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Form I-865: Sponsor’s Notice of Change of Address is the form you will file if you sponsor an immigrant and are moving. According to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), this form is used to change the address on file of a person who sponsors one or more immigrants through an Affidavit of Support (Form I-864).
Form I-864 is an enforceable contract stating that you will use your financial resources to support the immigrant or immigrants. Once approved and the immigrant is a lawful permanent resident, they become your legal responsibility until they become a U.S. citizen or meet other criteria. For this reason, USCIS needs to know where you live and how to contact you.
What Is Form I-865?
Form I-865 is a simple document that allows a U.S. citizen who is sponsoring an immigrant through an Affidavit of Support to change the address USCIS has on file for them. The form has six parts. You will need to know your personal information, new address, and the immigrant’s name and Alien Registration Number (A-Number).
If an immigrant has more than one sponsor, each sponsor will need to file their own Form I-865, even if they live together. If the immigrant also lives in the same household, they will need to take care of notifying USCIS of their relocation using the appropriate channels based on their status.
For those who have questions about Form I-865 or other questions related to Form I-864 and Affidavits of Support, our Phoenix immigration attorneys can help.
When do I Need to Use Form I-865?
USCIS asks all U.S. citizen sponsors of immigrants to notify them within 30 days of any change in mailing or physical address. Failure to do so could result in fines and concerns for the sponsored immigrant and their family. This could include delays in their application or processing of their paperwork, denials, and/or deportation. For these reasons, ensuring USCIS knows where you are is vital to the immigrant’s status.
You will need to keep USCIS up to date on your address throughout your sponsorship. This requirement remains in effect until the immigrant:
- Is a U.S. citizen
- Has worked 40 quarters of work in the U.S., usually ten years
- Leaves the country and formally lets go of their legal resident status
- Has their resident status revoked
- Passes away
Unless one of these applies in your case, you should let USCIS know about any change of address as soon as possible.
How to Complete Form I-865
Form I-865 is fairly straightforward. You will need to complete the printed form in black ink and mail it to the appropriate address. There is no filing fee for this form.
You should carefully read and answer each question. If it does not apply, you can write N/A or “none.” If you run out of space, which may occur if you sponsor more than one immigrant, you can use the additional space provided in Part 6 of Form I-865. You can also attach additional pages as needed. Be sure to mark each page with your name, the page number, part number, and item number. You will also need to sign each page.
Do not forget to sign the form! This is a common mistake and will cause USCIS to reject your form. You will have to submit the paperwork again if this happens. For those whose new address is in Arizona, you will need to mail your form to:
USCIS California Service Center
P.O. Box 10485
Laguna Niguel, CA 92607-0485
Other regions of the country have their own locations that process this change of address. You should carefully review the information provided by USCIS on the form before submission.
Let New Frontier Immigration Law Help
Our team works with immigrants, their sponsors, and others to help get the best possible outcomes in these cases. We can help with many types of immigration actions and concerns. If you are a sponsor who failed to update your address, we recommend doing so as soon as possible to minimize the issues the sponsored immigrant could face.
If you are an immigrant whose sponsor moved and did not leave a forwarding address or change their address with USCIS, we may be able to offer help based on your unique situation. There are options for immigration relief, and it may be possible to fight to improve your circumstances even if removal proceedings are already underway.
You can count on our team to:
- Discuss your circumstances with you openly and without judgment
- Assess your legal options and explain them to you clearly
- Ensure you understand and get answers to your questions
- Help you make a decision about your next steps
- Guide you through the necessary processes
- Fight for a better outcome for you and your loved ones
- Represent you and your family in immigration court if needed
- Provide services and protect your rights in case of arrest and detainment
- Reunite your family and help you remain together when possible
Many members of our team have been right where you are today. We understand how stressful and life-controlling immigration concerns can be. We provide compassionate, supportive, knowledgeable services and representation for our clients with the ultimate goal of helping your family remain together and gain legal status.
You Can Speak with an Immigration Lawyer in Phoenix Today
At New Frontier Immigration Law, we have team members who are well-versed in most areas of immigration law. This includes Affidavits of Support and what happens if the sponsor fails to uphold their end of the contract. We are here for you if this happens to you in Arizona.
Our team provides immigrants and those who care about them with strategic sessions where we can discuss their circumstances, concerns, and options. The cost of this session goes toward the case when we decide to work together to get a better outcome. Connect with us today to get started.