Online or Paper Filing, or Both, for Change-of-Address Forms AR-11 and AR-11 SR?

During an open house informational session held on March 5, 20 11 by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) in Fairfax, Virginia, it is suggested that, due to system-interface issues, Change-of-Address applicants should consider filing paper change-of-address forms in addition to online filing to increase the chances that pending applications also accurately reflect the applicants’ new addresses. 

Starting March 15, 2011, all Change of Address forms (AR-11 and AR-11 SR) must be sent to a new location in Harrisonburg, Virginia.

Most foreign nationals and each dependent family member in the United States are required to notify the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) with updates of any address changes within ten (10) days of such change via Change of Address form (AR-11, or AR-11 SR for special registration foreign nationals). One separate form must be filed for each applicable foreign national.  Change of Address form is also used for changing a foreign national’s address for a pending immigration application.

This Change-of-Address requirement also applies to green card holders.

Certain exceptions apply to the Change-of-Address requirement.  For example, non-U.S.-citizens under 14, or holding A or G status do not need to file the Change of Address form.  U.S. citizens are also not required to file an AR-11 Change of Address form but if a U.S. citizen has previously submitted a Form I-864  on behalf of someone who has become a permanent resident, the U.S. citizen is also legally required to notify the USCIS by completing a Form I-865 a Sponsor’s Change of Address form, within ten days of the completion of the move.  Form I-865 can be located at USCIS website at

http://www.uscis.gov/portal/site/uscis/menuitem.5af9bb95919f35e66f614176543f6d1a/?vgnextoid=1ba892623014d010VgnVCM10000048f3d6a1RCRD&vgnextchannel=db029c7755cb9010VgnVCM10000045f3d6a1RCRD .

For those subject to the AR-11 Change-of-Address requirement, failure to timely file the Change of Address form may be a ground for removal from the U.S.

On February 28, 2011, the USCIS announced that as of March 15, 2011, all Change of Address forms (AR-11 and AR-11 SR for special registration foreign nationals) will change filing locations, and must be sent to the following address: 

DHS/USCIS

Harrisonburg File Storage Facility

Attn: AR-11

1344 Pleasants Drive

Harrisonburg, VA 22801

The USCIS will forward Change of Address forms (AR-11 and AR-11 SR forms) mailed to the old location to the new filing location for 45 days beginning March 15, 2011 until April 28, 2011.

In addition, applicants continue to have the option to file their Change of Address form online or electronically with the USCIS at: https://egov.uscis.gov/crisgwi/go?action=coa .  Both AR-11 and AR-11 SR forms can be submitted online at this USCIS website.

The USCIS announcement did not specifically address what would happen to Change of Address forms (AR-11 and AR-11 SR) mailed to the old address after April 28, 2011.  Since the USCIS has indicated that it would only forward Change of Address forms filed to the old address until April 28, 2011, after this date, these Change of Address forms sent to the wrong address would, therefore, be considered improperly filed or rejected.

In minimizing erroneous filing location and for other reasons, Change-of-Address applicants may consider filing their AR-11 or AR-11 SR forms online in addition to paper mailing.

By Aik Wan Kok Fillali, Attorney at Law, at Tiya PLC; Tel: 703-772-8224 www.tiyaimmigration.com ; http://tiyalaw.blogspot.com ; www.immigrationresource.net We represent employers, and individuals and their families in green card, work visa and waiver matters in U.S. immigration law.

All Rights Reserved. This article is intended for informational purposes only, and should not be relied on as a legal advice or an attorney-client relationship.

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Recently, the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has issued a notification indicating delay in their processing of approximately 36,000 immediate relative petitions (Form I-130) that were transferred from the California Service Center (CSC) to the Texas Service Center (TSC). Some cases have been transferred back to the CSC. TSC and CSC are USCIS service centers.

As of February 22, 2011, the USCIS’ updates on the above cases (CSC and TSC) are:

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The petitioners or beneficiaries are encouraged to monitor their I-130 case progress on the USCIS My Case Status online at https://egov.uscis.gov/cris/Dashboard.do . However, by March 1, 2011, if the parties concerned do not see any action on their cases, such as an approval, denial or an RFE, they may contact USCIS at: I-130Inquiries.Tsc@dhs.gov

By Aik Wan Kok Fillali, Attorney at Law, at Tiya PLC; Tel: 703-772-8224 www.tiyaimmigration.com ; http://tiyalaw.blogspot.com ; www.immigrationresource.net We represent employers, and individuals and their families in green card, work visa and waiver matters in U.S. immigration law.

All Rights Reserved.

This article is intended for informational purposes only, and should not be relied on as a legal advice or an attorney-client relationship.

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