Q: What are the responsibilities of a sponsor of a LPR of USA regarding reporting change of address?
If a legal permanent resident leaves their spouse who sponsored them to come to the United States, and moves back to their country of origin, then the couple files for divorce, does the US sponsor have the obligation to report a change of address to USCIS? The LPR spouse does not want to file a l-407, even though they are moving out of the United States permanently. Should the sponsor report their new address to USCIS? And are there any consequences of reporting the change of address for the LPR?
A:
In the situation you've described, where a legal permanent resident (LPR) leaves the U.S. and moves back to their country of origin, the responsibilities of the U.S. sponsor can be quite specific. It's important to note that as a sponsor, you are generally not required to report the LPR's change of address to the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). The responsibility to inform USCIS about a change of address primarily falls on the LPR themselves, through Form AR-11 or via their online account.
However, if you have signed an Affidavit of Support (Form I-864), you do have ongoing obligations, including updating USCIS about your own address changes, but this does not extend to reporting the LPR's change of address. The LPR's decision not to file Form I-407, which is for abandoning permanent resident status, does not directly impose additional reporting requirements on you as the sponsor.
Regarding the consequences of reporting or not reporting the LPR’s change of address, it primarily affects the LPR's compliance with immigration regulations, not the sponsor. The LPR might face implications for their immigration status if they fail to notify USCIS of their departure, but as a sponsor, your obligations are separate from the LPR's responsibility to maintain their status.
Always consider consulting with an immigration attorney for tailored advice, especially in complex situations like this, to ensure compliance with all legal obligations and to understand the potential implications for both you and the LPR in question.
1 user found this answer helpful
Justia Ask a Lawyer is a forum for consumers to get answers to basic legal questions. Any information sent through Justia Ask a Lawyer is not secure and is done so on a non-confidential basis only.
The use of this website to ask questions or receive answers does not create an attorney–client relationship between you and Justia, or between you and any attorney who receives your information or responds to your questions, nor is it intended to create such a relationship. Additionally, no responses on this forum constitute legal advice, which must be tailored to the specific circumstances of each case. You should not act upon information provided in Justia Ask a Lawyer without seeking professional counsel from an attorney admitted or authorized to practice in your jurisdiction. Justia assumes no responsibility to any person who relies on information contained on or received through this site and disclaims all liability in respect to such information.
Justia cannot guarantee that the information on this website (including any legal information provided by an attorney through this service) is accurate, complete, or up-to-date. While we intend to make every attempt to keep the information on this site current, the owners of and contributors to this site make no claims, promises or guarantees about the accuracy, completeness or adequacy of the information contained in or linked to from this site.
