Naturalization applicants can now convey their change-of-address to BCIS through a new toll free number—1-800-375-5283. BCIS, the Bureau of Citizenship and Immigration Service, claims to be working on improving customer service and naturalization processing and has indicated that the new toll-free number is one example of this effort. The BCIS believes it will ensure that applicants for naturalization who change addresses will still receive information about their cases in a timely manner.

This new service will reduce the workload caused by written change-of-address forms sent to BCIS. At times, applicants do not receive a BCIS notice because it was sent to the old, wrong address. This results in applicants losing their place in the processing queue or being denied naturalization because they did not respond to a BCIS notice. Use of the toll-free number will allow change-of-address information to be sent to BCIS more expeditiously.

Applicants who have previously submitted a written change-of-address should call the new number in order to confirm that BCIS has the correct address on file. If BCIS has the wrong address, it will rectify any past actions—such as rescheduling an interview, fingerprinting, oath ceremony, reopening a case that was denied, etc. —that were based on an incorrect address.

The new automated service is available Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. at the caller’s local time (except for Alaska, which is operated from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Hawaii, which is offered from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.; and Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands, which are available from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.), and is accessible for both English and Spanish speakers. Callers will need to give their name, alien number, date and country of birth, as well as their old and new mailing address.