Address change with pending case?

Question

I have a pending OPT application which is scheduled to be done by the end of this month roughly. In the meantime, couple of weeks ago I did an online address change and also filled out the form to update my pending case with this new address, in the uscis website. Can I be totally sure that the immigration guys will send my EAD card in this new address? I heard that generally they are efficient, but I want to triple check. Any other advice would be great too.

Answer 1

It's been known to happen.  There'd been incidences where a person applying for naturalization and had been scheduled for an interview but never showed up because he never received the notice from the INS (CIS) after they file a change of address.  If you don't receive your employment authorization card within 90 days, call the hot line or appear in person at your nearest district office to check on the status, and perhaps make sure your address had been updated.

Answer 2

You are supposed to complete the form AR 11 and while doing so you can indicate that you need to have the change of address noted for the petitions that are currently pending too. I would also suggest that you keep a copy of your AR-11 filing for your records.

The USCIS may or may not update their address. So it would be advisable for you to keep checking with the old mailbox.. I would suggest that if you continue receiving mail at the old address after affecting the change of address you call and let them know about it.

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If you are not a U.S. citizen, changing your address for legal purposes does not change your address on any application or petition pending with USCIS and changing your address on a pending application or petition does not meet the legal requirements of informing USCIS of your change of address. You will need to do both. For most cases, you can now do both at the same time on our website using the Electronic Change of Address tool (available under "Related Links" on this page).

With the exception noted above, all non-U.S. citizens who move within the United States and its territories must submit a Form AR-11 within 10 days after completing the change of address. You can do that here on our website with the Electronic Change of Address tool. If you choose to use this online tool, you can complete an electronic Form AR-11 and notify USCIS to update your address on most pending cases.

If you choose not to complete an electronic Form AR-11, you will be required to obtain a paper Form AR-11 and mail it to the address shown on the form. This will delay the process of notifying USCIS significantly. Not filing an electronic AR-11 and choosing to mail in a paper AR-11 will not update your address on any applications or petitions pending with USCIS.

Regardless of whether or not you are a U.S. citizen, if you choose not to use the electronic change of address notification, you will need to call customer service at 1-800-375-5283 to request that the address on your pending application/petition be changed. If you are not a U.S. citizen, you will also need to complete a paper Form AR-11.

If you are not a U.S. citizen and you have a case pending with USCIS, you will need to do both – call customer service and complete the paper AR-11. Completing an AR-11 does not update your address on any pending case. Also, notifying customer service does not meet the legal requirement of completing an AR-11.

If you mail a paper Form AR-11, we recommend using certified, registered or return receipt mail. This is not currently a requirement of USCIS, however it is advisable to send the AR-11 by a method that will give you documentation that you did mail the form to USCIS, in case there should ever be a question.

Answer 3

Inform your address again.