WE LIVE IN USA
Racco My checklist
All guides ＋
USA COMPLETEAll 91 items, ad-free, one purchase for lifeUnlock all 91 items →

Newcomer deadline table AR-11 10 days Selective Service 30 days health insurance 60 days

These are the legal deadlines newcomers run into most in their first year: report your new address to USCIS on AR-11 within 10 days of moving; male immigrants aged 18–25 register with Selective Service within 30 days of arriving in the US; after moving from abroad you can usually buy Marketplace health insurance within 60 days; your employer must complete Form I-9 within 3 business days of starting a new job; for a new state driver license, California gives you 10 days, New York 30 days and New Jersey 60 days. If you entered on an immigrant visa and have not received your green card 90 days after paying the USCIS Immigrant Fee or entering, contact USCIS.

The table below lists who each deadline applies to, the day it starts counting from, and the official source, then sorts them by status. These are safety deadlines, so the whole article is free and needs no sign-in.

Racco pointing at a wall calendar, with an alarm clock, hourglass, moving box and envelope on the desk

Deadline table

DeadlineWhat to doWhoCounted fromOfficial source
10 daysReport your new address to USCIS (AR-11)Noncitizens in the US, except A and G visa holders and visa waiver visitorsThe moveUSCIS
30 daysSponsor address change (I-865)Citizens and green card holders who filed an I-864 affidavit of supportThe moveUSCIS
30 daysRegister with Selective ServiceMale immigrants aged 18–25; people on a current nonimmigrant visa do notArrival in the USSSS
60 daysBuy Marketplace health insurance (Special Enrollment Period)People moving to the US from a foreign countryThe move (usually 60 days before or after)HealthCare.gov
60 daysBuy Marketplace health insurance (Special Enrollment Period)People gaining lawful status for the first time; changing from one status to another does not countGaining statusHealthCare.gov
3 business daysEmployer completes Form I-9 Section 2All new employees, citizens includedStart of workUSCIS M-274
3 weeksCall SSA if the SSN card has not arrivedImmigrant visa entrants who requested an SSN on the DS-260EntrySSA POMS
14 daysGo to SSA if the SSN card has not arrivedPeople who requested an SSN on the I-765 or I-485Receiving the EAD or green cardSSA POMS
90 daysContact USCIS if the green card has not arrivedPeople who entered on an immigrant visaPaying the Immigrant Fee or entryUSCIS
1 yearThe I-551 stamp in your passport proves green card statusPeople who entered on an immigrant visaEntryUSCIS
Within 90 days before expirationFile I-751 to remove conditionsPeople with a conditional green card through marriageCounted back from the conditional card’s expiration dateUSCIS
Up to 180 days before expirationFile I-765 to renew an EADEAD holders, including H-4 and L-2Counted back from the EAD expiration dateUSCIS
Before you leaveFor trips abroad of 1 year or more, apply for a re-entry permit (I-131) firstGreen card holdersBefore departureUSCIS M-617
April 15 each yearFile federal income tax; Form 4868 gives a 6-month extension to filePeople who must fileThe previous yearIRS
April 15 each year, automatically extended to October 15File the FBARUS persons (including tax residents) whose foreign accounts total more than $10,000 at any timeThe previous yearIRS

By status

Immigrant visa entrants (new green card)

Adjusted status inside the US (I-485)

H-1B, L-1

F-1, J-1

H-4 and L-2 dependents

Refugees and asylees

Moving: AR-11 within 10 days

USCIS says noncitizens must report a new address within 10 days of moving, except A and G visa holders and visa waiver visitors (uscis.gov/ar-11). Changing your address with USPS does not change it with USCIS (USCIS address change page).

The legal consequence is in 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 section 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). Some Chinese-language pages say $1,000 or 6 months; that is the penalty in subsection (a) of the same section for willful failure to register, not for an address change. How to file: AR-11: tell USCIS within 10 days of moving.

Within 30 days of entry: Selective Service

Selective Service says men aged 18–25 must register within 30 days of arriving in the US, including green card holders, refugees, asylees and men on an expired visa; men on a current nonimmigrant visa (for example F or M student visas) do not (official SSS overview, who must register chart). Registration after 30 days is still accepted, but only before your 26th birthday; online registration requires an SSN (sss.gov FAQ). A nonimmigrant who later gets a green card before turning 26 must register.

60 days: health insurance Special Enrollment Period

HealthCare.gov lists moving to the US from a foreign country as a Special Enrollment Period event, andyou usually have 60 days before or after the eventto enroll. Gaining lawful status for the first time also gives you 60 days; changing from one lawful status to another (for example refugee to green card) does not. Missing Open Enrollment does not necessarily mean waiting until next year.

New-resident driver license deadlines by state

StateDriver licenseVehicle registrationOfficial source
CaliforniaWithin 10 days of becoming a residentWithin 20 daysCA DMV FFDL 5, New to California
New YorkWithin 30 days of becoming a residentNot stated on the official pageNY DMV
WashingtonWithin 30 days of moving—WA DOL
New JerseyWithin 60 days of moving, or before your current license or registration expires, whichever comes firstWithin 60 daysNJ MVC
FloridaWithin 30 days of becoming a resident—FLHSMV
TexasYou may drive on a valid license from another state or country for up to 90 days after moving—Texas DPS

“—” means the official page checked here does not say; it does not mean there is no deadline. Texas DPS also says adults with a valid license from Taiwan, South Korea, France, Germany or the United Arab Emirates can generally exchange it without the knowledge and skills tests. Each state defines who counts as a “resident”; it is separate from immigration status. Other states and license details are covered by CAR; how to apply: Getting a US driver license.

I-9: by the third business day

Your employer must complete Section 2 of Form I-9 within 3 business days after you start work; for jobs lasting less than 3 days, by the first day. Your employer cannot tell you which document to present (USCIS M-274). This is the employer’s deadline, but bringing your documents on day one is the easiest way to meet it. For the W-4, see The W-4 tax form.

EAD and I-94 expiration

The DHS final rule (effective 2026-10-14, 91 FR 65306) confirms that EAD renewal applications filed on or after 2025-10-30 no longer automatically extend the old card, including for H-4 and L-2; applications filed earlier that already received an extension are not affected, and TPS has separate rules (Federal Register). USCIS generally recommends filing an EAD renewal up to 180 days before the EAD expires (uscis.gov/i-765).

For nonimmigrants, how long you may stay is the admit-until date on your I-94, not the date on your visa. Look it up on CBP’s i94.cbp.dhs.gov ; how to do it: How to look up your I-94. For extensions and changes of status, see VISA.

Taxes April 15, FBAR October 15

Federal income tax is generally due April 15, moved to the next business day if it falls on a weekend or holiday; Form 4868 gives an extra 6 months to file, but tax owed is still due by the original deadline (IRS). US persons (including tax residents) whose foreign accounts total more than $10,000 at any time during the year must also file the FBAR through FinCEN’s BSA E-Filing System, due April 15 and automatically extended to October 15, separately from the tax return (IRS FBAR). Bank accounts in Taiwan count as foreign accounts. Tax details are covered by MONEY.

Frequently asked questions

What if I filed AR-11 late?

File it anyway; you can do it online. The statute makes an exception when the failure is reasonably excusable or not willful; if you have a pending case or are worried about consequences, talk to a lawyer or a DOJ-accredited representative.

Do I need to file AR-11 for a move within the same city?

Yes. USCIS says any change of address must be reported within 10 days of moving.

Can I still register with Selective Service after 30 days?

Yes, late registration is accepted, but only before your 26th birthday.

Do H-1B holders register with Selective Service?

Not while on a current nonimmigrant visa. If you later get a green card before turning 26, you must register.

Do my accounts in Taiwan need to be reported on the FBAR?

If you are a US tax resident and all your foreign accounts together exceed $10,000 at any time in the year, yes.

Put the deadlines on your list: My USA Plan

Every deadline in this table is free information. To put your own to-dos in order for your status, use the My USA Plan checklist: the first 30 items are free, and 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 how to order your first 30 days, see First 30 days in the US: what to do by status.

Sources and date checked

All checked on 2026-10-22. This article is not legal, immigration or tax advice.

← Back to the checklist