Immigration Topics Explained:

What to Expect at a USCIS Biometrics Appointment

Biometrics Appointment Explained

What is a biometric screening?

A biometrics appointment (sometimes called a biometric screening) is a short appointment with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) after you apply for an immigration benefit such as a work permit, green card, or citizenship.

At this appointment, USCIS collects your photograph, fingerprints, and signature. This verifies your identity and allows the FBI to complete a background check. It is not an interview, and USCIS does not collect blood or DNA.

Most people finish the process quickly and have nothing to worry about. If you already paid the biometrics fee with your application, no additional payment is required (this is usually the case).

Application Support Center (ASC) Appointment Notice

Where will my biometrics appointment be?

After you file an application or petition, USCIS will mail you a biometrics appointment notice. This notice, called an Application Support Center (ASC) Appointment Notice (Form I-797C), lists the date, time, and location of your appointment. The appointment happens before USCIS issues any benefits or cards and usually takes only 15–30 minutes.

Appointment Location

USCIS schedules your biometrics appointment and recommends that you attend at the assigned Application Support Center (ASC). In some cases, applicants have been able to reschedule at a different ASC, but this is at USCIS’s discretion. If you are outside the United States, your appointment will take place at a U.S. embassy or consulate.

For ASC locations, use the USCIS Service and Office Locator →

Biometric Notice Codes

You may notice that your ASC Biometrics Appointment Notice includes a code in the top right part of the letter. The code indicates the type of biometrics processing to be performed. The possible values are:

Code 1 – The appointment is limited to collecting fingerprints for all 10 digits. USCIS forwards the fingerprints to the FBI for a background check.
Code 2 – Personnel will collect a photo, signature and index finger press print. This type of processing is typical for beneficiaries who receive a card like a permanent resident card or employment authorization document (EAD).
Code 3 – Personnel will collect a photo, signature, index finger press print, as well as fingerprints for all 10 digits. Code 3 is a combination of Codes 1 and 2.

Rescheduling a Biometrics Appointment

Can I reschedule biometrics?

You may reschedule a USCIS biometric appointment if absolutely necessary. However, you should expect a reschedule to significantly delay your overall processing time. USCIS generally recommends that you attend the appointment that they schedule for you. If you must reschedule, be prepared to establish that you have "good cause."

Good Cause to Reschedule

Good cause exists where the request to reschedule provides a sufficient reason for the benefit requestor’s inability to appear on the scheduled appointment date. According to USCIS, sufficient reasons for “good cause” 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.

How to Reschedule

If you are unable to attend a biometrics appointment and can establish good cause for rescheduling, use the USCIS website to reschedule the appointment online. To use the biometric services appointment rescheduling tool, you must first create a USCIS online account (if you do not already have one) and visit my.uscis.gov before your scheduled appointment date. You must:

Select the Biometric Rescheduling option;
Follow the on-screen instructions to reserve a new appointment time and/or appointment location;
Choose a method (email or SMS message) to receive a confirmation message once a printable copy of the new appointment notice is available; and
Print the new appointment notice to bring to the application support center (ASC).

If you cannot reschedule your biometrics appointment online, call USCIS at 1-800-375-5283 (TTY 1-800-767-1833) before your scheduled date and time. Written requests are no longer accepted.

If you miss your appointment without rescheduling or showing good cause, USCIS may treat your case as abandoned and deny it. Rescheduling is possible but will delay your case, so it’s best to attend your appointment as scheduled.

Items to Take to Your Biometric Screening

What should I take to the appointment?

When you get your biometric services appointment notification, it will include a list of items to take to the appointment. In addition to the appointment notice itself (Form I-797C), you must take government-issued photo identification. Typically, acceptable documents include:

Permanent resident card (green card)
Passport or national photo identification issued by your home country
Driver’s license
Military photo identification
State-issued photo identification card

When you appear for your biometrics appointment, USCIS will digitally capture your fingerprints, photograph and signature on a LiveScan machine. When it is time to sign your name, USCIS will ask you to attest to the truth of the following statement:

I declare under penalty of perjury that I have reviewed and understand my application, petition, or request as identified by the receipt number displayed on the screen above, and all supporting documents, applications, petitions, or requests filed with my application, petition, or request that I (or my attorney or accredited representative) filed with USCIS, and that all of the information in these materials is complete, true, and correct.

They will only display the statement in the English or Spanish languages. If you require a different language, USCIS recommends that you select the appropriate language translation and review it before you appear for your ASC appointment.

When to Be Concerned About a Biometrics Appointment

When should I be worried?

For most applicants, the USCIS biometrics appointment and FBI background check are routine. But if you suspect you have a criminal record or serious immigration violations, consult an immigration lawyer before attending your appointment — or even before filing any USCIS form. Certain offenses can make you ineligible for benefits or trigger removal proceedings. A lawyer can run a background check first and help address any issues in advance.

After the Biometric Appointment

What happens after this appointment?

At the end of your biometrics appointment, staff will stamp your appointment notice to confirm attendance. Keep this document safe. It can serve as proof if USCIS records are incomplete.

Next steps depend on your case type. Marriage-based green card cases usually require an interview, while employment-based cases may only need one if issues arise.

If you receive another biometrics notice, don’t worry. It usually means fingerprints were unclear, and USCIS needs them retaken. There is no extra fee.

Afterward, you may wait weeks or even months for further updates, depending on your application and service center. You can always check the status of your case online →

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Biometrics Appointment FAQs

Yes, you may be able to reschedule your biometrics appointment if you cannot attend the assigned date and time. However, avoid a change if possible. Rescheduling an appointment will typically delay your case by several weeks.

Requests must be made online or by calling USCIS before your appointment. Missing the biometrics appointment without rescheduling or showing good cause can lead USCIS to treat your case as abandoned, which may result in denial of your application.

You should take the original copy of your USCIS biometric appointment notice, your receipt letter (from the filed application or petition), and government-issued photo identification (e.g. passport, green card, employment authorization card, driver’s license, etc.). Required documents may be different for your situation. So, read your biometrics appointment notice carefully and bring all documents as requested on the notice.

Generally, children under age 14 are not required to attend a USCIS biometric appointment. If your children receive an appointment notice from USCIS, they should attend. You cannot ignore the notice. Although your child may be under 14 years of age, and you may not have paid the biometrics fee for your child, they must still appear at the ASC if a biometrics appointment notice has been issued by the USCIS.

Family members are not always scheduled for biometrics on the same day. If you receive an appointment but your dependents do not, they may try to accompany you. Sometimes the Application Support Center (ASC) will agree to process their biometrics early, but this is at the ASC’s discretion.

Each family member should bring their appointment notice (Form I-797) and photo ID (passport, green card, work permit, driver’s license, etc.). For dependents, also bring proof of relationship (such as a birth or marriage certificate). If the ASC declines, your family members must return for their own scheduled appointment.