Move before filing for AOS: yay/nay?

[.yana 597]

Hi,

My husband and I currently live in New York. But he may get a job offer in Denver, and we would really like to move. We recently got married, and almost have all necessary documents ready to file for AOS.

However, we have some concerns:

As far as I know, the wait time is few months longer in Denver USCIS office versus NYC USCIS office.

Can we keep our NYC address on file during our application, have new tenant (we plan to sublet our NYC apartment) mail us all official correspondence and fly in when needed (for biomerics first then for an interview)?

Or is it not a good idea, and we should either file everything from Denver or go through the change of address process once we file everything from NYC then move?

Edited August 5, 2016 by .yana

[newacct 688]

I would say move before filing because changing address on a pending application doesn't always work out.

[.yana 597]

I would say move before filing because changing address on a pending application doesn't always work out.

Thank you for your answer!

My main question is whether it's ok to file from NYC, move to CO, but go through the interview process in NYC (just flying over for biometrics and an interview itself).

[theoleg 1]

Thank you for your answer!

My main question is whether it's ok to file from NYC, move to CO, but go through the interview process in NYC (just flying over for biometrics and an interview itself).

You can certainly do that, but I wouldn't recommend it.

All it takes is one notice of action that isn't forwarded in a timely manner (e.g. biometrics appointment letter, interview letter or RFE), to have you possibly forfeit a decent amount of money and potentially months of wasted time. It could be something as simple as your tenant taking a 2 week holiday, or forgetting they'd placed your letter under a pile of junk mail they'd also received during that time.

I can guarantee you USCIS will have zero sympathy for you if this were to happen, and you would have to re-file from scratch.

[.yana 597]

You can certainly do that, but I wouldn't recommend it.

All it takes is one notice of action that isn't forwarded in a timely manner (e.g. biometrics appointment letter, interview letter or RFE), to have you possibly forfeit a decent amount of money and potentially months of wasted time. It could be something as simple as your tenant taking a 2 week holiday, or forgetting they'd placed your letter under a pile of junk mail they'd also received during that time.

I can guarantee you USCIS will have zero sympathy for you if this were to happen, and you would have to re-file from scratch.

Thank you for your input!

I definitely don't want to piss USCIS off.

We'll probably file from here and then change the address by filing AR11.

[LPK 3]

Hi,

My husband and I currently live in New York. But he may get a job offer in Denver, and we would really like to move. We recently got married, and almost have all necessary documents ready to file for AOS.

However, we have some concerns:

As far as I know, the wait time is few months longer in Denver USCIS office versus NYC USCIS office.

Can we keep our NYC address on file during our application, have new tenant (we plan to sublet our NYC apartment) mail us all official correspondence and fly in when needed (for biomerics first then for an interview)?

Or is it not a good idea, and we should either file everything from Denver or go through the change of address process once we file everything from NYC then move?

NOT A GOOD IDEA to lie to USCIS about where you live. DO NOT DO IT.

Best option : If its only a matter of few weeks, you can file after you move to Denver.

Second best option : FIle in NY, move to Denver, File 865 and AR11. Its not a big deal - After you receive the address change confirmation mail at your new address, schedule an infopass appointment at the Denver field office and check if they got all the updates correctly. You need to verify if the jurisdiction on the application has moved from NY to Denver. You are most likely safe this being so early in the application process.

[theoleg 1]

Thank you for your input!

I definitely don't want to piss USCIS off.

We'll probably file from here and then change the address by filing AR11.

No worries! It won't be USCIS who'll be the one pissed off if that were to happen. They'll be more than happy to take your money and simply close your case by denying your application.

There's certainly no reason why you can't get the ball rolling now, as long as you submit a Change of Address for both you and your husband in a timely manner, and you understand that there is the risk of an additional delay, if there ends up being a need to transfer your case from one local office to another (which will depend on how far along you are in the process when you submit your Change of Address).

Edited to note that if you're planning to move within the next month or two, I would just wait to file until you move, since there's a chance that you mightn't even receive a receipt number for your application by that time, which makes the Change of Address a lot trickier.

Edited August 11, 2016 by theoleg

[.yana 597]

Second best option : FIle in NY, move to Denver, File 865 and AR11. Its not a big deal - After you receive the address change confirmation mail at your new address, schedule an infopass appointment at the Denver field office and check if they got all the updates correctly. You need to verify if the jurisdiction on the application has moved from NY to Denver. You are most likely safe this being so early in the application process.

Thank you! We will most likely do that.

Edited to note that if you're planning to move within the next month or two, I would just wait to file until you move, since there's a chance that you mightn't even receive a receipt number for your application by that time, which makes the Change of Address a lot trickier.

I thought NOA's arrive pretty quickly?

Anyway, even if we move, there will most likely be somebody we know living in the apartment, so, hopefully, he'll forward us any important mail.