You can change your address with USCIS using the online Enterprise Change of Address (E-COA) tool through your USCIS Online Account, or by mailing Form AR-11 (Alien's Change of Address Card) to USCIS. Nearly all foreign nationals remaining in the United States for 30 or more days must report an address change within 10 days of moving, except holders of A and G visas and visitors on visa waivers (ESTA).
Changing your address with the U.S. Postal Service does not automatically update your records with USCIS—you must notify the agency separately. The deadline is strict: a willful failure to report within 10 days is a misdemeanor, punishable by a fine of up to $200, imprisonment for up to 30 days, or both.
Table of Contents
- Who Must Report an Address Change
- Use the Online E-COA Tool (Fastest Method)
- Mail Form AR-11 When E-COA Is Not Available
- What Happens if You Don't Report
- Special Rules for Students and Workers
- Frequently Asked Questions
Who Must Report an Address Change
Nearly all foreign nationals staying in the U.S. for 30 or more days are required to report address changes, with a few exceptions. A and G visa holders and ESTA visitors do not have this requirement. Green card holders—lawful permanent residents—are subject to the same 10-day deadline as other foreign nationals.
If you filed Form I-864 (Affidavit of Support) to sponsor an immigrant, you have your own separate obligation. U.S. citizens and permanent residents who filed I-864 must report their own address changes to USCIS using Form I-865 within 30 days of moving.
Use the Online E-COA Tool (Fastest Method)
USCIS's Enterprise Change of Address (E-COA) tool is available through your USCIS Online Account and is the preferred method for reporting address changes. The tool lets you update both your mailing address and physical address, and you can include receipt numbers for all your pending cases in one submission. The online tool is available for all pending cases filed online or by mail.
USCIS strongly encourages using E-COA instead of mailing a paper form because updates process faster and more reliably. You'll need your USCIS Online Account login to access it.
Mail Form AR-11 When E-COA Is Not Available
Form AR-11 (Alien's Change of Address Card) remains a valid alternative if you cannot or prefer not to use the online tool. You can print the form, fill it out, and mail it to USCIS to meet your legal reporting requirement. However, the E-COA tool is not currently available for individuals with pending or approved VAWA benefits, T visas, or U visas.
If you have any of these cases, you must file Form AR-11 by mail instead. Mail the completed form to the appropriate USCIS office for your jurisdiction.
What Happens if You Don't Report
Failing to report your address change within 10 days carries serious consequences beyond the criminal penalties. Non-compliance may result in fines, imprisonment, removal (deportation), and ineligibility for future U.S. immigration benefits. When USCIS cannot reach you at your address on file, they cannot send you important notices about pending cases, interviews, or decisions. Missing deadlines because mail went to the wrong address can jeopardize applications for green cards, citizenship, work authorization, or other immigration benefits.
Special Rules for Students and Workers
F-1 visa holders—international students—have a different procedure. F-1 students report address changes through their school's designated student officer (DSO), which updates SEVIS and satisfies the USCIS requirement in one step. Contact your school's international office if you move. H-1B visa holders and most other visa categories must file directly with USCIS. H-1B workers must file their address change via E-COA or Form AR-11 directly with USCIS, not through their employer or a school office.
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Frequently Asked Questions
If I change my address with the post office, does USCIS automatically get notified?
No. Changing your mailing address with the U.S. Postal Service will not update your address in USCIS systems—you must notify USCIS separately using E-COA or Form AR-11.
Do green card holders have to report address changes?
Yes. Green card holders are subject to the same requirement to notify USCIS within 10 days of moving.