Do I Need a Biometrics Appointment?

Various individuals seeking immigration-related benefits or processes with the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) may be required to attend a biometrics appointment. Biometrics appointments are part of the application process and involve the collection of certain identifying information from the applicants.

During a biometrics appointment, the applicant’s fingerprints, photograph, and sometimes their signature will be collected. These biometric identifiers are used for security and identification purposes and are compared to various government databases during the application process.

For more information about what to expect at a biometrics appointment see the USCIS website.

The most common reason someone would need a biometrics appointment with USCIS is if they are applying for one of the following immigration benefits:

• Form I-485, Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status: This is for individuals seeking to become a lawful permanent resident (green card holder) in the United States.
• Form I-765, Application for Employment Authorization: This is for individuals seeking employment authorization, allowing them to legally work in the U.S.
• Form I-131, Application for Travel Document: This is for individuals seeking permission to travel outside the U.S. and return during certain circumstances, like Advance Parole.
• Form I-751, Petition to Remove Conditions on Residence: This is for conditional green card holders applying to remove the conditions on their residence and obtain a regular green card.
• Form N-400, Application for Naturalization: This is for individuals seeking U.S. citizenship through the naturalization process.
• Form I-539, Application to Extend/Change Nonimmigrant Status: This is for individuals seeking certain nonimmigrants extending their stay or changing to another nonimmigrant status. 
• Form I-730, Refugee/Asylee Relative Petition: This is for certain refugees or asylees in the U.S. who wish to bring their qualifying family members to the country.
• Form I-929, Petition for Qualifying Family Member of a U-1 Nonimmigrant: This is for family members of victims of certain crimes who have U nonimmigrant status.

It is essential for applicants to attend their scheduled biometrics appointments, as it is a crucial step in the immigration process. Failure to attend a biometrics appointment without a valid reason may result in delays or denial of the application. For individuals needing to reschedule their biometrics appointment they may log into their USCIS online account and select a new appointment date. The tool cannot be used to reschedule an appointment that has already been rescheduled two or more times, is within 12 hours of the original appointment, or has already passed.