Under INS regulations, all "aliens" or foreign nationals (non-immigrants and immigrants) are required to notify INS of a change of address using Form AR-11 within 10 days of moving.  The change of address reporting requirement applies to all non-immigrants, asylees, and lawful permanent residents. Only U.S. citizens are exempt from this requirement.  This same form is also used for those individuals who are not U.S. citizens and have submitted an affidavit of support for a family member on Form I-864. A variation of the form, AR-11SR, is used for nonimmigrants who are subject to special registration.

In early November 2002, the INS issued an updated version of Form AR-11, Change of Address (this version indicates "Rev. 11/7/02"). At that time, the INS also changed the address to which the form must be sent.  The new form must be filed with INS at an address in London, Kentucky. There are two addresses, one for mail delivery and the other for overnight (Fed-Ex, UPS) delivery.  Jackson & Hertogs recommends that you make a copy of the form before you send it and that you send it via certified mail with  a return receipt requested.

The Form AR-11 must be submitted within 10 days of any change of address.  Please click on the link for a copy of the new form and directions for mailing address: http://www.ins.usdoj.gov/graphics/formsfee/forms/ar-11.htm.  Please note that if you recently submitted a Form AR-11, you do not need to submit another one on the new form. The INS will forward all change of address forms received at the previous address to the new address in London, Kentucky.  Prior versions of the form are still acceptable. Finally, the INS requests that the form be completed in English although it has three foreign language versions of the form. Please review the INS website at  http://www.ins.usdoj.gov/graphics/howdoi/address.htm for additional instructions. 

It is important to note that an AR-11 is also required for: 

1    Individuals  who are subject to "Special Registration".  These individuals must use AR-11SR to report any change of address, employment or school within 10 days of the change. At the present time, this impacts many nonimmigrants who are nationals and citizens of  Afghanistan, Algeria, Bahrain, Eritrea, Iran, Iraq, Lebanon, Libya, Morocco, North Korea, Oman, Pakistan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, Tunisia, the United Arab Emirates, and Yemen, as well as nonimmigrants who are nationals or citizens of other countries on a case-by-case basis; please note that the list of countries may grow.  See our website under Special Registration or under Recent News for details; and, 

2.  Individuals who are nonimmigrants or lawful permanent residents who have ever "sponsored" an immigrant by filing a Form I-864 (Affidavit of Support).  These individuals must use AR-11 to report any change of address within 10 days, as well as Form I-865 to report any change of address within 30 days of the change if the obligations of the Affidavit of Support are still "in force" (typically, one's obligations continue until the sponsored immigrant naturalizes as a U.S. citizen, departs the U.S. permanently or dies).  

Please view our Change of Address FAQ.

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