Changing adress multiple times while on a conditional green card

[FilingGuy1 1]

Hi VisaJourney people,

 

I own a conditional green card that will expire in Aug 2021 (so I will have to file next year to remove conditions). I am currently residing in New York City, Manhattan, where I originally filed and received my green card based on marriage with a US citizen. My office is also based in NYC, even if I did not go there since now 4 months due to Covid-19.

 

My lease being up in Aug 2021, and given the Covid situation, me and my wife are considering to move multiple times during the year , and potentially leaving NYC to find cheaper rent.  I know that USCIS is requiring conditional permanent residents to update their address via a form on their website. I have 2 questions:

- How would it look if I have to change my address multiple times during the year, from a USCIS standpoint? Like each 2-3 months (4x times during a year)

- I am aware sometimes mistakes are made, and would also like to avoid USCIS to transfer my case history multiples times from an office to another.

 

I am a little bit worried this could impact my I-751 process and would personally prefer to move only in one place for the year, but my wife feels like this is an opportunity to experience a more "nomad" lifestyle for the year to come (as many offices will stay close or allow remote work).

 

Thank you so much for your responses! This forum has been very helpful for me and I am sure will continue to be!

Edited July 6, 2020 by FilingGuy1

[da95826 387]

I think you will have problems with this approach to living while awaiting USCIS to acton removing the conditions of your green card.

 

If you document each of your addresses you and your spouse are living at together you will be okay in terms of proving a bona fide marriage, living together and sharing finances are required, but proving that when moving around alot will be harder.  

 

The bigger issue is USCIS and the US postal service is not fully reliable getting notices to us under the best of circumstances but with multiple address changes then I would be fearful you may miss an important notices or have documents sent to old address.  

 

Also the USCIS will need to do background check of you in each local area you lived at so the more complicated your domicile history the longer the background check can take.  

 

The biggest issue is when you move with a pending action like a i751 and you change your address your petition will to go to the back of the line for processing when you change USCIS field office justiction like moving from Manhattan to Long Island or NYC to New Jersey. You may turn your 13 month wait to 2 or 3 years wait.

 

If you can find a way to have a consistent address for next couple of years while your i751 is pending I think the process will go faster for your green card.

[payxibka 10,047]

On 7/6/2020 at 10:07 AM, FilingGuy1 said:

Hi VisaJourney people,

 

I own a conditional green card that will expire in Aug 2021 (so I will have to file next year to remove conditions). I am currently residing in New York City, Manhattan, where I originally filed and received my green card based on marriage with a US citizen. My office is also based in NYC, even if I did not go there since now 4 months due to Covid-19.

 

My lease being up in Aug 2021, and given the Covid situation, me and my wife are considering to move multiple times during the year , and potentially leaving NYC to find cheaper rent.  I know that USCIS is requiring conditional permanent residents to update their address via a form on their website. I have 2 questions:

- How would it look if I have to change my address multiple times during the year, from a USCIS standpoint? Like each 2-3 months (4x times during a year)

- I am aware sometimes mistakes are made, and would also like to avoid USCIS to transfer my case history multiples times from an office to another.

 

I am a little bit worried this could impact my I-751 process and would personally prefer to move only in one place for the year, but my wife feels like this is an opportunity to experience a more "nomad" lifestyle for the year to come (as many offices will stay close or allow remote work).

 

Thank you so much for your responses! This forum has been very helpful for me and I am sure will continue to be!

Personally,  I  don't think the USCIS would care.  Nothing wrong with the nomad lifestyle.   It would be sensible to have a more stable address any time you have an active application in the works

[milimelo 4,553]

AR-11 for you and I-865 for USC spouse is what you need. Consider using one of those P.O. Boxes where they receive mail for you and forward it if you will be moving that much. You’d list that under mailing address for ROC 

[margherita_s_ 1]

Changing your address multiple times during the process isn't gonna affect it at all. My friend, who now holds 10 year GC, changed her address twice in a year during the process, nothing bad happened.

Also, I've already moved twice this year and it didn't affect the process at all. Make sure you create an account on USPS.com and have your mail redirected to your new address. Also, update your address with USCIS asap since it takes them up to 30 days to update it.

[FilingGuy1 1]

Thank you so much for your responses. One last question I had, is do I need to file AR-11 (or go to USCIS website to do it electronically) each time I move to another location this year , even if I did not file I-751 yet ? Does my wife (the US citizen) need also to file I-865? Or are these 2 forms only necessary while your I-751 is pending?

 

 

[milimelo 4,553]

Yes and yes. Every time you change address you have 10 days to report it to USCIS. Same applies to your USC spouse as she’s your sponsor - she moves, she needs to notify them. 

[payxibka 10,047]

2 hours ago, FilingGuy1 said:

Thank you so much for your responses. One last question I had, is do I need to file AR-11 (or go to USCIS website to do it electronically) each time I move to another location this year , even if I did not file I-751 yet ? Does my wife (the US citizen) need also to file I-865? Or are these 2 forms only necessary while your I-751 is pending?

 

 

These are the forms necessary every time you move, for as long as you are a green card holder. 

[Canerican 242]

On 7/9/2020 at 1:22 PM, margherita_s_ said:

Changing your address multiple times during the process isn't gonna affect it at all. My friend, who now holds 10 year GC, changed her address twice in a year during the process, nothing bad happened.

Also, I've already moved twice this year and it didn't affect the process at all. Make sure you create an account on USPS.com and have your mail redirected to your new address. Also, update your address with USCIS asap since it takes them up to 30 days to update it.

Its quite different to change your address twice per year as opposed to four times a year as the OP has stated. I understand with all that is going on in the country that a nomad lifestyle might be good, but personally I would want to have a stable address, especially being involved with USCIS. I have heard horror stories of people not getting notices and then getting denied and then worrying about notices to appear (NTA) and removal proceedings. These people can re-apply but have to pay the fees all over again. 
 

On 7/7/2020 at 11:02 PM, milimelo said:

 Consider using one of those P.O. Boxes where they receive mail for you and forward it if you will be moving that much. You’d list that under mailing address for ROC 

 I would suggest what @milimelo suggested above about a PO Box. 

Edited July 12, 2020 by CDN(ON)-USA(VT)

[Phoenix777 73]

Use premium forward mail service from usps 

[da95826 387]

I think you can move around alot and get through the i751 process but the more times you move you are asking for problems with getting you notices and risk your place in the cue for processing by moving between USCIS field offices.

 

Make sure you include the G-1145 form with your i751 package to receive text and email near real time updates on your case as a backup to receive notices in timely fashion in the mail.

 

You will make your case more complex for both your i751 and n400 filings as you need to document all addresses you have lived at during your LPR, and background checks will be need to be conducted at more locations-jurisdictions making it more complex for USCIS.

 

I would be fearful for making a already long process from 12 to 16 month process to a two or three year process.  Maybe move once or twice not 10. 

[FilingGuy1 1]

Everyone , thank you so much for your responses. I will limit my moves to 1-2 this year, not more.
 

One last question I have, in the current context, would you recommend to file i-751 in another state than the one where the initial green card was received ? I am finally considering to live in another state than NY next year, while i will be filing for ROC. Any chances this could extend the already very long timeline of the process ?

 

Again, thank you so , so much for your help!

[arken 4,197]

You file ROC using the address you reside at the time. That has nothing to with where the initial GC was delivered. The processing time depends on the local office backlog if an interview is warranted and is again irrelevant of the original GC delivery location.

[da95826 387]

i751 filed in areas served by the Texas Service Center seem to process faster than the others if you could move into a part of the country that TSC has jurisdiction maybe you can get through before you move.  

 

Need to file using your current home address at the time, however you can use a post office box or mailbox service to maintain a stable mailing address if you move across town. 

 

Just update your address to USCIS as required as you move around.

 

[FilingGuy1 1]

Hi everyone,

 

really wanted to thank the forum again for the great responses to my previous questions. I followed the guidance provided here in the conversation.

 

I have one additional question though:  My wife has filed a I-865 (Change of Adress of sponsor) as we changed address in September 2020, via US mail (it does not seem to be possible to do it online). We never received an acknowledgment, or a receipt from USCIS that the I-865 was processed. We tried to call USCIS 3 times but were not able to speak to a representative. It seems impossible to know if this I-865 is processed or not.

 

Should I worry about it? I mean, my AR-11 (I am the applicant) has been processed and my wife is the sponsor. Also, I do not have any filing in process with USCIS regarding my green card (I will need to file I-751 to remove conditions in May 2021 only) - so I do not want to overthink this, but would welcome any advice.

 

Thanks so much for your responses!