USCIS LAUNCHES ONLINE RESCHEDULING OF BIOMETRICS APPOINTMENTS
On June 28, 2023, the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (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.
By removing barriers and reducing burdens to applicants, USCIS aims to demonstrate the agency’s commitment to advancing the goals of the Executive Order on Transforming Federal Customer Experience and Service Delivery to Rebuild Trust in Government Mandates.
Previously, benefit requestors and accredited representatives could only request to reschedule a biometric services appointment by calling the USCIS Contact Center. With this new tool, those individuals who have or create a USCIS online account can reschedule most requests for biometric services appointments without having to call the Contact Center. The new tool, however, 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.
The biometric services appointment rescheduling tool can be accessed via a USCIS online account. Benefit requestors and accredited representatives can still choose to call the USCIS Contact Center to reschedule an appointment, but USCIS strongly encourages users to use the new tool.
USCIS is also issuing guidance to explain how the agency considers a timely request to reschedule a biometric services appointment for “good cause.” Good cause exists when the 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.
