subject: Biometrics Appointment: What to Expect and How to Prepare [print this page] Biometrics Appointment: What to Expect and How to Prepare
The Biometrics Appointment
During the process of obtaining a green card through marriage to a U.S. citizen you will be requested by USCIS (United Sates Citizenship and Immigration Services) to attend a "Biometrics appointment." Biometrics (life-measurements) is just a fancy term that indicates fingerprints and photographs.
During your path to permanent residency you will likely have to attend two Biometrics appointments. The first will take place a few weeks after you submit your entire application/petition package but before the adjustment of status (AOS) interview.
For the first appointment, you will receive Notices of Action (NOA) (I-797C) from USCIS for forms I-130, I-485 (and optional forms I-765 and I-131, if you submitted them). The NOA includes a note about Biometrics. Soon after receiving the NOAs, the USCIS will send a detailed ASC (Application Support Center) Appointment Notice about obtaining your Biometrics. This will include a date and location along with a list of documents to bring with you to the appointment.
The second appointment will take place about two years after the first a few weeks after you have petitioned to remove conditions on your residency (Form I-751).
The following tips apply to both Biometrics appointments.
Note: Only the foreign spouse is required to attend the appointment. You may both attend, but, be aware that, although many USCIS branches provide waiting areas for family members, some do not. In some smaller offices, the U.S. citizen spouse may be forced to wait outside (regardless of the weather or location).
Preparing for the Appointment
Bring the Appointment Notice (not a copy)
Bring a government issued I.D., such as your Passport and/or your Driver's License
Bring your original Marriage Certificate. This is especially important if the family name on your passport and application are different.
Bring your Social Security Card (or, at least memorize the number, since you will need it to complete paperwork while at the office)
Bring your Alien Number (or at least memorize the number, since you will need it to complete paperwork while at the office)
Dress appropriately to have your picture taken
Dress appropriately for the weather, since you may have to wait outside, regardless of the conditions.
Do not bring cell phones, cameras, or any other electronics into the office. The USCIS is particularly cranky about these items it is best to not bring them into the building.
Tip: Try to keep your fingers free of abrasions before your Biometrics appointment. During the appointment, an examiner will request to see your hands palms facing up. They are verifying that your fingers are free of significant cuts or abrasions, and are sufficiently moist. Both of these qualities help ensure accurate fingerprints. If the examiner deems either issue a problem, you will be asked to return on a later date.
In most branches the appointment will not take too long 30minutes maximum. After you enter the building, you hand your documents to an officer. You will then have a seat while they prepare your information. Then they will summon you to the desk, take your fingerprints and a single photo.
Tip: Be sure to double check all your personal information that they have in their system to avoid any errors. Mistakes are more common than they should be.
Rescheduling
If there is no possible way for you to keep the appointment, reschedule as a last resort. Check the box in the middle of the Appointment Notice "Request for Rescheduling" to reschedule. Make a copy of the notice before mailing the original to the specified address. You may wait up to month to receive another appointment notice.
Another option, if you are unable to make the original appointment, is to try a "walk-in" at your local USCIS Support Center. Not all branches allow walk-ins, but some do on specific days. Often the wait time will be longer than a scheduled appointment. If attempting a walk-in, be sure to do it before your scheduled appointment. This will give you more options if you run into problems.
Another alternative is to reschedule using INFOPASS, an online USCIS support service. https://infopass.uscis.gov/infopass.php
Wishing you the best of luck on your path to permanent residency!
