How to tell USCIS you moved

Moving is a lot. This part is quick. This page is general information, not legal advice. For a short version, see How do I tell USCIS my new address?

Do I have to tell USCIS I moved?

Yes, almost everyone does. USCIS says all noncitizens in the U.S. must report a change of address within 10 days of moving. The only exceptions it lists are A and G visa holders (diplomats and international organization staff) and visa waiver visitors (USCIS, How to Change Your Address).

That means green card holders, DACA recipients, TPS holders, students, workers, asylum seekers and undocumented people with any USCIS record. It applies even if you have no case pending.

Why it matters. USCIS sends almost everything by mail: receipt notices, fingerprint appointments, requests for evidence, interview letters, decisions and new cards. Mail sent to an old address can mean a missed deadline, a denied case or a card in a stranger's mailbox.

What the law says. Federal law makes a willful failure to report an address change a misdemeanor, with a fine of up to $200, up to 30 days in jail, or both. It also says a person can be removed for it unless they show the failure was reasonably excusable or not willful (8 U.S.C. 1306(b)). We are not saying this happens often. We are saying the 10 day rule is real, so follow it.

How do I change my address online?

USCIS strongly prefers the online way, and it processes online changes almost immediately (USCIS, How to Change Your Address).

1. Go to uscis.gov/addresschange.
2. Sign in to your USCIS online account, or create one. It is free.
3. Enter your new address. Use the U.S. Postal Service ZIP code lookup so your street, unit number and ZIP match the Postal Service format. USCIS asks for that.
4. Enter the receipt number for each pending case. The receipt number is printed on your receipt notice.
5. Submit. Save or screenshot the confirmation.

No case pending? You still must report the move within 10 days.

Can I do it by mail instead?

Yes. Download Form AR-11 from the USCIS AR-11 page on the day you mail it, fill it out and send it to the address on the form. USCIS says a mailed AR-11 meets the legal requirement, but it is slower than online (USCIS, How to Change Your Address).

Tips for mailing:

• Send it with tracking or a certificate of mailing.
• Keep a copy and the date you mailed it.
• Do not send your change of address to a USCIS Lockbox where you mailed an application. The Lockbox does not process address changes (Form I-821D instructions).
• Have a case waiting? USCIS wants the receipt number for each pending case, so use the online tool too, or call the Contact Center with your receipt numbers.

What if I have a case pending?

Use the online tool and enter the receipt number for every pending case: green card, work permit, DACA renewal, citizenship, travel document, family petition. USCIS says you must enter each receipt number for the change to reach that case, even if you filed on paper (USCIS, How to Change Your Address).

Applying for citizenship? Moving can matter. You must have lived for 3 months in the state or USCIS district where you file before you apply (USCIS Policy Manual, Volume 12, Part D, Chapter 3). If you plan to move to another state soon, talk to a legal helper about timing. See Citizenship: the complete guide.

Family petition beneficiary? If you are the person a relative petitioned for and you move, the petitioner contacts the USCIS Contact Center or the office with the case. If your case is already at the State Department's National Visa Center for an interview abroad, contact the National Visa Center instead (USCIS, How to Change Your Address).

Does the Post Office change it for me?

No. Changing your address with the U.S. Postal Service does not change it with USCIS, and the Postal Service will not forward USCIS mail (USCIS, How to Change Your Address). Do both.

I have a court case. What else do I do?

Immigration court is a separate agency (EOIR). Updating USCIS does not update the court.

• File Form EOIR-33 with the court within 5 days of moving (8 CFR 1003.15(d)(2)). You can send it electronically, in person or by mail (EOIR Respondent Access, EOIR-33).
• If your case is on appeal at the Board of Immigration Appeals, ask your lawyer or the BIA which address form to use.
• A hearing notice sent to the last address you gave the court counts as notice. If you miss the hearing, the judge can order you removed without you there (8 U.S.C. 1229a(b)(5)).

If you have a lawyer, tell them the same day. See What happens if I miss immigration court.

If you report to ICE (check ins, an ankle monitor or other supervision), read your ICE papers for their address rules. For example, an ICE Order of Supervision (Form I-220B) must require you to give DHS written notice of any change of address (8 CFR 241.5(a)(5)). Our suggestion: tell your officer before you move, and ask your lawyer if you are unsure. Telling ICE does not replace telling USCIS and the court.

Are there special rules for my kind of case?

Yes, for some people (USCIS, How to Change Your Address):

• VAWA, T visa, U visa and I-751 abuse waiver cases follow a separate USCIS procedure built to keep survivors' addresses safe. Use the link on the USCIS change of address page for "VAWA/T/U Cases," or ask your advocate. You can use a safe mailing address.
• Sponsors who signed an affidavit of support must file Form I-865 within 30 days of moving.
• Lawyers and accredited representatives update their own address through their Form G-28.

What if a notice or card went to my old address?

Act fast.

• Call the USCIS Contact Center at 800-375-5283 with your receipt number. If a notice went to your old address after you had already changed it, you can ask for help with a service request (USCIS, DACA page). Your saved confirmation proves when you changed it.
• Ask the people at your old address to hold any USCIS mail for you.
• If a card is lost for good, you may have to file for a replacement and pay again, unless USCIS or the Postal Service made the error. See How to replace immigration papers.

Who else should I tell?

• California DMV: within 10 days of moving, tell the DMV your old and new address (Vehicle Code 14600).
• Selective Service: men 18 through 25 who registered can update their address on Selective Service's Update Your Information page. See Selective Service if you are undocumented.
• Your lawyer or nonprofit, your employer, your school, your bank and the IRS if you file taxes.
• Your consulate if you hold a consular ID with your address. See your consulate.

Common mistakes

• Thinking the Post Office forward covers USCIS. It does not.
• Updating the address but skipping the receipt numbers.
• Updating USCIS but not the immigration court.
• Mailing an AR-11 to the Lockbox.
• Not saving proof of the change.
• Using an address where you cannot get mail for months. A trusted relative's address is better than a short term rental.

Is there a checklist I can print?

Questions people ask

Does it cost anything? No. Changing your address with USCIS is free.

Can I use a P.O. box? USCIS asks for your address in the Postal Service format. If you need mail to go somewhere other than where you sleep, such as a safe address or a relative's home, ask a legal helper how to list it correctly.

I move a lot for work. Do I report every move? Yes. Each move starts a new 10 days.

Will changing my address put me at risk? The duty to report is the law, and missing USCIS mail is a real risk too. If you are worried about your safety, talk to a free legal service before you file.

Who can help?

These are free or low cost legal services. Contact them to confirm hours, languages and openings. Being listed here is not a referral or a promise of service.

• Anywhere in California: California Department of Social Services map of state funded immigration legal services, (916) 651-8017.
• Community Legal Services in East Palo Alto (low income residents of San Mateo and Santa Clara counties): (650) 326-6440.
• Legal Aid Society of San Mateo County (San Mateo County residents): (650) 558-0915.
• San Mateo County Immigrant Services (county residents): (650) 363-4194.
• More options: Free legal help in the Bay Area.

New home, same case, nothing missed. Ten minutes today does it.