Address Change at POE

[aceegreene 34]

Hi everyone, 

 

I am planning to enter the US on an IR1 visa soon and my POE will be Dulles (Washington DC). Now my initial intended address I gave for SSN and GC delivery was in DC, however, things have changed a bit and I need to change that to an address in Illinois. 

 

For this,

1. Who do I need to inform at the POE and will I have to give some justification?

2. I know that these address changes sometimes cause delays in SSN and GC delivery. What can I do at the POE to ensure (as much as possible) that everything is recorded and sent forward properly to avoid any delays?

 

Thanks in advance!

[Sparkle Sparkle 914]

You do no need to Justify the change of address....Just make sure you hand in a valid address. i cant speak to the delay a change of address can cause

[SalishSea 18,225]

26 minutes ago, aceegreene said:

Who do I need to inform at the POE and will I have to give some justification?

No.  The CBP doesn't deal with address changes for USCIS or the SSA.  You will have to go online to the USCIS and SSA sites to find out how to change it.  

[milimelo 4,572]

4 minutes ago, Jorgedig said:

No.  The CBP doesn't deal with address changes for USCIS or the SSA.  You will have to go online to the USCIS and SSA sites to find out how to change it.  

Actually, you can change address at POE while they’re entering information into SAVE. They will verify there’s either no change to listed address or you’ll provide them with a new one. 

[SalishSea 18,225]

2 minutes ago, milimelo said:

Actually, you can change address at POE while they’re entering information into SAVE. They will verify there’s either no change to listed address or you’ll provide them with a new one. 

And will both the SSA and USCIS update their records with a new one?

[milimelo 4,572]

6 minutes ago, Jorgedig said:

And will both the SSA and USCIS update their records with a new one?

Don’t know about SSA but USCIS will. I wouldn’t trust cross agency process to go through smoothly so I’d still go the route of SSA in person SSN request - if local offices open. 

[aceegreene 34]

12 minutes ago, milimelo said:

Actually, you can change address at POE while they’re entering information into SAVE. They will verify there’s either no change to listed address or you’ll provide them with a new one. 

Anything extra I need to do to ensure that processing does not get delayed (to the best of my ability that is)? Especially for SSA.

Edited June 22, 2020 by aceegreene

[SalishSea 18,225]

Just now, milimelo said:

USCIS will

Interesting.  My husband (fiance) was not asked about an address change at POE.

[milimelo 4,572]

Just now, aceegreene said:

Anything extra I need to do to ensure that processing does not get delayed (to the best of my ability that is)?  

If you did it at POE and they confirmed they made the change (in the past they turn the computer screen to you so you can see) I’d go with that but still call up SSA to see if it transferred over. Normally takes couple of business days for info from SAVE to make it to SSA. 

[milimelo 4,572]

2 minutes ago, Jorgedig said:

Interesting.  My husband (fiance) was not asked about an address change at POE.

But fiancé visa would have nothing to expect to update at POE - I-485 would take care of the address and that’s later down the road for K-1. 
immigrant visa would want to update at POE. 

[aceegreene 34]

2 minutes ago, milimelo said:

If you did it at POE and they confirmed they made the change (in the past they turn the computer screen to you so you can see) I’d go with that but still call up SSA to see if it transferred over. Normally takes couple of business days for info from SAVE to make it to SSA. 

Got it, thanks! Is there a reliable way to update it before POE?

[milimelo 4,572]

1 minute ago, aceegreene said:

Got it, thanks! Is there a reliable way to update it before POE?

Unless you’re doing update to the address while processing the payment for the green card itself, no. But do make sure all details are verified and confirmed at POE - that’s when you ask them to confirm SAVE has been updated. 
 

We just came back to the States three weeks ago (IAD) and diverted to secondary because of our cat and I can tell you the place was empty as our flight was the only one arriving at that time. In and out in under five minutes. So staff definitely has time to make sure all is in order. 

[aceegreene 34]

2 minutes ago, milimelo said:

Unless you’re doing update to the address while processing the payment for the green card itself, no.

So I haven't paid the USCIS Immigrant fee for the green card yet. How can I update the address while doing so?

[carmel34 3,661]

1 hour ago, aceegreene said:

So I haven't paid the USCIS Immigrant fee for the green card yet. How can I update the address while doing so?

Just enter your new address when paying the green card fee, also at POE confirm the new address when they process your spousal visa and stamp the passport.  My husband entered the US 10 months ago and gave the CBP officer our new address, that was enough to get it in the system so that his SS card arrived correctly one week later.  While waiting for his green card, I called USCIS to make sure that they had his new address in their system as well, and they did not.  So we filed an online change of address on the USCIS website and three months later his green card arrived.

 

So based on our experience, I recommend that you enter the new address when paying the green card fee, give the CBP officer the new address, then contact SSA and USCIS to make sure they have it too.  Good luck!

Edited June 22, 2020 by carmel34

[aceegreene 34]

1 hour ago, carmel34 said:

Just enter your new address when paying the green card fee, also at POE confirm the new address when they process your spousal visa and stamp the passport.  My husband entered the US 10 months ago and gave the CBP officer our new address, that was enough to get it in the system so that his SS card arrived correctly one week later.  While waiting for his green card, I called USCIS to make sure that they had his new address in their system as well, and they did not.  So we filed an online change of address on the USCIS website and three months later his green card arrived.

 

So based on our experience, I recommend that you enter the new address when paying the green card fee, give the CBP officer the new address, then contact SSA and USCIS to make sure they have it too.  Good luck!

Thank you for the comprehensive response, much appreciated!