U.S. Immigration

Nonimmigrant Visas

B-1 Visa Classification - A B-1 business visitor is not authorized to perform productive employment in the U.S. A B-1 business visitor must maintain a foreign residence abroad to which the B-1 visitor intends to return ...

B-2 Visa Classification - The B-2 visitor visa allows an individual to enter the U.S. for a short period of time for pleasure, specifically for activities of a recreational character, including tourism, amusement, visits with ...

E-1 Visa Classification - The E-1 treaty trader nonimmigrant classification allows a person to enter the U.S. for the purpose of furthering substantial trade that is international in scope. The trade must be primarily ...

E-2 Visa Classification - The E-2 treaty investor nonimmigrant classification allows a person to enter the U.S. for the purpose of furthering a substantial investment in a U.S. enterprise made by individuals or businesses ...

E-3 Visa Classification - The "Emergency Supplemental Appropriations Act for Defense, the Global War on Terror, and Tsunami Relief, 2005" (P.L. 109-13) was enacted on May 11, 2005, and created a special E-3 ...

F-1 Visa Classification - The F-1 visa allows an individual to come to the U.S. in order to attend an academic program as a full-time student. A student is issued Form I-20 by the sponsoring school, and applies for ...

H-1B Visa Classification - The H-1B classification applies to job candidates in a "specialty occupation." USCIS (U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, part of the Department of Homeland Security) considers ...

H-3 Visa Classification - The H-3 visa classification is for individuals coming to the U.S. for a temporary period to receive training that will benefit them in pursuing a career outside of the U.S. The petitioning ...

J-1 Visa Classification - The J-1 visa is available to individuals participating in a recognized international exchange program. The purpose of the J-1 visa is to promote cultural and educational exchange between the U. ...

K-1 Visa Classification - The K-1 visa classification is known as the “fiance(e)” visa. It applies to an individual who is engaged to a U.S. citizen, and who wishes to enter the U.S. to marry the U.S. citizen ...

K-3 Visa Classification - The K-3 visa classification applies to an individual who is already married to a U.S. citizen. It allows the applicant to enter the U.S. to join his or her U.S. citizen spouse and wait in the U.S. ...

L-1 Blanket Visa Classification - The Blanket L classification affords established multinational employers the greatest flexibility and speed allowed for intracompany transfers. Each qualified employee's L-1 visa petition is ...

L-1 Visa Classification - The L classification applies to intracompany transferees who, within the three preceding years, have been employed outside of the U.S. continuously for at least one year in a managerial, executive, ...

O-1 Visa Classification - The O-1 visa classification is intended for individuals with extraordinary ability in the sciences, arts, education, business or athletics. To qualify, an applicant must generally have ...

P Visa Classification - The P-1 visa classification is a temporary nonimmigrant visa available to individuals who are internationally recognized athletes, artists or entertainers. The P-1 visa may be issued to an ...

R-1 Visa Classification -The R-1 visa classification is for an individual coming temporarily to the U.S. at the request of an organization to work as a minister or to work in a religious vocation or occupation. A ...

TN-1 Visa Classification - The 1992 North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) between the U.S., Canada and Mexico created a special TN nonimmigrant classification. The TN-1 nonimmigrant classification was created for ...

TN-2 Visa Classification - The 1992 North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) between the U.S., Canada and Mexico created a special TN nonimmigrant classification. The TN-2 nonimmigrant classification was created for ...

Mandatory Change of Address Requirements for Non-U.S. Citizens

All non-U.S. Citizens residing temporarily or permanently in the U.S., including lawful permanent residents, for more than 30 days must formally notify the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) of any changes to their home address within 10 days of moving.

All changes of address must be reported either by using an online change of address tool found on the USCIS website at http://www.uscis.gov or by mailing Form AR-11, Alien’s Change of Address Card to the USCIS address listed on the form. Non-U.S. Citizens who are also subject to Special Registration, must complete Form AR-11 SR, Alien’s Change of Address Card for Special Registrants. Forms AR-11 and AR-11 SR together with instructions can be downloaded directly from the USCIS website or by clicking here: All Forms. To access the online change of address tool click here: Online Change of Address.

All individuals who have applications or petitions pending with the USCIS must also separately notify the USCIS of their change of address. If a person completes the online change of address form, as mentioned above, he or she can also update his or her address on any application pending with the USCIS by entering the receipt number on the designated section of the electronic Form AR-11. BAL also recommends that the foreign national submitting a Form AR-11 send a copy of the completed form to his or her immigration attorney as a record of proof of compliance.

Mailing the Form AR-11 will only fulfill the legal obligation of notifying USCIS of a change of address but will not update the address on any applications or petitions pending with the USCIS. If an individual chooses to not use the online change of address form, he or she may update the address on pending applications or petitions by calling the USCIS National Customer Service Center at (800) 375-5283.

When mailing Form AR-11 or AR-11 Special Registration, BAL strongly advises that the form be sent to USCIS using commercial overnight services, or US Certified Mail with Return Receipt cards as this is the only way to reliably prove that the change of address notification was submitted timely. BAL also recommends that the foreign national submitting a Form AR-11 send a copy of the completed form to his or her immigration attorney as a record of proof of compliance.

BAL Clients Only: In addition to these requirements, BAL clients should notify us of any change of address as soon as possible. Please log in to the StatusChek® Online Case Status system to review and update the information currently stored in our system. If you are a client and do not have an account, please contact the attorney or legal assistant working on your case.