Change of Address Important for Illegal Aliens, Legal Residents
Posted on | December 16, 2009 | No Comments
People change their residence frequently in the United States, on average about every five years. With so much new housing capacity in Las Vegas and Reno, Nevada leads the nation with nearly 42 percent of its housing units occupied by new residents since 2000. Though this itinerancy may signal Americans seeking new prosperity, immigrants who move can create unforeseen problems for themselves.
With the exception of undocumented aliens, all non-citizens should maintain a current address on file with the USCIS. For visa holders and lawful permanent residents (LPRs), it may sometimes be necessary to respond to inquiries from USCIS, and important information is often relayed by mail.
It is especially important for any immigrant with on ongoing immigration process to keep an updated address, including illegal aliens. USCIS sends most notices through the mail, and these often have time-sensitive instructions or requirements. It is also common for immigration officers to file a Request for Evidence, or RFE, to process a petition. If an RFE is not responded to in a timely manner (often 30 days), the petition can be greatly delayed.
As explained in our previous post on immigrants from the Middle East, certain aliens are required by law to maintain an updated address under the NSEERS program.
If an RFE is not responded to in time, the petition in question can be revoked or terminated. In the case of family-based immigration, the revocation of a petition like an I-130 (Petition for Alien Relative) can be disastrous for an alien, pushing the process back by up to 15 years in some cases.
In order to keep your petition current and in good standing, be sure to update your address whenever you move. For help with updating your address, filing a new petition, or for other immigration questions, please contact us for a free consultation at one of our Nevada law offices.
Tags: I-130 Petition for Alien Relative > Illegal Aliens > LPR > Middle East > Nevada > Nevada-Las Vegas > Nevada-Reno > NSEERS > Permanent Resident > Undocumented > USCIS
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