WVU International Students and Scholars Services (ISSS) wishes to advise all non-citizens (both non-immigrants and lawful permanent residents) of the following U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) registration requirements:
- Address Changes: All non-citizens living in the United States must report any change of address to USCIS within 10 days of the address change. Updating your address with WVU does not update your address with USCIS, and updating your address with USCIS does not update your address with WVU. You are responsible for verifying that your address has been updated in all required locations.
- Registration Documents: All non-citizens must carry their “evidence of registration” document at all times. For non-immigrants, this is typically either Form I-94, Arrival/Departure Record, or Form I-766, Employment Authorization Document (EAD). For lawful permanent residents, this is typically Form I-551, Permanent Resident Card or Alien Registration Receipt Card.
Please note that these requirements are not new. The registration process for most non-immigrants occurs automatically in procedures that are routine and familiar (e.g., registration occurs when a non-citizen applies for a visa at a U.S. consulate abroad). Registrations are also updated when a non-citizen applies for an extension of stay or change of non-immigrant status.
However, USCIS has issued new guidance that will require non-immigrants who turn 14 while in the United States to “re-register” within 30 days of their 14th birthday, even if previously registered when entering the country. This may affect, for example, F-2, J-2, and H-4 dependents. Most nonimmigrants who entered the U.S. at age 14 or older are already automatically registered upon entry (as evidenced by their Form I-94) and DO NOT need to re-register.
You are encouraged to review your documents for evidence of registration with USCIS and to carry these documents with you at all times.
If you have any questions or concerns regarding these registration requirements, please contact International Students and Scholars Services:
- Faculty and Staff: isss-scholars@mail.wvu.edu
- Students: isss-students@mail.wvu.edu