USCIS now accepts online rescheduling of biometrics appointments

As many of you know, there are certain applications filed at USCIS that require the applicant to appear before a designated local district office for biometrics appointment. However, there may be circumstances that prevent you from attending the scheduled appointment. In this case, you would have to call the USCIS Contact Center in order to request for rescheduling.

Such is not anymore the case. On June 28, the USCIS launched a new self-service tool allowing benefit requestors, and their attorneys and accredited representatives, to reschedule most biometric services appointments before the date of the appointment. This latest initiative seeks to improve customer service in ensuring accessibility and ease of transaction before the USCIS. The applicant or requestor would have to create a USCIS online account in order to avail of this service. However, this online rescheduling tool cannot be used to reschedule an appointment that already has been rescheduled two or more times, is within 12 hours, or that has already passed. But if you prefer to call the USCIS Contact Center to reschedule an appointment, you still have the option to do so, though USCIS strongly encourages users to use the online rescheduling so as to increase efficiency and needlessly clogging the USCIS Contact Center.

Guidance has also been issued for the agency to consider an untimely request to reschedule a biometric services appointment and the effect of failing to appear for an appointment, and to explain how the agency considers a timely request to reschedule biometric services appointment for “good cause”. Good cause exists when the reschedule request provides sufficient reason for the benefit requestor’s inability to appear on the scheduled date. Sufficient reasons may include but are not limited to; illness, medical appointment, or hospitalization; previously planned travel; significant life events such as a wedding, funeral, or graduation ceremony; inability to obtain transportation to the appointment location; inability to obtain leave from employment or caregiver responsibilities; and late delivered or undelivered biometric services appointment notice.

It further adds that if your rescheduling request is untimely, you would have to make the call to the contact center. Making the request by mail, online, or in person is not acceptable.