The United States Citizenship & Immigration Services (USCIS) requires biometric information as part of certain immigration applications. While the word "biometric" might sound complicated or scary, it just means a biological characteristic that can be captured, digitized, and added to a database. Biometrics are used by USCIS to verify the identification of applicants and to compare against the FBI database to check for criminal records.
If your USCIS application requires biometrics, you will receive a notice providing you of the date, time, and location of the appointment. It is very important to attend your appointment, or attempt to reschedule, because without the biometric information, your immigration application could be considered abandoned and thus be denied.
Not all applications with USCIS require biometrics – it depends on the type of application that you have filed. Biometrics are an application requirement for such things as green cards, adjustment of status (I-485), employment authorization (I-765), advance parole travel (I-131), extensions (I-539), and temporary protected status (I-821).
There are three types of biometric processing that you could undergo, as part of your USCIS application. The highest tier requires a photo of you, a scan of all of your fingerprints, and a recording of your digital signature. Your notice will have an "ASC" code indicating what level of biometric processing is required.
If you cannot make the biometric appointment that is on your notice, you can reschedule your appointment by contacting USCISC at (800) 375-5283 and explaining why you have a "Good Cause" to reschedule. You will then be contacted by a USCIS scheduler who will provide you with a new date and time. It's important to remember that it often takes several days, and sometimes weeks, to get a response from a rescheduler. So, when you know you must reschedule your appointment, try to reschedule as soon as possible after receiving your notice.
You and your immigration attorney will both receive an Application Support Center (ASC) Biometrics notice in the mail, at the addresses listed in your initial immigration application. In the top-right hand corner of the notice, there will be a code indicating the level of biometric processing that is required.
To determine whether or not an applicant has a criminal record or has committed an immigration violation, USCIS will run your information through the FBI crime database.
You should bring the following to your USCIS biometrics appointment:
1) A copy of your ASC notice
2) Your photo ID (passport, green card, military ID, driver's license, etc.)
3) Any additional documents requested by USCIS in the notice
Your biometrics appointment takes places at a USCIS-authorization "Application Support Center", or ACS. This is different than the USCIS field office where you would go for an interview. Some areas in the United States offer mobile biometrics vans. Check your ACS notice for the location. Try to arrive 15 minutes early for your appointment.
No, your sponsor does not need to attend your biometrics appointment, but they are welcome to do so. However, you should check the COVID-19 policies of the Application Support Center (ASC) before bringing someone with you.
The biometrics fee is $85 for immigration applications; however, typically the fee is included in the initial application fee that you already paid, so you likely will not need to pay this fee on the day of your biometrics appointment.
For additional questions you may have about your USCIS biometrics appointment, be sure to thoroughly read through your biometrics ACS notice. Be sure to carefully read and diligently follow the instruction on the notice.
