Change of Address

[kellypetix]

I am a permanent resident. I changed my address - about a year back (moved to a different state). However, I didnot send a change of address form AR-11.
I read recently that I should have done that 10 days after the move.

1. Is that a big problem?
2. What should I do now? Should I just submit a change of address now though it is a year late?
3. Anything else I need to do to correct my mistake?

Thanks for your time.

 

[robwoj]

question?

Did you see N-400 getting denied because of the AR-11 problem though? For example sb did not submit the AR-11 on time.

 

[kellypetix]

JoeF - Change of Address

JoeF,

Thanks for your response. Now that I have made a mistake - I need some guidance from you.

1. The address that INS has currently is Address A.
2. I moved a year back to Address B in a different stage.
3. Last month I moved to Address C in the same state as Address B.

Since I had not submitted the address change - INS has Address A. Now when I do submit the AR-11 form - the form asks for a present adress and the last address.

1. What should I put as last address? Should it be Address A that the INS has on file - or should it be Address B since that was my real "Last address"?

2. You said that the fact that I didnot submit Address Change a year back could be a big problem. What would INS do if they find out?
I had no mal-intent - it was just a case of not doing it - since missed it.

Thanks so much for your help.

It could become one.
Yes.
That's all you can do. Send it registered, so that you have proof that you sent it.

 

[zyu]

1. What should I put as last address? Should it be Address A that the INS has on file - or should it be Address B since that was my real "Last address"?

No matter. Either way you will be fine.

2. You said that the fact that I didnot submit Address Change a year back could be a big problem. What would INS do if they find out?
I had no mal-intent - it was just a case of not doing it - since missed it.

Thanks so much for your help.

It will NOT become a problem, unless you willfully cover your address from the government. e.g. you are making a nuclear bomb in your apt. and you cover your address so that FBI will not figure it out. Take it easy, nobody will deport you simply because you forget to change your address when you move to a new place.

Enjoy your green card. Enjoy your life. Don't scare yourself (many people do). Everything will be fine.

 

[robwoj]

The question I have though:

If in the past you failed to inform about your address change on time then when you go for naturalization could you get denied? Do you know of anybody who encountered problems with naturalization because of this?

 

[zyu]

The question I have though:

If in the past you failed to inform about your address change on time then when you go for naturalization could you get denied? Do you know of anybody who encountered problems with naturalization because of this?

There are 2 options

Option 1. File AR-11 from now on. Don't worry about it if you forgot to file it before. Your citizenship will NOT be denied simply because you FORGET to file AR-11 5 years ago. You will only have troubles if CIS believes somehow you willfully cover your address for a reason.

Option2. Spend half a hour to worry about being deported every day in the rest of your life because you forgot to file AR-11 a few years ago.

Which option to choose is up to you.

 

[kellypetix]

JoeF

JoeF,

You mention that they have started enforcing AR-11 error as a deportable offense. Can you reply with the links?

1. Also, how do they prove that somebody had not submitted AR11?

2. Example - somebody can always say that they had sent the form but they donot know why does INS not have the form?

I know that it is better to send it by registered mail - but that is not a law requirement. So say if somebody says that they sent it but it was not by registered mail - how can INS prove that wrong?

3. I am not trying to do something wrong or anything. I just want to understand the situation better. In my case I was at address A (which is what INS has in their records - since thats where I got my GC); and then moved to Address B in a different state a year back but forgot to submit AR11. Last month I moved to Address C. I am filling a AR11 now - but with last address as Address B in the AR11 form. I am ofcourse going to send registered mail and maintain proof - but if INS ever questions why is the address on file that they have (Address A) different than what I put as the last address in the current AR11 - I can just say that I don't know - I had submitted an address change from A to B (don't have proof of registered mail now since it was a year back); and now am sending AR11 for B to C. How do they have anyway of proving me wrong?

Am I missing anything?

Thanks a lot, JoeF...

That doesn't really matter. I would put B in there.
Well, not filing an AR-11 is a deportable offense, unless you can show that it was not willful.
They have started to enforce this in the last couple of years. In another thread, I posted a couple of links to articles about that.. It is a real risk nowadays, and not just, as zyu falsely asserts, "if you are building bombs."

 

[kellypetix]

JoeF

Thanks JoeF.

1. Is there a way to know that they have received the address change - AND that they have updated it?
If not, how do we know that they will not send any important communication to the old address?

2. When we do send by certified mail with return receipt - do they actually sign and return the receipt (just as a normal return receipt works?)
I know IRS does it - since thats how I have alwasy known that they have received my return.
Does INS do that too?

Hmm, there was a memo sometime in 2002. I don't have links right now (I'm rebuilding my computer, and it is going to take some time...)
They don't have to. With immigration law, you are guilty until you prove your innocence. If they don't find it, they assume that you didn't submit it. That's why it is important to send it registered, so you have proof.

 

[AmericanWannabe]

Hmm, there was a memo sometime in 2002. I don't have links right now (I'm rebuilding my computer, and it is going to take some time...)
They don't have to. With immigration law, you are guilty until you prove your innocence. If they don't find it, they assume that you didn't submit it. That's why it is important to send it registered, so you have proof.

I believe that to convict, the burden of proof is still with
the government. But to deport, burden is on the
offender. For the former purpose, one who
did not file AR11 is innocent until proven guilty.
For the latter purpose, hs is guilty until proven
innocent. But INA265 & INA 266 clearly say that
conviction is not needed to deport AR-11 offenders.