Hello VJ. By way of background, my wife has a permanent green card and we filed an N-400 petition for Citizenship approx. 8 months ago (Sept. 2020) based on marriage. Due to exigent circumstances, we've decided to move abroad to Europe while this Naturalization application is still pending. The only status update we've received so far is the waiver of biometrics. Additionally, we filed for a Re-Entry Permit approx. 8 weeks ago. The only status update on USCIS's website is that our request for expediting was denied. Hopefully they will also waive biometrics for this but unclear at this point.
I need to determine what to do in terms of updating USCIS for our change in address abroad, and am encountering a few issues/concerns:
- First, the USCIS online form or paper forms only permit you to select State/City/Zip with no "Country" option.
- Second, I believe it would be impermissible/potentially criminal if we were to use an alternate, US-based address. Two options: I signed up for a mail service (essentially a private PO box), and we also used a friend's address for the "Return" of the Re-Entry Permit.
I am left with the following choices:
- (1) Call USCIS to manually update the address to the international location. I assume this could have a negative effect on the pending N-400 case, but I am thinking that it would not have a negative impact on any future immigration filings.
- (2) Update the address online to either the Mail Service address, or (3) our friend's address used for the Re-Entry Permit. I assume this could have more significant negative effects, for example criminal penalties for using a mailing address where we don't live. My thinking is that this has the chance to bar my wife from any future immigration potential.
Any suggestions?
Main Question - Which address should we use for this USCIS change of address notice?
Secondary Question - Assuming we update to the foreign address, does that toss our pending N-400 application? Or is there a possibility that, assuming the N-400 petition moves forward to interview/approval in the next 6 months (or year, given the pending Re-Entry Permit), could the petition be approved despite our moving abroad?
Thanks in advance.