How Do You Report a Sponsor Address Change With Form I-865?

The notice in one table

When the duty ends

The duty to report lasts while the sponsorship agreement is in force. It ends when the sponsored immigrant:

1. Becomes a U.S. citizen;
2. Receives credit for 40 quarters of work;
3. Departs the United States permanently and either formally abandons lawful permanent resident status on Form I-407, or is formally held in a removal proceeding to have abandoned that status;
4. Loses, in a removal proceeding, the lawful permanent resident status obtained based on the sponsor's Form I-864; or
5. Dies.

Each sponsor must submit a separate Form I-865, even if two sponsors share the same new address.

The second clock: permanent-resident sponsors

A sponsor who is a lawful permanent resident carries two separate duties, and the two clocks must not be confused. Form I-865 is due within 30 days of the move. Separately, under 8 CFR 265.1, a lawful permanent resident must notify USCIS of a new address within 10 days of moving. The 10-day duty is met through a USCIS online account change of address or a paper Form AR-11, and it does not replace the Form I-865 notice.

The 10-day general duty applies to all aliens in the United States, with A and G visa holders and visa-waiver visitors excepted. Changing an address with the U.S. Postal Service does not change an address with USCIS, and postal mail from USCIS is not forwarded.

What goes on the form

Form I-865 has six parts. Part 1 records the sponsor's full name, date of birth, new physical address with its effective date, and new mailing address with its effective date. The physical address must not be a post office box. Part 2 lists the sponsored immigrants by name and A-Number, up to four, with extras in Part 6. Part 3 is the sponsor's statement, certification, and signature. The signature must be handwritten; a stamped or typewritten name is not accepted, and a legal guardian may sign with proof of appointment and a court order. Part 4 covers the interpreter, Part 5 the preparer, and Part 6 additional information. An attorney or accredited representative who prepares the form also files Form G-28.

Keep a copy of the completed notice, plus proof of mailing and receipt, as proof of compliance: a certified-mail receipt, an Express Mail label with return receipt, or a commercial-delivery label with signature proof.

Penalties for getting it wrong

Knowingly or willfully falsifying information, or submitting false documents, leads to rejection of the notice and can lead to denial of other benefits, severe penalties, and criminal prosecution. Separately, failure to give notice as required by 8 U.S.C. 1183a(d) and 8 CFR 213a.3 carries a civil penalty of $250 to $2,000, or $2,000 to $5,000 if the failure occurred with knowledge that the sponsored immigrant received means-tested public benefits, excluding the benefits listed in sections 401(b), 403(c)(2), and 411(b) of the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act.

The process, step by step

1. Confirm the duty is still in force. Check the five termination events above. If none has occurred, the 30-day clock is running.
2. Complete Form I-865, edition 11/10/20 (the 07/17/15 edition is also accepted), all pages from the same edition with the edition date and page numbers visible. Give the new physical address, never a post office box, and the effective date of the change.
3. Sign by hand. An unsigned form is rejected and returned. A stamped or typewritten name is not accepted.
4. Mail the notice to the Minneapolis intake address by a method that produces proof of mailing and receipt, and keep a copy of everything sent.
5. If the sponsor is a lawful permanent resident, meet the 10-day duty separately through a USCIS online account or a paper Form AR-11. The 10-day notice does not replace Form I-865.
6. Keep the copy and the proof of mailing until the sponsorship agreement ends, as the record of compliance.

What this guide does not state

The instruction editions for Forms I-864A and I-864EZ are not stated. The paper mailing address for Form AR-11 is not stated. Processing times are not stated. The sponsored immigrant's own address-reporting duties are not covered beyond the pointer in this guide. Form I-864, Form AR-11, Form I-407, and Form G-28 are each their own form with their own rules; this guide covers only Form I-865.

Sources

• USCIS, Sponsor's Notice of Change of Address, Form I-865
• USCIS, Form I-865 Instructions
• USCIS, How to Change Your Address
• 8 CFR 106.2, USCIS Fee Schedule

Facts verified 2026-10-31.

This page explains how the process works and what the official rules say. It is general information, not legal advice. For advice about a specific situation, talk to a qualified professional or the agency.