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Moving

Failure to report your change of address within 10 days of the changecan result in jail sentence. Compliance with the requirement to notify the USCIS of any address changes is also a condition of a refugees stay in the United States. Failure to comply could also jeopardize their ability to obtain a future visa or other immigration benefit.

How Do I Report a Change of Address?

All immigrants changing their address must file Form AR-11 with the USCIS address listed on the form. That address is:

U.S. Department of Homeland Security
USCIS
Change of Address
P.O. Box 7134
London , KY 40742-7134

The USCIS has created an additional procedure and recommends additional notifications for those aliens who are also applicants for benefits. An applicant for naturalization may comply with the law by filing a Form AR-11 AND telephoning the National Customer Service Center to advise that office of the change of address. Applicants and petitioners for any other benefits should file a Form AR-11 AND notify in writing the local office processing their case of any change of address. You may choose the method of mailing your Form AR-11. Using certified, registered or receipt mail is not currently a USCIS requirement. However, it is advisable to send the AR-11 with a Return Receipt or some other method that will give you documentation that you did indeed mail the form to the USCIS, in case there should ever be a question.

    Be sure to report your address change to the post office.

Change your address with Department of Health and Human Services, or you will lose your benefits! Within 10 working days!

If you are moving out of state, be sure to get end of benefit papers at the DHS office. If you do not have these, it will be hard to initiate benefits in your new state.

Inform your electric company and phone company to end service and start service.

Go to your children's schools and get your withdrawal papers, return books, and give your children a chance to say goodbye.

Now you will need to get the necessary paperwork to go and enroll your children in their new schools. Be sure to also include the free breakfast and lunch program if you have participated in the program at your prior school. Make sure they understand the bus routes home.

When possible give 30 days notice. To break a lease it will usually will be one months rent plus 85% of the next months rent. Clean the apartment. If you are unable to move all your furniture, donate the furniture to your refugee neighbors or one of the agencies. Please do not trash everything unless of course there is a sanitary concern. Return the keys to the office. All damages to the apartment will be assessed by the office and will be your final responsibility

Can the resettlement agency help me with the change of address?

Yes for a nominal fee. If the resettlement agency has resettled the refugee or has filed an application for the refugee, you must notify the resettlement agency and the government of your change of address.

Substance Abuse/Family Violence Programs

Mosaic Family Services, Inc.
4144 N. Central Expwy. #530 Dallas , Texas 75204
Office: 214-821-5393

A non-profit community based agency targeting the culturally diverse and medically indigent families living in the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex. The agency strives to provide culturally and linguistically sensitive services for families, giving them the tools and opportunities they need to live healthy lives, free from substance abuse &/or social, psychological, and cultural adjustment problems.

FEES: Program services are free of charge.

Other programs at Mosaic Family Services include:

• HIV Services (Outreach, Prevention and Intervention)

• North Texas Immigration Coalition (Advocacy and Network)

• Refugee Case Management (Orientation, Outreach and Referral, Healthy Family and Health and Emergency Services)

• Multicultural Youth Substance Abuse Prevention (Education and Life-Skills Training)

• Services for Victims of Trafficking (Outreach, Education and Case Management)

Child Protective Services

Confusion and concern happen for many families as cultures are quite different here in America than in other places in the world. Sometimes this calls for us to have times that the agencies will ask for Child Protective Services to come in and do educational seminars to better equip the parents for these various changes.

A phone number to request information about CPS or to report an incident is 214-951-7902. Please remember there is a difference between assimilation into a new country and outright abuse and neglect. Working with the agencies, the families, and the caseworkers is the best strategy! CPS really does want to keep these refugee families together!