Moving report your address to USCIS on AR-11 within 10 days green card and visa holders alike
Noncitizens in the US must tell USCIS their new address within 10 days of every move. That applies to green card, H-1B, F-1 and H-4 holders alike; only A and G visa holders and visa waiver visitors are exempt. The fastest way is the Enterprise Change of Address (E-COA) tool in your USCIS online account; the paper AR-11 form also meets the legal requirement, but it does not automatically update USCIS systems. Changing your address with USPS does not notify USCIS, and USPS does not forward mail from USCIS.
If you have a pending case, enter the receipt number for each case when you change your address online so the cases are updated too. Sponsors who filed an I-864 affidavit of support must file I-865 within 30 days of moving.
Who must file AR-11
| Status | Must file? | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Green card holders (including conditional green cards) | Yes | Every move until you naturalize |
| H-1B, L-1 and other work visas | Yes | |
| F-1 and J-1 students and exchange visitors | Yes | Updating your address with your school is a separate step; see the FAQ below |
| H-4, L-2, F-2 and other dependents | Yes | The rule covers every noncitizen in the US, dependents included |
| Refugees, asylees, parolees | Yes | |
| Applicants with a pending case | Yes | Enter each receipt number when changing your address online |
| A and G visas (diplomats, international organizations) | No | |
| Visa waiver visitors | No | |
| US citizens | No | But sponsors who filed an I-864 must file I-865 within 30 days |
Sources:uscis.gov/ar-11, uscis.gov/addresschange. For minor children, the statute also names the parent or legal guardian as responsible for the address notice (8 U.S.C. 1306).
Two ways to file: online or paper
| Online (E-COA) | Paper AR-11 | |
|---|---|---|
| Where | The My Account menu in your USCIS online account | Fill out Form AR-11 and mail it to the address on the form |
| Account needed? | Yes | No |
| Meets the 10-day legal requirement | Yes, it does | Yes, it does |
| When USCIS systems update | “Almost immediately,” in USCIS’s words | No automatic update |
| Pending cases | Enter each receipt number and the cases are updated | Cases are not updated automatically |
The current paper AR-11 edition is 11/02/22, and USCIS also accepts the 08/31/21 edition; every page must be from the same edition, and unsigned forms are rejected (uscis.gov/ar-11). VAWA, T and U visa cases and I-751 abuse waiver cases have a separate address change procedure; see the USCIS page for those cases. If you do not have an account, see USCIS online account.
Pending cases: enter every receipt number
The USCIS address change page says that when you change your address in your online account, you must enter the receipt number for each pending case so the change applies to that case (USCIS). If you move while an I-485, I-765, I-751 or N-400 is pending, changing it online is the better choice. If you are the beneficiary and your petitioner (for example the family member or employer who filed for you) moves, USCIS asks you to contact the USCIS Contact Center or the office handling your case.
I-864 sponsors: file I-865 within 30 days
Citizens, US nationals and green card holders who filed an I-864 affidavit of support must file I-865 (Sponsor's Notice of Change of Address) within 30 days of moving (USCIS). It is a different form from AR-11: a sponsor who is a green card holder must do both.
A USPS change of address does not count
USCIS is blunt about it: changing your address with USPS does not change your address with USCIS, and USPS will not forward your mail from USCIS (USCIS). A green card, EAD or interview notice sent to your old address will not reach you. The USCIS scam page also warns that an EAD or SSN card sent to an old or wrong address can lead to identity theft (USCIS).
You should still set up USPS forwarding: the online request costs a $1.25 identity verification fee, standard forwarding lasts 12 months, you can pay to extend it by 6, 12 or 18 months (18 months maximum), and it takes at least 7–10 business days to start (USPS). Steps: USPS mail forwarding.
Consequences of not filing: the statute’s own words
8 U.S.C. 1306(b): failing to give the required written notice of a change of address is a misdemeanor, with a fine of up to $200, up to 30 days in jail, or both; the same subsection says that unless the failure is shown to be reasonably excusable or not willful, the person shall be taken into custody and removed (statute text). The $1,000 and 6 months that some Chinese-language pages cite is the penalty in subsection (a) of the same section for willful failure to register, not for an address change.
If you are late, file anyway. If you have a pending case or are worried about consequences, talk to a lawyer or a DOJ-accredited representative; for in-depth status questions see VISA.
Calls and texts pretending to be USCIS
Treat any call that demands payment because your “address is not updated” or there is a “problem with your immigration record” as a scam. USCIS says it will not ask you by phone or email to pay fees to a person, does not accept Western Union, MoneyGram, PayPal, Venmo or gift cards, takes online payments only through your USCIS online account and Pay.gov, and that government email addresses always end in .gov (USCIS common scams). USCIS may really email you from uscis.gov asking you to update your address, so check the sender’s domain, do not click links in the email, and sign in to your account yourself to make the change.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need to file if I move to another unit in the same building, or within the same city?
Yes. USCIS says any change of address must be reported within 10 days of moving.
Is there a fee for AR-11?
The USCIS AR-11 page refers you to the official fee schedule, so this article does not give a figure. Changing your address online is done directly in your account.
Is updating my address with my school enough for an F-1 student?
No. AR-11 is a USCIS requirement and covers students and exchange visitors; update your address with your school separately as the school requires.
I first stayed with friends. Do I need to file when I move into my rental?
Yes. Every move is a new AR-11.
After I file AR-11, will my green card and other mail go to the new address?
If you change it in your online account and enter the receipt numbers, pending cases are updated; a paper AR-11 does not update the system automatically.
Where this step is in My USA Plan
AR-11 is not one of the 91 items yet, so this article covers it in full for free. USPS mail forwarding is one of the 30 free items in the My USA Plan checklist ; the full 91 items add taxes, the USCIS online account and status expiration reminders for US$9.90, a one-time purchase, not a subscription. For every deadline around a move, see The newcomer deadline table; for the order of steps after arriving, see First 30 days in the US: what to do by status. Packing and moving companies for moves between states are covered by MOVE.
Sources and date checked
All checked on 2026-10-22. This article is not legal or immigration advice.
- USCIS AR-11 page (06/03/2026):https://www.uscis.gov/ar-11
- USCIS address change page (08/04/2026):https://www.uscis.gov/addresschange
- 8 U.S.C. 1306: govinfo.gov
- USCIS common scams (08/04/2026):https://www.uscis.gov/scams-fraud-and-misconduct/avoid-scams/common-scams
- USPS mail forwarding:https://www.usps.com/manage/forward.htm