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IMMIGRATION REPORTING A CHANGE OF ADDRESS TO IMMIGRATION BY GAIL S. SEERAM, ATTORNEY AT LAW
All non-U.S. citizens (aliens) who have filed an
application or petition for a benefit under the Immigration and Nationality Act
and expect notification of a decision on that application are required to keep
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) informed of their current
address. In addition, the USCIS may need to contact you to provide other issued
documents or return original copies of evidence you submitted. It is also
mandatory for any alien who has been designated as a �special registrant� to
inform the USCIS whenever he or she has a change of address, employment or
school. The special registrant rule is effective as of Sept. 11, 2002. For
information about special registrant go to the U.S. Immigration and Customs
Enforcement website.
In the past, INS, required every alien in the
United States to report his or her address annually, in January. This
requirement was eliminated in 1980 and annual reporting is no longer required.
However, if you are not a U.S. citizen, the law still requires that you
report any change of address change within 10 days of the change. How Do I
Report My Change of Address?
As announced on Jan. 12, 2007, USCIS launched a
new web-based service allowing USCIS customers to submit change of address
information online. 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 and changing your address on a pending application or
petition does not meet the legal requirements of informing USCIS of your change
of address.
For most cases, you can change your address on a
pending petition and inform USCIS of your change of address by accessing the new
web-based service provided by the USCIS website
(http://www.uscis.gov/AR-11).
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.
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.
Regardless of whether or not you are a U.S.
citizen, if you choose not to use the electronic change of address
notification, you will need to call customer service at 1-800-375-5283 to
request that the address on your pending application/petition be changed.
I Gail S. Seeram, an immigration attorney, handles cases involving family petitions, business/investors visas, citizenship, deportation, asylum, work authorization and extension of status. Call her office toll- free at 1-877-GAIL-LAW (1-877-424-5529), send an email at [email protected] or visit www.go2lawyer.com
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