIS — and the deadline is short: 10 days.
The requirement is in section 265 of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA §265, 8 U.S.C. §1305) and applies to virtually every noncitizen in U.S. territory, whether or not they have a case in progress. The official way to comply is Form AR-11, which can be filed online in a few minutes or sent by mail.
This article sets out who is subject to the requirement, who is exempt, and the official channels for reporting, as well as the misconception that causes the most trouble: a change of address filed with the post office (USPS) does not take care of the immigration side. It does not.
Who the reporting requirement applies to
The general rule is simple: every noncitizen present in the United States must report a change of address to USCIS. That includes:
- lawful permanent residents (green card holders);
- temporary visa holders — work, student, exchange, and other categories;
- people with a case pending before USCIS, such as adjustment of status, asylum, TPS, or DACA;
- anyone with no case open at the moment.
The notice is individual: every member of the family needs their own AR-11, including spouses and children. For children under 14, a parent or legal guardian signs on their behalf. One point that catches most people off guard: the obligation exists even if you have nothing pending. Someone who has held a green card for years and never needed USCIS again still has to report every move.
Who is exempt from the requirement
Outside the obligation are U.S. citizens (whether born in the United States or naturalized) and specific diplomatic categories, such as holders of A or G status. The exceptions are narrow and do not apply to the vast majority of immigrants. Filing Form AR-11 is free of charge.
The 10-day deadline — and what counts as a move
The law requires the notice to be filed within 10 days of the move. A move means taking up residence at a new address — including within the same city, the same neighborhood, or even the same building if you changed apartments. Trips and temporary stays are not a change of residence. The rule also covers a temporary address at which the person is actually residing while looking for a permanent one; each subsequent move requires a new report.
Reporting online through the USCIS website
USCIS provides a change of address tool on its website, accessed through the user’s online account. According to USCIS, the procedure is as follows:
- access to the official USCIS change of address page, signing in to the online account (creating an account is free of charge);
- entry of personal information and the complete new address;
- if cases are pending, entry of the receipt numbers, which also updates the address on each case;
- electronic submission, at the end of which the system displays the confirmation on screen.
On the online channel, immediate confirmation is displayed at the end of the submission and serves as the record that the obligation was met within the deadline.
Reporting by mail
USCIS also accepts the printed, signed Form AR-11 by mail. The current form and the instructions are available on the official AR-11 page — the instructions are where the correct mailing address appears. The official instructions cover completing the form in full. Mailing by a trackable method, such as certified mail or a service with delivery confirmation, produces a record of the mailing; without such a record, there is no document evidencing when the form was sent.
The most common mistake: USPS is not USCIS
This is the classic misconception. Filing a change of address with the U.S. Postal Service (USPS Change of Address) only forwards your mail to the new address. USPS does not notify USCIS, and USCIS is not updated automatically. They are two different agencies and two separate notices. For anyone living in the U.S. and taking care of their status, there are two separate notices: the USPS one, covering the mail, and the USCIS one, arising from the legal obligation.
Pending cases: the address on file in each case
Where a case is in progress, the address on file for that case is where USCIS sends its communications. Biometrics appointments, interviews, requests for evidence, and decisions are mailed to the address on file for the case. If a letter comes back as undeliverable, USCIS may treat the case as abandoned and deny it — often before the person concerned even knows anything went wrong.
In the online tool, entering the receipt numbers of all pending cases — the individual’s and the dependents’ — updates the address linked to each case. Those numbers are part of your case documents and information organized throughout the case.
Proof of the report
Beyond meeting the obligation, there is the question of proof. For online filing, the system displays a confirmation screen, which can be saved or captured. For paper filings, the copy of the completed form and the trackable mailing receipt serve that purpose. Kept together with the case documents, this proof is the record that may be presented years later, in a new application for a benefit.
Consequences set out in law
Failing to report a move is a violation of federal law: the INA provides for a fine of up to $200 and up to 30 days of imprisonment for those who willfully fail to report. Enforcement of that penalty is rare — but the practical, immediate risk is far more common: missed notices, deadlines, and interviews, a case denied for abandonment, and a record of noncompliance that can weigh against future applications.
The state update (DMV/RMV) is separate
Beyond USCIS, each state has its own rule for updating the address on a driver’s license or state ID (and on vehicle registration), with different deadlines and procedures. There are three separate updates: USCIS (federal, 10 days), USPS (post office), and your state’s DMV/RMV. One does not replace the others.
Frequently asked questions
I moved within the same city. Do I still need to report?
Yes. The obligation applies to any change of residential address, even on the same street. The law requires USCIS to always have your current address.
Do green card holders need to report too?
Yes. Permanent residents are expressly covered by the rule and must file the AR-11 at every move, whether or not they have cases pending.
I notified the post office (USPS). Is that enough?
No. USPS only forwards your mail; it does not communicate with USCIS. The two notices are independent and both must be filed.
I have a case pending. Does the AR-11 take care of it?
It takes care of the general obligation to keep your address current. And when filed through the online tool with the receipt numbers entered, it also updates the address on your pending cases. The receipt numbers entered are what link the update to each pending case.
An up-to-date address, documents, and deadlines form part of the records that accompany any immigration project. The pathways provided for under U.S. law are presented together on the page devoted to comparing the immigration pathways.
Disclaimer and compliance notice: Meridian Global Mobility (MGM) provides operational coordination, document organization, and logistical support for Brazil–U.S. mobility projects. MGM is not a law firm and does not provide legal services, legal advice, or representation before government agencies. Any legal services are provided independently by licensed, independent attorneys in the United States. The content of this article is informational and does not constitute consulting or an eligibility determination.
Official sources consulted
Official documents, legislation, and repositories used as references: