Photo by Ketut Subiyanto on Pexels

Today there are websites and apps for almost everything.

From updates on your child's daily classroom behaviors to requesting an appointment with your doctor, it seems that every sector of our lives in the United States is now managed through online communication. 

USCIS (United States Citizenship and Immigration Services) recognizes the importance of technology in everyday lives, and while there is still no USCIS app, the federal agency is utilizing its website to provide an updated method for rescheduling biometric services appointments. 

It's happened to thousands of people — you've been desperately waiting for your immigration petition with USCIS to move forward, and you finally receive a biometrics notice, only to look at the scheduled appointment time and realize it's set for the same date and time as an out-of-town trip you have scheduled. In the past, you would only have been able to change the appointment by calling the USCIS contact center - a phone call we all know from experience can mean hours waiting on hold to talk to a human - but now USCIS is providing a way to reschedule your biometric services appointment, directly through your MyUSCIS online account.

USCIS has issued guidance on the new online tool, and biometric appointments can only be rescheduled online in certain circumstances. Those reasons 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.

An important limitation to note for the online rescheduling is that it cannot be used in circumstances where a biometric services appointment has already passed, has been rescheduled two or more times, or is within 12 hours. In those circumstances you still will need to call the USCIS Contact Center to reschedule (1-800-375-5283).

I Submitted My USCIS Petition in the Mail - Can I Still Use the Website to Reschedule a Biometric Notice?

Yes. The biometric services appointment rescheduling tool can be accessed via a USCIS online account regardless of whether the pending case was submitted online or by mail. If you don't have one yet, we strongly recommend you open a MyUSCIS account on the USCIS website, not only for the purpose of rescheduling a biometric services appointment, but you can also do things like track your USCIS petition and receive important notices online faster than getting them in the mail.  

If you have questions about applying for an immigration petition please reach out to us at (757) 422-8472, or send us a message on our website. You can also schedule an appointment with one of our attorneys by clicking on this link.