Address Change After I-693: What to Update and When
Moving after your civil surgeon exam does not cancel your Form I-693. USCIS ties the form’s validity to the application it was filed with, not to your street address. But a move does create a separate legal duty: you must tell USCIS your new address within 10 days, and the fastest way is the online change-of-address tool in your USCIS account. Here is how to do it, what to keep, and what to do if you have already missed the window.
TL;DR
- A signed I-693 stays valid for as long as the application it was submitted with is pending. Moving does not change that.
- Report your move to USCIS within 10 days. The online address tool replaces the paper Form AR-11 and works almost immediately.
- Enter the receipt number of every pending case so each one is updated.
- Keep the original I-693 and sealed envelope until USCIS makes a final decision. Mail from USCIS still has to reach you.
- If you missed the 10-day window, update now and, if you are worried, talk to an immigration attorney.
Table of Contents
- Does moving affect your I-693 or your pending I-485?
- The 10-day rule for reporting a new address
- How to update your address, step by step
- What if you forgot to report your move?
- Should you tell your civil surgeon about the move?
- A simple checklist for the week you move
- Our perspective: the mistakes we see after a move
- If you need a new or replacement I-693
- FAQ
- Sources
Does moving affect your I-693 or your pending I-485?
The medical form and your address are two separate things. For a Form I-693 signed on or after November 1, 2023, USCIS says the form is valid only while the application it was submitted with is pending. If that application is withdrawn or denied, the form is no longer valid, and a newly completed I-693 must go with any future Form I-485.
So the question to ask after a move is not “is my medical exam still good?” It is “does USCIS know where to send my mail?” A missed biometrics appointment notice, interview notice or request for evidence can do far more damage to a pending green card case than the move itself.
Since December 2, 2024, applicants must submit Form I-693 or a partial Form I-693 with the Form I-485, or USCIS may reject the application. That means most readers of this article already filed their medical form, and the live issue is keeping the case on track while living somewhere new.
Your sealed envelope and original form
If you filed Form I-485 online, you opened the civil surgeon’s sealed envelope and uploaded the completed I-693. USCIS still says to keep the original form and envelope until it makes a final decision. USCIS may also review the originals at an interview or ask you to submit them as evidence.
That has a practical consequence for movers. Pack the envelope and form in your carry-on bag or personal files, not in a box that might get lost. If something does go missing, a clinic can sometimes help with a replacement sealed envelope, but the best fix is never needing one. Our guide on sealed versus electronic I-693 submissions explains what USCIS expects you to hold on to depending on how you filed.
The 10-day rule for reporting a new address
All noncitizens in the United States, except A and G visa holders and visa waiver visitors, must report a change of address to USCIS within 10 days of moving. This applies whether you moved across town or across the country, and whether or not you have a case pending.
The obligation is separate from any form you filed. Your I-485, work permit application or travel document request may each have their own mailing address on file, and the duty applies regardless of what the clinic or your attorney knows.
USCIS asks you to update as soon as possible so you receive correspondence and benefits without delay and your case keeps processing without interruption. In practice, that means do it the week you move, ideally the day you get your keys.
How to update your address, step by step
USCIS says the E-COA tool in your online account meets the legal notification requirement and removes the need to file a paper Form AR-11. Use it if you can.
- Sign in to your USCIS online account. If you filed your I-485 online, you already have one. If you filed on paper, you can create one and link your case later, or use the paper route below.
- Open the change-of-address option. USCIS describes it as the “Change Your Address” menu inside the account.
- Enter your new physical and mailing addresses. Use the exact format you will use on future forms, since a mismatch can confuse later filings.
- Add the receipt number of every pending case. USCIS says that when you use the tool, you enter the receipt numbers for all pending benefit requests you want updated. If you have an I-485, an I-765 and an I-131 pending, list all three.
- Save the confirmation. Screenshot or print it and keep it with your original I-693 and envelope.
Online changes are processed almost immediately. A paper Form AR-11 does not offer that speed, and USCIS notes that mailing it may increase the risk that correspondence or benefits go to an outdated address.
When the paper Form AR-11 still makes sense
USCIS confirms you can update by filing a paper Form AR-11 by mail instead of the online route. That is the option if you cannot use an online account. If you go this way, use a mailing method that gives you proof of delivery and keep a copy of the form.
One trap: the AR-11 does not update your address with the Immigration Court. If you are in removal proceedings, you must notify the court separately.
Moving to a different state
The process does not change when you cross state lines. You can use the online tool or the paper form either way. What can change is where your case is handled: USCIS may transfer cases between offices, so the safest habit is to respond to whichever office sent your most recent notice, and to update your address before you hear anything from a new office.
What if you forgot to report your move?
Do it now. There is no benefit to waiting, and every week of delay increases the chance that a notice goes to the wrong place.
The AR-11 itself warns that failure to report a change of address may result in a fine, imprisonment, or removal from the United States. That language is serious, but it describes a possible consequence, not an automatic one. Legal guidance explains that people admitted to the U.S. can face removal for failing to give USCIS a new address unless they show the failure was reasonably excusable or not willful. Another analysis notes that the government must connect the alleged failure to the statute, and that respondents can contest whether the duty applied, a move occurred, or the failure was excusable.
What that means for you:
- Missed it by a few days or weeks: file the change now, keep the confirmation, and move on.
- Missed it by months, or a notice already went astray: update your address first, then contact an immigration attorney before responding to anything, especially if a deadline in a lost notice has passed.
- You are in immigration court proceedings: notify the court separately and speak with your attorney or an accredited representative.
If an interview notice or request for evidence was sent to your old address, contact USCIS or your attorney promptly. Do not assume the case is simply on hold.
Should you tell your civil surgeon about the move?
You do not need to “update” a completed I-693 with a new address. The form records the exam as it was performed. The questions that matter after a move are practical:
- Is the form already filed? Then nothing needs to change on it. Update USCIS and keep your originals.
- Do you still hold a sealed envelope you have not filed yet? Do not open it. If you file on paper, the envelope goes in with your application. If you file online, USCIS says you open it and upload the form, then keep both originals.
- Did the exam find a vaccine or follow-up item still outstanding? Your clinic needs a working phone number and email so it can reach you. Give them your current contact details even if the form does not change.
- Is your application likely to be withdrawn, denied or refiled? Then the old form will not carry over. We explain this in why I-693 results can’t follow a closed case to a new filing.
Note also that USCIS advises people with pending employment-based adjustment applications not to send an unsolicited Form I-693, because matching it to the right case can be slow. A move is not a reason to mail in extra medical paperwork. If USCIS wants it, it will ask in a notice, and that notice must find you.
A simple checklist for the week you move
| Task | Why it matters | When |
|---|---|---|
| Update address in your USCIS account | Meets the 10-day reporting requirement | Within 10 days of moving, ideally sooner |
| Add every pending receipt number | Updates each case, not just one | Same session |
| Save the confirmation | Proof if a notice goes astray | Same session |
| Keep the original I-693 and sealed envelope | USCIS may request them at interview | Until final decision |
| Set up mail forwarding | Backup if something is sent to the old address | Before the move date |
| Tell your attorney or preparer | They file with your current address | Same week |
| Notify Immigration Court, if applicable | The AR-11 does not update the court | Immediately |
| Give the clinic your new phone and email | Needed if a follow-up item remains | Before any outstanding step |
Mail forwarding is a backstop, not a substitute. USCIS addresses its notices to the address in your file, and forwarding rules can lapse.
Our perspective: the mistakes we see after a move
We have performed only immigration medical exams since 2007, and we do not provide primary care, urgent care or sick visits. That focus means we see the same pattern repeatedly. Applicants worry about the wrong thing after relocating. They ask whether their medical exam is “still good,” when the real exposure is a notice that never reaches them.
The second pattern is lost paperwork. Moves are when sealed envelopes, vaccination records and copies of forms disappear. We encourage every applicant to create one folder, physical and digital, that holds the I-693 originals, the receipt notices and the address-change confirmation. If you have a record you cannot find, we can often help with printed record copies of what we completed.
The third pattern is people who come to us after a problem elsewhere: an incomplete vaccination record, an error on the form, or a delay. Our job is to complete the I-693 correctly the first time, and that includes reminding people that the work is not over once the envelope is sealed. Filing, tracking and keeping your address current are all part of getting to a decision.
If you are unsure whether your situation needs a new exam at all, check the rules for your filing before booking. Our articles on concurrent filing with the I-485 and on checking the form edition, vaccines and seal walk through what USCIS looks for.
— ImmigrationMedicalExams Medical Team
If you need a new or replacement I-693
Sometimes a move happens alongside a bigger change: a withdrawn case, a new filing category, or a lost envelope. In those cases you may need a new exam or a replacement sealed envelope. We offer the USCIS immigration medical exam for applicants across Southern California, with a standard 3-day option and a 2-day expedited option. Exams, lab testing and required vaccines are handled in one place, and you can book online at any hour. Replacement sealed envelopes and printed record copies are listed on our pricing page.
Not sure what to expect at the visit? Our step-by-step exam walkthrough covers what to bring and what happens in the room.
FAQ
Do I need to file Form AR-11 if I use my USCIS online account?
No. USCIS says the online address tool satisfies the legal notification requirement and removes the need for a paper AR-11. Use the paper form only if you cannot use the online route. Remember that neither method updates your address with the Immigration Court.
Do I update my address separately for each pending case?
Not as separate sessions, but you must list each case. In the online tool you enter the receipt numbers of every pending benefit request you want updated. If you leave one out, that case may keep your old address.
How long does a USCIS address change take?
USCIS says an online address change is processed almost immediately. A paper Form AR-11 does not get that near-immediate processing. Keep your confirmation either way, and watch for the next notice to see which address it uses.
Can I be deported for not updating my address?
The AR-11 warns that failure to report a move may result in a fine, imprisonment or removal. Legal sources explain that removal on this ground is not automatic and depends on whether the failure was willful and unexcused. If you missed the deadline, update immediately and speak with an immigration attorney.
Is my I-693 still valid after I move to another state?
Yes, as long as the application it was submitted with is still pending. For forms signed on or after November 1, 2023, validity follows that application, not your residence. Keep the original form and sealed envelope until USCIS decides your case.
Sources
- USCIS: How to Change Your Address
- USCIS: Report of Immigration Medical Examination and Vaccination Record (Form I-693)
- USCIS: Changes to validity period for any Form I-693 signed on or after Nov. 1, 2023
- USCIS: Forms Available to File Online
- USCIS: Form AR-11, Alien’s Change of Address Card
- USCIS Policy Manual, Chapter 10: Changes of Address
- USCIS: Fiscal Year 2022 Employment-Based Adjustment of Status FAQs
- Nolo: What if I Forgot to Tell USCIS of My Change of Address?
- INA 237(a)(3)(A): Change of Address Deportability