Change of Address
Have you moved to or do you plan on moving to a new apartment, BU dormitory or house? If so, please read below to ensure you properly report your change of U.S. address.
All foreign nationals, including permanent residents and international students and scholars, are required to notify the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) within 10 days of any changes to their place of residence in the U.S. The procedure for informing USCIS of an address change differs based on your immigration status.
While it will be helpful for you to file a change of address or request forwarding service with the U.S. Postal Service for your day to day mail, doing so will not satisfy the federal reporting requirement. Mail from the U.S. government will not be forwarded by the U.S. Postal Service and will be returned to the issuing government agency as undeliverable.
Students
Step 1: Update Immigration-U.S. Address via the Student Link.
This field is used to report physical residence only. Your physical residence is defined as where you live, not your school, lab, or a P.O. Box. You may report a separate mailing address for use by Boston University using the Local Address or Home Address fields in the Student Link.
Step 2: Additional notifications based on immigration status.
- F-1 and J-1 Students – No additional steps are required. When you update your Immigration-U.S. Address in Student Link, it will be reported electronically to DHS through the Student & Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS).
- J-1 Students who possess a DS-2019 NOT issued by Boston University – Report 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 immigration classifications other than F-1 or J-1 – 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.
Scholars
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.
Dependents
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 an Application Currently Pending with a USCIS Office
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.
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