By Parviz Malakouti-Fitzgerald, Esq.
A beautiful stock photo to make you think about changing your biometrics appointment date
Are you a foreign national in the USA and submitting your request for lawful permanent residency?
If so, you may know that after submitting your adjustment of status application, and getting your receipt notice, one of the next steps is being called for a biometrics (fingerprinting) appointment at a USCIS Appointment Support Center (“ASC”).
Article Outline:
The biometrics appointment date should never be overlooked. Missing the biometrics appointment could cause a delay in your case or either problems. To prevent such a disaster from occurring, here are some ways to have the appointment rescheduled:
Postpone Your Biometrics Appointment
Sometimes the scheduled date for the appointment does not work for you. For instance, you might be pregnant, have an emergency, or be traveling. In such cases, you can write to USCIS and request to postpone the appointment.
To ensure an efficient and timely rescheduling process, make sure to provide a genuine reason for your request with pertinent evidence if needed. Evidence can be submitted in the form of paper documents to show a scheduling conflict (for example, a wedding out of town or important work obligation on the date of your biometrics).
Make every effort to submit the rescheduling request to USCIS as early as possible to give USCIS as much time as possible to process your request.
Try to Go to an ASC Center Early
If you have a valid excuse, such as, for example pregnancy, important travel travel or medical treatment, you can sometimes attempt to take your biometrics appointment notice to your designated ASC ahead of your scheduled date.
The entrance is usually manned by a security guard who only allows entrance to people with appointments on that date. You can try your luck in explaining why you cannot attend your scheduled appointment, and asking to be admitted to have your biometrics appointment. Throw a little charm into the interaction.
When appearing early for your appointment, make sure you have a valid reason and supporting documentation to back it up. While there have been cases where pregnancy has been accepted as a valid reason, it is essential to provide as much evidence as possible to support your request. The USCIS may or may not grant your request, so it's always best to have a backup plan in case your request is not approved.
It goes without saying that attempting to get your biometrics appointment ahead of time is not a guaranteed method. There’s nothing to be lost in trying, besides your time.
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Request a Consultation with Malakouti Law
Your biometrics appointment is the first step to gaining lawful permanent residency in America. To ensure your application is approved, it's vital that you adhere to all submission deadlines; otherwise, your case might be placed in jeopardy.
When doing so though, make sure to offer reliable reasons and supporting material if necessary for verification purposes! If you feel confused or stuck, you can always request a consultation with Malakouti Law to speak to an experienced professional, click here.
Each immigration and citizenship case is particular and you should consult with a qualified, licensed immigration lawyer about your case before taking any steps. The Law Office of Parviz Malakouti does not guarantee the accuracy of information presented nor assume responsibility for actions taken in reliance of this information. The information in this page could become outdated. Attorney marketing.