Attending your USCIS biometrics appointment brings you closer to successfully immigrating to the U.S. If you received an Application Support Center (ASC) appointment notice, you must attend your biometrics appointment. In this article, you will learn about biometrics’ role in immigration to the U.S., what to bring to your appointment, what to expect after giving biometrics, and an explanation of the entire process.
What Is The USCIS Biometrics Appointment?
A biometrics appointment is a security procedure that identifies the applicants and assesses their criminal background and previous immigration violations. You will be notified to attend a biometrics appointment when you receive a USCIS biometrics appointment letter (Form I-797C).
The reason behind collecting a person’s biometrics is to identify their unique physical traits and confirm their identity. It is part of the U.S. immigration process, and many other countries follow similar procedures. At your appointment, officials will take your fingerprints along with your photograph. USCIS will also require you to provide your signature.
By going through the biometrics process, you should note that you grant the USCIS, the FBI, and any other government department permission to perform a thorough background check on you.
How Much Does a Biometrics Appointment Cost?
For immigration purposes, the application fees you pay cover biometrics appointments; they are no longer separate. However, it is important to take into account the costs of traveling to the embassy or consulate.
USCIS Forms That Require A Biometrics Appointment
USCIS requires numerous types of applicants to complete a biometrics assessment. Often, applicants for green cards, work permits, or citizenship will have to attend a biometrics appointment, particularly for applications:
- Naturalization (Form N-400)
- Removal of conditions (Form I-751)
- Adjusting status or registering permanent residence (Form I-485)
- Work Permit (I-765)
- Replace Permanent Resident Card (I-90)
- Temporary protected status (Form I-821)
What To Bring To a Biometrics Appointment?
First, you need to bring a photo ID to confirm your identity. To avoid unnecessary USCIS biometrics appointment delays, you should bring one of the following:
- Passport
- National photo ID (issued by your home country)
- Green card
- State-issued ID
- Driver’s license
- Military ID
Second, you must bring your Application Support Center (ASC) Biometrics Notice, which is the I-797C form, to your appointment.
Third, you must bring any additional documents to your appointment that the USCIS requested. These can be your employment authorization documents, travel permits, DS-160 confirmation page (if it applies to you), or any other documents USCIS requested.
Under no circumstances should you bring your cell phone, video or photo cameras, or weapons to your appointment.
How To Dress For A Biometrics Appointment?
There is no formal dress code. However, since a photograph and fingerprints will be taken, you should wear appropriate clothing for a photo ID. Avoid wearing hats, as your face must be clearly visible. We advise our clients to wear neat, business casual attire to present themselves.
What Happens At A USCIS Biometrics Appointment?
At the ASC biometrics appointment, you will submit all your biometrics on machines and provide your signature, which confirms that your application is complete, true, and correct. Arrive at least 15 minutes early for your appointment, as you will likely have to wait in line for your turn. An ASC worker will review your ASC notice and photo ID. Depending on your notice code, you may undergo different procedures.
The entire process can take anywhere between 15-30 minutes, depending on the workload of the ASC. You will get a number and be called when it is your turn.
Finally, after giving your biometrics, USCIS will stamp your appointment letter (Form I-797C) confirming that you have attended the appointment. This stamped appointment letter is proof that you have completed the biometrics appointment.
Meaning Of ASC Biometric Notice Codes
The code in the top right of your ASC appointment notice indicates what type of biometric processing you must undergo.
- Code 1 means that all of your fingers will be scanned, and nothing else.
- Code 2 means that ASC will take a photo of you, scan your index fingers, and record your digital signature.
- Code 3 means that ASC will take a photo of you, scan all your fingers, and record your digital signature.
- Code 3 is typically the most common code issued on biometrics notices.
Criminal Record And Ineligibility After USCIS Biometrics Appointment
If you have a criminal record, you might be ineligible to immigrate to the U.S. However, this depends mainly on the type of crime you have committed. If you think you have a criminal record or are sure you do, you should contact an immigration lawyer before submitting your USCIS application.
Applicants with a criminal record who avoid legal help with their immigration biometrics are at a high risk of USCIS denying their application. However, VisaNation Law Group can help you navigate the immigration process even if you have a criminal record.
Do you have questions about a prior arrest?
How To Reschedule A Biometrics Appointment
You can reschedule your biometrics appointment through your USCIS online account, or call the USCIS Contact Center at 800-375-5283 (TTY 800-767-1833). In addition, you must demonstrate good cause to satisfy the rescheduling requirements. You must reschedule your appointment at least 12 hours before your scheduled appointment time.
If you fail to reschedule your appointment and fail to attend it, the USCIS will continue your application without considering your biometrics. In that case, your application will likely be denied due to missing biometric data.
It is possible to request an accommodation for your biometrics appointment if you cannot attend an in-person visit. You can only qualify for this if you have a disability. You must follow the instructions on your notice regarding the people with disabilities section.
Biometrics Appointment For Families
On many occasions, USCIS will try to schedule biometrics appointments for all family members simultaneously. However, that is not always the case.
The ASC may allow family members to complete a biometric assessment even without a scheduled timeslot as long as one of the members has already received their ASC appointment notice. After that, it is entirely up to the discretion of the ASC, and they may refuse to accommodate this.
If your child is under 14 years old, they will not be required to provide a signature during their ASC appointment. Their parent or legal guardian may also sign on the child’s behalf. However, if your child receives a biometrics notice, they must attend the appointment.
Where Do You Go For Your Biometrics Appointment?
The exact time, date, and location of your USCIS biometrics appointment are on your ASC appointment notice.
- If you are in the U.S., you will attend the ASC nearest to the home address you provided on your application. You can use the USCIS tool to find the closest ASC to you.
- If you are outside of the U.S., your appointment will be at the nearest visa application centre (VAC) or U.S. embassy or consulate, where your immigration application is being processed.
What Happens After a USCIS Biometrics Appointment?
After the biometrics appointment, you must wait for USCIS to process the background checks. The fingerprints taken during the appointment are valid for 15 months from the date of processing. You can expect to receive the outcome of your biometrics appointment and instructions on what to do next, depending on the case type:
- General Case Update: 2-5 days, you should receive a case status that your fingerprints were taken
- Green Card: Between 2 months to 1 year after your biometrics, you can expect to receive your interview notice, and it depends on the USCIS office and priority date.
- I-751 (Removal of Conditions): Between 2-3 years is the anticipated timeframe until you receive a decision on your I-751 after the biometrics appointment. This is why USCIS tends to issue 48-month extensions while the removal of conditions process.
- Work Permit: Between 2 and 5 months is when you can expect an approval for the work permit.
The timeframes depend on which USCIS office is processing your application. Due to a heavy workload, some offices have much longer processing times than others. In addition, the processing times can be significantly increased if you have a criminal record or if there are issues with your biometrics or background check. You can check the status of your case online.
After the officer stamps your ASC appointment notice, ensure that you keep it safe. This stamped Form I-797C is your proof that you have attended your biometrics appointment. Some applicants receive a second biometrics notice after attending the first appointment. USCIS usually requires applicants to attend a second appointment because their fingerprints were smudged during their first visit. You don’t need to pay for the second appointment. After you are entirely done with biometrics, your next steps may vary. For example, some applicants must attend an interview with a visa officer.
USCIS Biometric Appointment FAQs
What to wear to your biometrics appointment?
USCIS does not have any dress code requirements for your biometrics appointment. However, considering that USCIS will take a photo of you during the appointment, you may want to prepare accordingly and dress appropriately.
What do they do at biometrics appointments?
At your appointment, USCIS will take your fingerprints along with a photo, and you will provide a digital signature. Then, USCIS collects that information to complete FBI and criminal background checks.
What is the ASC appointment notice Code 3?
If you received a Code 3 ASC notice, you must provide a digital signature, photo, and fingerprint of all of your fingers during your biometrics appointment.
Is a biometrics appointment the same as an interview?
No, your biometrics appointment is separate from an interview. At your biometrics appointment, you will only provide information about your identity. After completing your biometrics, you will be sent details about your interview and the next steps you must follow.
How long after your biometrics appointment is the interview?
USCIS processing times depend on the location where you submitted your biometrics. It can take anywhere from 5 - 11 months to receive details about your interview. Processing center workloads vary.
For those abroad, after your National Visa Center (NVC) completes document processing and fees, you are scheduled for a biometrics appointment, 2–6 weeks before your consular interview at a local U.S. consulate or embassy.
What happens if you miss your biometrics appointment?
If you miss your appointment, the USCIS will consider your application without biometrics and any other documents required to bring to your appointment. In many cases, applicants who miss their biometrics appointment negatively impact their immigration applications.