International renters
Do I need to report my new US address for my visa?
Updated By the Housing Rocket moderators
Short answer
Usually yes. F-1 and J-1 students generally must report a new US address to their school's international office, which updates their record, within about 10 days of moving. Most other non-citizens must report address changes to US Citizenship and Immigration Services, also within a short deadline. Check the current rule for your status.
This is easy to forget in the middle of a move, and it matters. Your school and immigration authorities use your address to reach you, and not reporting it can cause problems with your status.
- F-1 and J-1 students: update your address in your school's international student portal or tell your international student adviser. They update your government record.
- Other visa holders and green card holders: USCIS has an online change-of-address process. Confirm the current deadline and form on the official USCIS website.
- Dependents on F-2, J-2 or other dependent status: check whether each person needs to be updated separately.
Update the other places your address lives on the same day: your bank, your phone carrier, your employer, your driver's license or state ID if you have one, and the Postal Service's mail forwarding. Mail sent to an old address is also how some people end up with an unpaid bill they never saw.
If you are moving between temporary housing and a permanent lease within a couple of weeks, ask your international office whether to report both addresses or only the lasting one.
Want the whole picture? Read Renting as an International Student.