failiure to Notify INS of change of address

G

goshopbg

Registered Users (C)
Hello everyone!
I did not notify INS when I changed my address 5 years ago.
Right now my drivers licence is with different address.
It has been the same address since I got the green card.
Basically the address INS have is the address of the people guaranteed for me at the beginning.
Do you know if it is going to be a problem at the inerview for citizenship.
I have never received any letters from INS asking for anything.
Thank you.
Best Regards
 
goshopbg said:
Hello everyone!
I did not notify INS when I changed my address 5 years ago.
Right now my drivers licence is with different address.
It has been the same address since I got the green card.
Basically the address INS have is the address of the people guaranteed for me at the beginning.
Do you know if it is going to be a problem at the inerview for citizenship.
I have never received any letters from INS asking for anything.
Thank you.
Best Regards
Click to expand...

Just change it now. You can do it online.
 
Thank you for your reply.
I am outside of the states.Can I just call USCIS from here or should I submit AR-11?
Do you think I will be denied at the citizenship interview because I am 5 years late with the address change notification.
My permanent address is very close to the one they have and it is in the same town.
Thanks in advance.
Best Regards
 
goshopbg said:
Thank you for your reply.
I am outside of the states.Can I just call USCIS from here or should I submit AR-11?
Do you think I will be denied at the citizenship interview because I am 5 years late with the address change notification.
My permanent address is very close to the one they have and it is in the same town.
Thanks in advance.
Best Regards
Click to expand...

You can update AR-11 online. If you update online, it will be processed by a computer without a human reviewing it
so I doubt anyone will place you in trouble. Does computers have a check how late you already are when you file AR11
online? I really don't think so.

Afer you update AR11 online, then you can file N400 after a while. ANyway it is your address on your N400 that
will be used for this application process.

Don't worry about it. And if you want to 99.99999999% sure, you will not get a peace of mind. You will
only know whether an issue is an issue or nor when you are done with it. So there is only one and one way
to know whether you application will be approved or not that is jfind out by actuallying filing it
 
Thank you WBH.
Anyway,it is too late to fix it.
I will just apply and give it a shot.
Can I change the address form abroad?It asks for "last date of entry"and "port of entry in the USA"???
If I go to the states and then change it,how long should I wait before filling N-400.
Thanks.
 
goshopbg said:
Thank you WBH.
Anyway,it is too late to fix it.
I will just apply and give it a shot.
Can I change the address form abroad?It asks for "last date of entry"and "port of entry in the USA"???
If I go to the states and then change it,how long should I wait before filling N-400.
Thanks.
Click to expand...

Don't worry about it. So far I only hear one person got into this trouble for not filing AR 11 (http://threehegemons.tripod.com/threehegemonsblog/id109.html)

But I don't think USCIS cares unless you have something else otherwise you will be a lot f such news.

So in my opinion, you just go ahesd and file your N400 regardless when you file AR-11 or whether you really file AR-11 or not.
 
Should I change it 5 years later or just leave it???
Basically I have never lived at the address that USCIS have.It is our sponsor address and I just gave it to them at the very beginning.
Thanks.
Best Regards
 
goshopbg said:
Should I change it 5 years later or just leave it???
Basically I have never lived at the address that USCIS have.It is our sponsor address and I just gave it to them at the very beginning.
Thanks.
Best Regards
Click to expand...

What address are you planning to list on yoru N400?

Just change it. I don't know online AR-11 process but you can see teh following AR-11 does not even ask you
to say when you moved. So just change it.

http://www.uscis.gov/files/form/ar-11.pdf

You worry too much over this issue. You just change it to teh address from which you are going to file yoru N400 so that USCIS have one only one yoru current address. I beleieve USCIS will use yoru N400 address to send you all letters but in case they make a mistake, you better file AR-11 too.


As you can see AR-11 form does not seem to ask when you last moved and during the inetrview your IO will not likley to ask about it.
 
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Thank you WBH
I am planning to list on N-400 my current address.It is different from the address USCIS have.
Even I submit the on-line version of AR11 they will know the date of submission.
Can I change the address form abroad?It asks for "last date of entry"and "port of entry in the USA"???
If I go to the states and then change it,how long should I wait before filling N-400?
Best Regards
 
File the AR-11 ASAP. Failing to ever submit it is worse than submitting it late. You can wait until you're back in the US to file it. AR-11 is for tracking your movements within the US. You can file N-400 immediately after filing the AR-11.
 
Jackolantern said:
File the AR-11 ASAP. Failing to ever submit it is worse than submitting it late. You can wait until you're back in the US to file it. AR-11 is for tracking your movements within the US. You can file N-400 immediately after filing the AR-11.
Click to expand...

USCIS keep two kinds of address. One is registration address which you change with AR-11. The other is service address for a paricicular application. We don't know how USCIS work internally, but there is a chance now they merge two addresses and that is why application instruction tell us to notify their address with AR-11 even for service purpose. So to be safe for the a;ien registration and for the service,
one better make it consisitent. Otherwise notice of action, interview letter may be sent to teh wrong address or even A file is sent to
wrong DO.
 
WBH said:
USCIS keep two kinds of address. One is registration address which you change with AR-11. The other is service address for a paricicular application. We don't know how USCIS work internally, but there is a chance now they merge two addresses and that is why application instruction tell us to notify their address with AR-11 even for service purpose. So to be safe for the a;ien registration and for the service,
one better make it consisitent. Otherwise notice of action, interview letter may be sent to teh wrong address or even A file is sent to
wrong DO.
Click to expand...
Of course one should ensure that the AR-11 updated address and N-400 address are the same. I haven't said anything to indicate otherwise.
 
Jackolantern said:
Of course one should ensure that the AR-11 updated address and N-400 address are the same. I haven't said anything to indicate otherwise.
Click to expand...

I did not meant that. I just complement what you already said. I think what the OP is worried about is that USCIS can
pursue his failure to change address within 30 days ---- penalties are $200 fine+30 days in jail+deportation
according 8 USC 1306 (INA 266). But I don't think this is going to happen. If they do that to everyone, you will see
plane loads of aliens being transported out to otehr countries.

In theory, you shoudl aslo answer Yes to the question "Have you commited a crime or offesen for which you were not arrested"
if you did not report change of address via AR-11 but I doubt anyone would recommend that. If you really do that your IO will say in his heart
"What the heck is this?".

http://codes.lp.findlaw.com/uscode/8/12/II/VII/1306

b) Failure to notify change of address
Any alien or any parent or legal guardian in the United States of
any alien who fails to give written notice to the Attorney General,
as required by section 1305 of this title, shall be guilty of a
misdemeanor and shall, upon conviction thereof, be fined not to
exceed $200 or be imprisoned not more than thirty days, or both.
Irrespective of whether an alien is convicted and punished as
herein provided, any alien who fails to give written notice to the
Attorney General, as required by section 1305 of this title, shall
be taken into custody and removed in the manner provided by part IV
of this subchapter, unless such alien establishes to the
satisfaction of the Attorney General that such failure was
reasonably excusable or was not willful.
 
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goshopbg,

I'm in the same boat. I didn't file AR-11 the last two times we moved, unintentionally. We have just moved again and I am filing AR-11 now. Will file N400 later this month when i'm within 90 days of my 5 year clock.

I don't know how you file AR-11 online though, checked USCIS website, didn't see that option; can anyone help?
 
Mickey_32 said:
goshopbg,

I'm in the same boat. I didn't file AR-11 the last two times we moved, unintentionally. We have just moved again and I am filing AR-11 now. Will file N400 later this month when i'm within 90 days of my 5 year clock.

I don't know how you file AR-11 online though, checked USCIS website, didn't see that option; can anyone help?
Click to expand...

I only found this but this change of address is only for application purpose.

https://egov.uscis.gov/crisgwi/go?action=coa

So probably there is no online AR-11. You have to download a form and sent it in bymail. Onlien change of address is only for an application.
That website specifically say noncitizen need to do both
 
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You are right guys.
The on-line version is only for pending cases.
That means we need to file paper ones:)
The question is after I file AR11(when I am in the USA),should I wait some time and then send N-400.Is it going to be pending case if I send them too close in the time.If it is I need to do the on-line one as well.
Best Regards
 
You can change your address online without a pending case. I've done it and know a handful of people who have done it without a problem. The paper form AR-11 and electronic AR-11 achieves the same purpose- updates the master database. However, if you have a pending case, in addition to filing an AR-11, whether paper or not, you need to call NCSC to update your address for a specific application (in our case, the N400).
 
Hi sunny808!
It is good to hear that, but take a look at the instructions.
I understood that step 1 need to be done by everyone and in addition to this, if there is pending case to perform step 2.
2. Non-U.S. Citizens
If you have moved, you need to follow two different steps:

Step 1: File a Form AR-11 (This changes your address in our master database.);
Step 2: If you have a pending case, you must also file a Change of Address online or call our National Customer Service Center at (800) 375-5283. (This changes your address for the specific application you have submitted.)

Please note that if you are a non-U.S. citizen and you have a pending case, you must complete both steps to make sure that you comply with the regulations and so we can reach you at your correct address.

Best Rgards
 
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