Biometrics Appointments for Fingerprints

At a biometrics appointment, also called a fingerprint appointment, the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) will collect your fingerprints, photo, and signature. Biometrics appointments are a normal part of the asylum process. If you want to pursue your asylum case, it is very important to go to your biometrics appointment!

Scroll down or click on the links below to read questions and answers from the Asylum Seeker Advocacy Project (ASAP).

• What is a biometrics appointment?

• How do I get scheduled for a biometrics appointment?

• When is my biometrics appointment?

• What do I need to bring with me to my biometrics appointment?

• What should I do if I have not received a biometrics appointment notice?

• Can I still apply for a work permit even if I have not completed a biometrics appointment yet?

• What should I do if I cannot go to my biometrics appointment on the scheduled date?

• What should I do if I already missed my biometrics appointment?

• What is this document that I received from the government?

• See other questions.

• Find legal help.

What is a biometrics appointment?

A biometrics appointment (also called fingerprint appointment) is an appointment with USCIS. During the appointment, USCIS collects your fingerprints, photo, and signature.

If you apply for asylum, you may be required to go to a biometrics appointment. It is a normal part of the asylum process. The information that USCIS gathers from you in your biometrics appointment will be used to confirm your identity, and also to check your immigration history and any criminal history.

If you receive a biometrics appointment notice and you want to continue with your asylum case, it is very important to go to your biometrics appointment. If you do not go to your biometrics appointment, your asylum application could be denied. It could also result in delays or denial of your work permit application when you apply for your work permit.

If USCIS schedules a biometrics appointment for you, USCIS should send you a biometrics appointment notice with the date, time, and location of your appointment.

• USCIS usually mails the biometrics appointment notice to you. Check your mail regularly and keep your address updated.

• If you applied for asylum with USCIS online, USCIS should upload your biometrics appointment notice to your online USCIS account. Check your online USCIS account regularly.

You should bring your biometrics appointment notice to the appointment. During the appointment, a government official will stamp the notice as proof that you have completed your biometrics appointment. You should keep the stamped notice in a safe place.

Read below to make sure you have taken the necessary steps for USCIS to schedule your biometrics appointment.

How do I get scheduled for a biometrics appointment?

How you get scheduled for a biometrics appointment depends on whether you are applying for asylum with USCIS or immigration court.

• If you are applying for asylum with USCIS, you will submit an asylum application (Form I-589) to USCIS. USCIS should then automatically schedule a biometrics appointment for you and send you a biometrics appointment notice.

• If you are applying for asylum in immigration court, you will submit an asylum application (Form I-589) to immigration court. The government may not require you to go to a biometrics appointment. In many cases, the government already has your fingerprints and does not need to collect them again. If the government does need to collect your fingerprints, USCIS should automatically schedule a biometrics appointment for you and send you a biometrics appointment notice.

Note: As of December 2024, asylum seekers in immigration court are no longer required to send a copy of Form I-589 to USCIS to request a biometrics appointment.

• What about my spouse and children? If your spouse or children are included in your asylum case, they should also get appointment notices if you do. Sometimes, children under 14 years of age are not scheduled for biometrics appointments. 

If you move, you should update your address so that you receive notices like the biometrics appointment notice. 

If you believe that you should have received a biometrics appointment notice, but you have not received it, learn what you can do next here.

When is my biometrics appointment?

When USCIS has scheduled a biometrics appointment for you, USCIS should send you a biometrics appointment notice.

• If you applied for asylum in immigration court, or if you applied for asylum with USCIS by mail, USCIS should mail the biometrics appointment notice to you. Check your mail regularly and keep your address updated.

• If you applied for asylum with USCIS online, USCIS should upload your biometrics appointment notice to your online USCIS account. Check your online USCIS account regularly.

Your biometrics appointment notice tells you the date, time, and location of your appointment. You should bring the biometrics appointment notice and plan to arrive 15 minutes before your appointment.

What do I need to bring with me to my biometrics appointment?

When you go to your appointment, you need to bring your appointment notice with you. During the appointment, a government official will stamp the notice as proof that you have completed your biometrics appointment. You should keep the stamped notice in a safe place.

You also need an identification document, such as your passport, to the biometrics appointment. If you do not have a valid government-issued ID, you can try bringing as many of the following documents as you have:

• Birth certificate

• School ID

• Expired IDs

• A copy or photo of an ID

• An immigration document, especially one with your photo on it, like this ICE check-in log.

What should I do if I have not received a biometrics appointment notice?

If you have not received a biometrics appointment notice, your next steps depend on whether you are applying for asylum with USCIS or with immigration court. Even if you have not yet completed a biometrics appointment, you can still apply for a work permit.

If you are applying with USCIS: 

1. Check your documents to see if you have received a receipt notice for submitting your asylum application (Form I-589). Unfortunately, it is currently normal to have to wait a long time before USCIS sends you a receipt notice.

2. If you have not received a receipt notice after three months, you can call the USCIS Contact Center at 1-800-375-5283. When you are asked to explain what you are calling about, you can say “InfoPass” in order to speak with a representative. Then, you can explain that you submitted your asylum application three months ago but you have not received a receipt notice. Be sure to have your A Number ready (if you have one), as well as any mailing information you may have, such as the date you mailed your documents and the mailing tracking number.

3. If you have received a receipt notice, use the receipt number to check your case status on this USCIS webpage. If you learn that USCIS sent you a biometrics appointment notice but you did not receive it in the mail, you can call the USCIS Contact Center at 1-800-375-5283. If you learn that you missed your biometrics appointment already, you can call and explain that you did not receive your notice and ask to reschedule the appointment.

4. If USCIS has not sent you a biometrics appointment notice yet, you can keep checking your case status every week. It is normal to have to wait for a while before getting scheduled for a biometrics appointment. Check your mail and online USCIS account (if you applied for asylum online) and keep your address updated.

If you are applying with immigration court: 

Most asylum seekers in immigration court are not required to go to a biometrics appointment. This is because, in most cases, the government already has your fingerprints and does not need to collect them again.

However, if an immigration judge has told you that you need a biometrics appointment and you have not received a biometrics appointment notice, you can follow these steps below: 

1. Check if it has been more than 3 months since you submitted your asylum application (Form I-589) OR if you have less than 6 months remaining before your individual hearing (sometimes called a “merits” hearing). If the answer is no, keep waiting and checking your mail for a biometrics appointment notice. 

2. If the answer is yes, you can call the USCIS Contact Center at 800-375-5283. When you are asked to explain what you are calling about, you can say “InfoPass” in order to speak with a representative. Then, you can explain that you are applying for asylum in immigration court and the judge told you that you need a biometrics appointment, but you have not received a biometrics appointment notice. Have a copy of your asylum application (Form I-589) nearby in case the representative needs more information about your case.   

Can I still apply for a work permit even if I have not completed a biometrics appointment yet?

Yes, you can still apply for a work permit! Asylum seekers can generally apply for a work permit 150 days after submitting an asylum application. If 150 days have already passed but you have not had your biometrics appointment yet, you can still submit a work permit application. You can learn more about applying for your first work permit as an asylum seeker here.

You will eventually need to complete a biometrics appointment to continue with your asylum case, but you do not need it to apply for a work permit.

What should I do if I cannot go to my biometrics appointment on the scheduled date?

If you cannot go to your biometrics appointment, you can request to reschedule it by phone or online. It is best to reschedule your biometrics appointment before your appointment date. That is because if you miss your appointment, your asylum application could be denied. Missing your appointment can also result in delays or denial of your work permit application. 

Option 1: Phone

• Call USCIS at 1-800-375-5283.

• When you are asked to explain what you are calling about, you can say “Reschedule biometrics appointment.” You should then be able to speak with a USCIS representative to reschedule your appointment.

• After the phone call, you should receive a new biometrics appointment notice in the mail. Bring the notice to your appointment.

Option 2: Online

• Create or log into your online myUSCIS account. You can watch this USCIS videoabout how to create an online account.

• After logging in, if you are asked to choose between different webpage options, you can choose “myUSCIS” to get to your online account.

• Once you are in myUSCIS account page, you can begin your request for a new biometrics appointment. If you are using a phone, click “Menu” in the top right corner, click “Account actions,” then click “Reschedule Biometrics.” If you are on a computer, click “My Account” in the top right corner, then click “Reschedule Biometrics.”

• Follow the instructions to request a new biometrics appointment.

• You should receive a new biometrics appointment notice in your online account. Print and bring the notice to your appointment.

• Note: You cannot use the online option if your appointment is in less than 12 hours or you have already rescheduled your appointment twice. Call USCIS at 1-800-375-5283 instead.

If you already missed your appointment, read about next steps here.

What should I do if I already missed my biometrics appointment?

Missing a biometrics appointment can cause your asylum case to be denied or delayed. It could also cause your work permit application to be denied or delayed. That is why it is important to try to reschedule your appointment as soon as possible if you already missed it!

If you already missed your appointment, but it has been less than a few weeks, you can try going to the USCIS office location listed in your biometrics appointment notice. You can explain your situation to the officers and ask them to take your fingerprints at that time. Some USCIS offices allow this.

If you already missed your appointment, and it has been more than a few weeks, you can call USCIS Contact Center at 1-800-375-5283 as soon as possible. You can explain what happened, and ask them to reschedule your appointment.

If you are having problems with your immigration case because you missed your biometrics appointment, you may wish to find legal assistance to understand your options.