The approximate time of your biometric appointment should take between 10 and 20 minutes. This can be shorter or longer, depending on how many people are waiting in front of you or how many biometric agents are available. USCIS will arrange a biometric appointment for you at a local USCIS office after receiving your application. You will receive a letter in the mail telling you when and where to go to your appointment. The biometric appointment simply allows U.S. citizenship and immigration authorities to verify your identity and thus confirm that you are who you claim to be. If you are asked to submit your biometric information to a USCIS office, it does not necessarily mean that your immigration application or green card renewal has been approved. The biometric appointment at USCIS is just one step in the application process. After your appointment, your biometrics will be used to evaluate your application.
Visa-Free Travel – Visa Waiver Program – Any traveler with a valid passport from one of the Visa Waiver Program (VWP) countries, regardless of age or passport used, must present an individual machine-readable passport (MRP) to enter the United States without a visa. Depending on the date the traveller`s passport was issued, different passport requirements apply. If a potential traveler does not meet the requirements to travel without a visa, they will need to apply for a U.S. visa and will not be able to travel with VWP. For more information, see the Visa Waiver Program and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) website. In addition, all VWP travelers must have an approved Electronic Travel Authorization (ESTA) system before traveling to the United States. Once you have completed your biometric appointment, you will receive a stamp on your appointment notice confirming that you have participated. Keep this document in a safe place. It serves as proof if the USCIS cannot find its record indicating that you attended the appointment. But if you plan ahead, the biometric appointment should be a quick and painless step to get your green card. At this point, your biometric collection process is complete.
If for any reason you are unable to attend your biometric appointment, you can reschedule your appointment. Call the USCIS Contact Center to request a new appointment. Many offices can accommodate early visits on the day of your appointment without you having to reschedule. Biometric officers are required to wear face coverings and gloves when caring for applicants at all times. For U.S. citizens, your biometric information will be collected at the CSA that serves the address you provided in your application. The biometric appointment is generally required for applicants who have applied for immigration benefits with USCIS. The most common are applications for green cards, work permits and naturalization.
When you apply for a benefit from U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) — such as a work permit, citizenship, green card, or even a green card renewal — a standard part of the process is a biometric appointment (also known as biometric screening). It may sound scary, but it shouldn`t be a problem for most people. Either way, it`s important to understand what`s going on at your USCIS appointment, what to expect, and who should be worried. In the Enhanced Border Security and Visa Entry Reform Act of 2002, the U.S. Congress mandated the use of biometric data in U.S. visas. This law requires U.S. embassies and consulates abroad to issue “only machine-readable and tamper-proof visas and other travel and entry documents that use biometric identifiers. In addition, the Homeland Security Council has ruled that the U.S. standard for biometric screening is ten fingerprint scans that are collected at all U.S. embassies and consulates for visa applicants wishing to enter the United States.
Most people don`t have to worry about the USCIS biometric appointment and the subsequent FBI background check. THE USCIS will process this information through the FBI database to search for criminal records. While you may be called for a second biometric appointment, this usually does not signal any wrongdoing on your part or indicate that your application will be rejected. Here are two common reasons why applicants are invited to attend a second biometric appointment: The Biometrics Officer collects and verifies all the documents you bring with you, including the processing form and ticket number given to you by the receptionist. If your biometric message has not been sent, you should call the USCIS Contact Center at 800-375-5283. If you have a legal representative in your application, para. B a lawyer, a copy of your biometric appointment notice will also be sent to your lawyer. Depending on the type of application, the region of the country, and the workload, USCIS can initially schedule the biometric appointment within 3-8 weeks of submitting your USCIS form on the same day. USCIS Application Support Centers cannot postpone the appointment for more than 30 days. Therefore, it is likely that they will move a date within 30 days from the date of the rescheduling request.
You must bring this letter with you when you provide your biometrics. Once your biometrics are collected, the biometric officer will stamp your Form I-797C indicating that your biometrics have been collected. .
