F-1 & J-1 students must report physical residence address updates within 10 days of a move. Your physical residence is defined as where you live, not your school, lab, or a P.O. Box. ISSO will automatically forward all address updates to DHS through the Student & Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS). Your address reporting location will vary depending on whether you are currently enrolled, or whether you have completed a program of study:

• At check-in and during your program of study you must update your current address and your foreign immigration address through contact info section of the MyBU Student Portal. Click here for further instructions and sample addresses. BU will automatically send your address updates during your program of study to SEVIS.
• After program completion (during a grace period, OPT, STEM OPT or AT) – you should initiate a Contact Information Update in the ISSOPortal.

J-1 students who possess a DS-2019 NOT issued by Boston University should also report change of addresses to J program sponsor.  You must report the address change to the institution or organization issued your Form DS-2019 in order to comply with DHS requirements.

Students in all other immigration classifications should report address changes  USCIS website

Step 1: Notify the ISSO via email.

Please include your name (as reflected in your passport) and your BU ID number.

Step 2: Notify the Office of Payroll via the Employee Self-Service tab in BUWorks (for paid employees)

Step 3: Additional notifications based on immigration status.

• • J-1 Scholars with DS-2019 form issued by BU – No additional steps are required. When you e-mail the ISSO your address change, we will use it to update your record electronically to DHS through the Student & Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS).

• • J-1 Scholars with DS-2019 NOT issued by Boston University – Report your J program sponsor.  You must report the address change to the institution or organization issued your Form DS-2019 in order to comply with DHS requirements.

• • F-1 Employees Authorized for Curricular or Optional Practical Training – Report to your program sponsor/school.  If you are a BU student or graduate, review student instructions above to report your address change. If your Form I-20 was not issued by BU, you must report an address change to the institution that issued your Form I-20 in order to comply with USCIS regulations.

• • H-1B, TN, O-1 Employees and Scholars in all other classifications – Report address change directly to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). Go to the USCIS website to report your change of address electronically.  If you are unable submit the electronic notification, the Form AR-11 can be downloaded from the USCIS website, completed and mailed to USCIS within the 10 reporting days.

F-2 and J-2 Dependents – If you continue to live at the same location as your F-1/J-1 spouse or parent, your address will be updated through SEVIS when the F-1/J-1 reports the change. However, if you move to an address different than that of the primary F-1 or J-1, then you must follow the same reporting procedure as stated below.

Dependents in all other classifications – Go to the USCIS website to report your change of address electronically.  If you are unable submit the electronic notification, the Form AR-11 can be downloaded from the USCIS website, completed and mailed to USCIS within the 10 reporting days.

If you have filed an application and it is pending with a USCIS Service Center or other field office (e.g. for work authorization or a petition for Permanent Residence) informing the ISSO or filing the AR-11 WILL NOT update your address with the respective USCIS office.  You should contact the USCIS National Customer Service Center to update your address on a pending application.