Change of address concern: A willful failure to give written notice

[Bluebarmy]

Hi WLD members

I am a british national who has held a US Permanent Resident Card since 2000 through marriage. I married a US citizen in 1998, I divorced in 2005. I have a daughter born in the US, so have been resident for 10 years.

An immigration lawyer let me know I am legally able to stay in the US and can apply for naturalization, it took him a minute and $90.00 to inform me. I intend to fill out a N400 form, yet on checking to see about a change of address form AR-11, it states:

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Penalties for Failure to Comply

A willful failure to give written notice to the USCIS of a change of address within 10 days of the change is a misdemeanor crime. If convicted, the alien (or parent or legal guardian of an alien under age 14 who is required to give notice) can be fined up to $200 or imprisoned up to 30 days, or both. The alien may also be subject to removal from the United States. (INA § 266(b)). Compliance with the requirement to notify the USCIS of any address changes is also a condition of an alien’s stay in the United States. Failure to comply could also jeopardize the alien’s ability to obtain a future visa or other immigration benefit.

This page can be found at How Do I Report a Change of Address to the USCIS?

Hi--

is there a further part to your question?

Did it get cut off somehow?

[top_admin]

An immigrant can even be deported for failing to advise U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) of a change of address within ten days of moving. In the past, USCIS almost never did anything about this. However, with increased security concerns, USCIS has begun using this rule against people it wishes to remove from the United States. You can now use USCIS's online service to notify it of your change of address.

Change of Address Function Introduced on Web

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced on January 12, 2007, that it has launched a new Web-based service allowing most non-citizens to submit change of address information online. USCIS noted that all non-citizens in the U.S. are legally required to keep USCIS informed of any change of address within 10 days of a move by completing an Alien Change of Address Card (Form AR-11). USCIS processes more than one million change-of-address requests each year.

The new change of address Web tool is at Change of Address

Before using the online system, users should have available their USCIS receipt number (if their case is pending before USCIS), their new and old addresses, the names and biographical information of family members for whom the applicant has filed a petition, and the date and location (port of entry) of the applicant's last entry into the U.S.

USCIS plans to include allowing applicants with pending naturalization applications to report their change of address online. Until then, those individuals should continue to call USCIS at 1-800-375-5283 to report their changes of address.

The notice is posted at http://www.uscis.gov/files/pressrelease/OnlineCoA.pdf

[Bluebarmy]

Thanks for your response although my original message has been cropped.

I first moved 4 years after receiving my greencard. As a family we relocated from MS to Alaska. I want to say we informed the USCIS at that time because we were crossing Canada, even though we were staying in temp accomodation. I seperated from my wife after several months in Alaska.

She returned with my daughter to MS in 2004. I returned months later and we were divorced by 2005/2006. Hurricane Katrina hit here on the MS coast were we lived in 2005 and they relocated to TX, that year.I have remained in MS to the present. I have stayed with the same employer since 2003. I file my taxes, my car is legal and I have informed the post office (gov) each time I move.

I have moved a total of 7 times including temp accomodation, since receiving my greencard. YET IT NEVER CROSSED MY MIND TO INFORM THE USCIS. I'm afraid that I will be penalised even though I have not intended to break any laws.

I want to become naturalised and need to help get my aging parents to me. I am in a stable relationship going on 2 years, and have visitation with my daughter. I visited the UK last month and my green card was not flagged so am I over reacting with concern ?

Regards Bluebarmy