After you file a benefit request, USCIS may schedule a biometrics appointment at an Application Support Center (ASC). The USCIS Policy Manual states that the appointment notice "indicates the date, time, and location" of the appointment, and that you bring the notice and a valid, unexpired government-issued photo ID. This guide explains, based on USCIS's own policy, how each step works.
What is USCIS biometrics?
Biometrics, in USCIS terminology, is the collection of physical data from people with a pending request: fingerprints and a photograph. According to Policy Manual, Volume 1, Part C, Chapter 2, the chapter covers biometrics collection "for pending benefit requests," and the person who filed the request (applicant, petitioner, sponsor, or beneficiary) may be called in.
The photo has a concrete use: USCIS incorporates it into secure documents, such as the Green Card (Form I-551) and the employment authorization card (Form I-766), as a security feature, according to the same Policy Manual chapter. When a photo is required and not submitted, USCIS may issue a Request for Evidence (RFE), a formal request for additional documents.
How does USCIS notify you about the appointment?
USCIS sends an appointment notice after the request is filed. The notice provides three pieces of information: the date, time, and location of the appointment at an ASC. The Policy Manual describes the notice as the central document for this step.
If you are outside the United States, the same policy provides that collection may take place at USCIS offices, U.S. embassies or consulates, or U.S. military installations, based on 8 CFR 103.2(b)(9) and 103.16.
What should you bring to the ASC?
The policy lists two items: the appointment notice and a valid, unexpired photo identity document. As examples of such a document, the Policy Manual mentions Form I-551 (Green Card), a passport, and a driver's license.
- Gather the appointment notice received from USCIS.
- Gather a photo ID that has not expired.
- Check the date, time, and ASC address listed on the notice.
- Plan your travel in advance, because the time stated on the notice is what counts.
How do you reschedule the appointment?
The Policy Manual establishes that a rescheduling request must be made through an online myUSCIS account or through the USCIS Contact Center. USCIS does not accept this request by mail or in person. An authorized representative with Form G-28 may also make the request.
The standard is "good cause." The policy defines it as existing when the applicant presents "a sufficient reason for the inability to appear." Examples cited include illness, previously planned travel, lack of transportation, and a notice received late or not delivered.
Which date actually matters?
The decisive date is the appointment time. According to the Policy Manual, when a person does not appear, USCIS considers the request abandoned, unless, by the time of the appointment, USCIS has received a change-of-address notification or a rescheduling request with a sufficient reason (8 CFR 103.2(b)(13)(ii)).
Before deciding on abandonment, USCIS checks its own records. If there is a timely change-of-address notice, it reschedules the appointment. The Policy Manual cites Form AR-11 and U.S. Postal Service (USPS) address correction services as accepted proof. To understand this form, see the Prime post on changing your address and the 10-day deadline to notify USCIS.
If the rescheduling request arrives after the date, the Policy Manual provides that USCIS may exercise discretion while the case is pending. It considers the time elapsed, the reason for the absence, and whether denial would cause undue hardship or improper expense. These late requests are accepted only through the Contact Center.
What if the person cannot go to the ASC?
USCIS maintains mobile biometrics collection, conducted at predetermined locations outside the ASC. The policy states that "USCIS has full discretion to conduct mobile biometrics collection," and that in-home service is available for those with a disability or health condition that prevents them from appearing (Policy Manual).
For people in remote locations within the United States, USCIS evaluates each case individually, considering the difficulty of travel, the distance to the ASC, and efficient use of resources. When mobile service is available, USCIS notifies the person.
There is also the fingerprint waiver. According to the Policy Manual, it may be granted when a medical condition, such as a disability, birth defect, or skin condition, prevents collection. The person must have appeared in person, and collection must have been attempted or deemed impossible. The waiver is not granted solely for having fewer than 10 fingers, for unclassifiable prints, or for a temporary condition, and it applies only to the listed request types.
What are the rules for people in custody?
USCIS does not collect biometrics in jails, prisons, or detention facilities that are not operated by DHS. For those in DHS facilities, the policy provides for an internal agreement with ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations. Rescheduling due to detention is generally not approved, and anyone who has been released from custody must submit Form AR-11 to reschedule at a new address (Policy Manual).
How can you track the rest of the process?
Biometrics is one step within a larger request. To see where it fits, check out the 5 phases of the family green card, the N-400 document checklist, and the family I-130 checklist. More guides are available on the Prime blog.
Prime Immigration Office organizes the documentation for your request, such as copies, forms filled out based on the information you provide, and checking the dates on notices you receive. This is document preparation, and the decision on the request always rests with USCIS.
Sources
Educational information, not legal advice. Prime Immigration Office is a paralegal service — document preparation only. For legal advice, consult a licensed Texas attorney or DOJ-accredited representative.