Change Of Address Reporting Provision

There is a provision in immigration law that requires all non-U.S. citizens (including lawful permanent residents) who are in the U.S. for thirty (30) days or longer to inform the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) in writing of any change of residential address within ten (10) days after the change is effective. Each non-citizen (“alien”) aged fourteen (14) years or older must notify USCIS of any change of address; the parents or legal guardians of persons less than 14 years of age should notify the USCIS on behalf of their children.

This provision has been in existence for many years but had not been enforced, however, after September 11, 2001 the government began enforcing this provision in the cases of some person suspected of terrorist links. Nevertheless, this is a general immigration law that applies to all non-citizens , and there are potentially serious penalties for failure to comply. Any such persons, if they have not already done so, should register their and each family member's current address or update any subsequent change of address by utilizing Form AR-11 . Any newly arriving non-citizen should notify USCIS of any residential address that is different than the destination address that was given when completing the consular visa application or the I-94 arrival document submitted at the port-of-entry to the United States. Individuals should retain proof that they have filed the form (e.g. send form via certified mail) and keep a copy of the form for their records. A link to the USCIS website regarding the filing of this form is provided below:

http://uscis.gov/graphics/formsfee/forms/ar-11.htm

Any persons who are presently clients of Finnan, Fleischut and Associates should also keep our office advised of their current address in addition to reporting address changes to the USCIS on Form AR-11. Because it is your obligation to notify USCIS of your address, we will not be undertaking this on your behalf.

Individuals (not a client of our firm) who have a specific application or petition pending at the USCIS should also notify the appropriate INS office or Service Center of any changes of address that may affect the mailing of a response from the USCIS. The office in Washington DC that accepts the Form AR-11 is not necessarily linked to the local or regional USCIS offices where specific applications are pending. Additional reporting requirements are also required of individuals who are presently in Immigration Court proceedings.

Please disseminate this information to all persons in your company who might be affected.

Please contact our office if you have further questions. We will provide further updates to you as information becomes available.