How to Change the Address on an INS

Learn how to change your address with Citizenship and Immigration Services.

INS stands for Immigration and Naturalization Services, the U.S. government agency that registers and monitors immigrants living and working in the country. With the introduction of U.S. Homeland Security, the agency name has transitioned to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, rather than INS. When a noncitizen changes his address, he must report it to Citizenship and Immigration Services. If a U.S. citizen has a pending immigration case or a recently closed case with the immigration court, he must file a change of address form.

Instructions

1. Request Form AR-11, the change of address notification form. You can obtain, complete and submit Form AR-11 on the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services website. You can also obtain Form AR-11 from the website and send it in via mail.

2. Complete the form. The form requests information such as your current and previous address, alien or registration number, country of citizenship and date of birth. You must sign the form before submitting it. For forms submitted online, an electronic signature is accepted.

3. Click the submit button to send in the online form. If you prefer to send in a hard copy form, print the form, complete it and submit it in a mailing envelope to the address listed on the form.

Tips & Warnings

• U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services suggests that if you mail in a form, you should send it using a trackable mailing service, such as certified mail or the return receipt service.

• Non-U.S. citizens who must file a change of address form include diplomats with an A visa status; government officials or representatives of international organizations with a G visa status; and nonimmigrants without a visa and who are in the U.S. for 30 days or less.

• If you have a pending court case with immigration or have recently closed a case, in addition to filing Form AR-11, you must change your address with the court by calling 800-375-5283.

• U.S. citizens must also file Form AR-11 if they have a pending case with the immigration court.

References

• US Citizenship and Immigration Services: Change of Address Information