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Every foreign national living in the United States — whether a long-stay tourist, international student, work visa holder, or green card holder — has a legal obligation to inform the federal government of every change in residential address. This requirement has existed for decades under the Immigration and Nationality Act, but returned to the spotlight in 2025, when the Department of Homeland Security began strictly enforcing compliance.
The deadline is short and little known: ten calendar days from the date of the move. Failure to comply can result in fines of up to five thousand dollars, imprisonment for up to thirty days, and in extreme cases, deportation proceedings. Understanding exactly what the law requires, who is subject to it, and how to comply is one of the simplest steps to protect your immigration status in the United States.
What the Law Says
The obligation is established in Section 265 of the Immigration and Nationality Act, codified at 8 U.S.C. § 1305. The statute requires every foreign national over fourteen years of age who is subject to federal registration to notify the Attorney General — now represented by USCIS — of any change in residential address within ten days of the move.
The rule applies to virtually all non-citizens present in U.S. territory, including:
- Green card holders and conditional residents
- Workers on H-1B, L-1, O-1, E-2, TN, and similar visas
- Students on F-1, M-1, and J-1 visas
- Asylum grantees, refugees, and Temporary Protected Status (TPS) beneficiaries
- B-1/B-2 visitors staying longer than thirty days
- Individuals with pending adjustment of status applications
Children under fourteen are not required to register their own address change, but their parents or legal guardians must do so on their behalf.
The Renewed Federal Registration Requirement
In January 2025, Executive Order 14159 directed DHS to strictly enforce the Alien Registration system established under Section 262 of the INA. Beginning April 11, 2025, all non-citizens present in the U.S. for thirty days or more who had not yet been registered by the government were required to create a USCIS Online Account, complete Form G-325R, and — when requested — appear for fingerprinting.
Initial registration is distinct from the address change notification, but the two are linked: when registering, the foreign national provides an address; when moving, that address must be updated. The official channel is the MyUSCIS portal, and foreign nationals eighteen and older are required to carry proof of registration.
How to Notify an Address Change Correctly
The official, free method is Form AR-11, Alien’s Change of Address Card. There are three ways to submit it:
- Online through your MyUSCIS account at uscis.gov/addresschange. This is the fastest method and provides immediate electronic confirmation.
- By mail, by downloading Form AR-11 from the USCIS website, completing it, and mailing it to the address listed on the form — preferably with delivery confirmation.
- By phone, only in specific situations such as individuals in active removal proceedings.
When there are pending cases with USCIS — such as visa petitions, naturalization applications, or adjustment of status requests — the address must also be updated in each individual case. Form AR-11 alone does not automatically redirect all correspondence tied to open cases.
Penalties for Non-Compliance
Failure to file Form AR-11 within ten days is treated as a federal misdemeanor under Section 266(b) of the INA. Possible consequences include:
- Fines of up to five thousand dollars
- Detention for up to thirty days
- A combination of both penalties
- Initiation of removal proceedings
In cases of willful non-compliance — especially where fraud or concealment is suspected — there is also a risk of being deemed inadmissible at future entries and being barred from obtaining immigration benefits such as naturalization. DHS may waive the penalty only if the foreign national demonstrates that the failure was reasonably justified and unintentional.
Situations That Often Cause Confusion
Temporary Moves
The ten-day rule applies to any change of residential address, including temporary relocations lasting more than thirty days. Someone who spends a quarter in another city for work must report the new address and report again when returning to their original residence.
International Students
F-1 and J-1 visa holders must keep their address updated both with USCIS via Form AR-11 and in SEVIS through their Designated School Official. The two systems do not communicate automatically; updates must be made in both.
Families
Each foreign national over fourteen in the household must submit their own AR-11. Parents or guardians sign on behalf of minors. Each family member’s address must be declared individually.
No Fixed Residence
Foreign nationals without a stable residence must provide the address where they actually sleep or a reliable mailing address, such as that of a close family member. Declaring nothing is not an option.
Why This Rule Now Carries More Weight
Although the obligation has existed since the 1940s, compliance was loosely enforced for many years. Since 2025, three factors have changed the landscape:
- Executive Order 14159 prioritized enforcement of Sections 262 and 265 of the INA
- DHS created an integrated digital workflow for registration and address changes
- Removal operations began using the address database to locate foreign nationals with outstanding orders
Today, failing to update your address can delay critical communications — such as naturalization interview notices, requests for additional evidence, or immigration court summons — and may be interpreted as a deliberate attempt to evade federal oversight.
Practical Recommendations
- Create and maintain an active account on the MyUSCIS portal, even if you have no pending case
- Whenever you move, submit Form AR-11 the same day
- Save the confirmation number and submission screen as a digital record
- Also update your address in each pending case, on your driver’s license, in the Selective Service when applicable, and with financial institutions
- When in doubt, file the notification — an inadvertent duplicate report carries no penalty, but failing to report does
For foreign nationals who someday intend to naturalize or sponsor family members, a track record of compliance with rules like the AR-11 is factored into the good moral character assessment. Small acts of immigration diligence, repeated with every move, build over the years a history that facilitates future USCIS decisions.
Victoria Harper
Editor-in-Chief
Leading journalism and editorial content at Visto n’ Visa, Victoria helps make immigration topics clear, trustworthy, and easy to understand. Her focus is on delivering useful, human, and relevant content for people exploring new paths abroad.
