If I have to relocate temporarily for 3 months for an internship, do I need to inform UCIS?

[Ani_B 9]

I may be overthinking things, but it'll be my first time flying domestically and by myself over here. As a GC holder, do I have to state my purpose of my trip when flying domestically when I land, and will USCIS not be notified of my movement through that? If they have that information, will they then wonder why I didn't report it?

Or am I overthinking things?

I don't know how things work, so I'm just thinking of questions as they pop in my head.

Thanks for all your patience and advice everyone!

[Mike E 11,739]

1 hour ago, Ani_B said:

Thank you for sharing your story.

I guess I'm wondering if it's more trouble than it's worth because I'll literally be coming back home several weeks later and by the time they process things, they'll have to change it back again. I also understand mistakes are not uncommon, so I worry that something may go wrong and they may send stuff to the temporary address instead in the future, which would be a nightmare.

As my green card doesn't expire until end of next March, I'm not expecting any mail from USCIS and my husband is home to receive any for the short time I'm not there.

But I also understand the possible implications of not doing it either.

They will send documents to your mailing address, and (rarely) officers to your physical address.  
 

Sometimes complying with the law is inconvenient.  

[STO Overland 137]

1 minute ago, Timona said:

 

Difference here is temporary (1) vs permanent (2).

 

OP shouldn't change address...I visited my country three times, 1 month duration each time and toured a few states during my immigration journey. Never changed address.

 

Use common sense. 

 

Both sources are conflicting which is my point. One says yes you do and one says no you don't..... not sure your example is the same. The AR-11 refers to US address changes. 

 

Easy for everyone to tell the OP...will you or I be there at the OP's next USCIS interview if this is brought up?

[arken 4,197]

3 minutes ago, Ani_B said:

do I have to state my purpose of my trip when flying domestically when I land,

Nobody will ask you such. When you land, you come out of the airport like you come out from a mall.

Edited July 7, 2022 by arken

[Mike E 11,739]

Just now, Ani_B said:

I may be overthinking things, but it'll be my first time flying domestically and by myself over here. As a GC holder, do I have to state my purpose of my trip when flying domestically when I land,

no 

Just now, Ani_B said:

 

and will USCIS not be notified of my movement through that?

I don’t believe so. I never cared either way when I had a GC. 

Just now, Ani_B said:

 

If they have that information, will they then wonder why I didn't report it?

You have no privacy. The economic system knows where you live.  You will figure this it the first time you are asked to prove to a web site that you are you and you are for example presented a list of 4 names and asked if you are related to them.  

Just now, Ani_B said:

Or am I overthinking things?

yep. 

Just now, Ani_B said:

I don't know how things work, so I'm just thinking of questions as they pop in my head.

Thanks for all your patience and advice everyone!

 

[Mike E 11,739]

16 minutes ago, DeezNuts said:

Even if you google "AR-11 temporary address", you get conflicting information.

 

eg:

 

https://berardiimmigrationlaw.com/ar-11-tips-and-pointers-2/

States "You do NOT need to include temporary addresses as long as you maintain your present address as your permanent residence and continue to receive mail there;"

 

https://immigrationlawnj.com/ar-11-four-things-must-know-immigration-rules/#change-address-necessary

States : "DO I REALLY HAVE TO FILE A CHANGE OF ADDRESS AR-11 EVERY SINGLE TIME I MOVE? EVEN IF IT’S TEMPORARY?

Yes. You do. In order to avoid any problems with USCIS you must file an AR-11 within ten days after ANY move

 

YMMV

What does temporary mean?

[Ani_B 9]

1 minute ago, Mike E said:

What does temporary mean?

Temporary means not permanent.

Like if you are moving out of one permanent address and temporarily have to move in a place between finding your next permanent address.

 

My issue is that my permanent address isn't changing.

[arken 4,197]

5 minutes ago, Mike E said:

States : "DO I REALLY HAVE TO FILE A CHANGE OF ADDRESS AR-11 EVERY SINGLE TIME I MOVE? EVEN IF IT’S TEMPORARY?

Yes. You do. In order to avoid any problems with USCIS you must file an AR-11 within ten days after ANY move

It's not conflicting. This is applicable when one moves to a new place temporarily. Say the lease is up and the person moves to his friend's place for a month or two or till he finds a new place to live. In that case, yes you need to report to uscis each of your address change.

 

OP's case is different.

Edited July 7, 2022 by arken

[Mike E 11,739]

15 minutes ago, Timona said:

 

Difference here is temporary (1) vs permanent (2).

All my permanent addresses have been temporary. 
 

15 minutes ago, Timona said:

 

OP shouldn't change address...I visited my country three times, 1 month duration each time

yes you visited. You didn’t go there to work. And AR-11 doesn’t accept foreign addresses afaik (except American Samoa and the Compact States)
 

15 minutes ago, Timona said:

and toured a few states during my immigration journey. Never changed address.

Toured is not working. 
 

When you do something that requires a tax return to be filed in that state you’ve reside there.  
 

15 minutes ago, Timona said:

 

 .

 

Use common sense. 

 

I am.  If OP was doing an unpaid internship I would say to not bother.  

[mushroomspore 3,044]

20 minutes ago, Ani_B said:

I may be overthinking things, but it'll be my first time flying domestically and by myself over here. As a GC holder, do I have to state my purpose of my trip when flying domestically when I land, and will USCIS not be notified of my movement through that? If they have that information, will they then wonder why I didn't report it?

Or am I overthinking things?

I don't know how things work, so I'm just thinking of questions as they pop in my head.

Thanks for all your patience and advice everyone!

CBP is at the federal level, not the state level...meaning they deal with people entering the country, not a specific state. There is no "state-level CBP" or "state-level customs" so they don't ask questions about the purpose of your visit and stuff like that. Domestic travel is purely dealing with the airline people and then TSA for security/baggage checks.

 

Oh and to answer your other question about USCIS knowing your movements...I mean, sure they technically can look it up but again, USCIS is also at the federal level, not state. If you've got a green card, you've got permission to exist anywhere throughout the whole country. USCIS also does not have time or the resources to track every green card holder's movements. And since your internship is temporary and you'll be back at your primary residence within 12 weeks, it's a non-issue. It would be different if it was permanent. Even if it was though, the responsibility would fall to you to file the change of address. USCIS won't and will never chase people down for that. 

Edited July 7, 2022 by mushroomspore

[Mike E 11,739]

15 minutes ago, Ani_B said:

Temporary means not permanent.

Like if you are moving out of one permanent address and temporarily have to move in a place between finding your next permanent address.

 

My issue is that my permanent address isn't changing.

What does permanent mean?

[powerpuff 6,705]

~~ Topic moved from the removal of conditions forum to General Immigration discussion where address change topics are discussed ~~

[Ani_B 9]

1 minute ago, Mike E said:

What does permanent mean?

Permanent means the address where you are staying long term and, to your present knowledge, have no intention to move from.

I guess that's more of my own definition. Google may give you a different one.

[Mike E 11,739]

1 minute ago, Ani_B said:

Permanent means the address where you are staying long term and, to your present knowledge, have no intention to move from.

I guess that's more of my own definition. Google may give you a different one.

What does long term mean?

 

I’ve never lived somewhere where I didn’t intend to move from. I bought a house this week and I’m 100 percent I will sell it some day unless I pass away first.  

Edited July 7, 2022 by Mike E

[Ani_B 9]

3 minutes ago, Mike E said:

What does long term mean?

 

I’ve never lived somewhere where I didn’t intend to move from. I bought a house this week and I’m 100 percent I will sell it some day unless I pass away first.  

Long term means a long time.

 

Even if you do decide to sell your house, while you bought it and live in it and you have the intention of staying in it(that may, of course, change over time), you consider that your permanent address. For that time.