Which comes first, biometrics or interview?

[Phoenix_Guy 0]

Hi ... my wife has had to postpone her biometrics appointment a few times due to personal reasons. Not a big deal and the process is quite easy. As of this posting, she has not yet received her latest-and-greatest biometrics appointment date. However, today, we received a I-796C, NOA "Request for Applicant to Appear for Initial Interview" for her I-485! A few questions ...

1) Is it possible to have this interview before the biometrics?

2) Is this "THE INTERVIEW"??? The big one that is the final step in the process??? It says "Initial Interview", so I'm a bit confused as to what that means.

Any comments on my situation would be greatly appreciated! Thanks in advance and Happy Holidays!

- PHX Guy

[Otto 83]

Hi ... my wife has had to postpone her biometrics appointment a few times due to personal reasons. Not a big deal and the process is quite easy. As of this posting, she has not yet received her latest-and-greatest biometrics appointment date. However, today, we received a I-796C, NOA "Request for Applicant to Appear for Initial Interview" for her I-485! A few questions ...

1) Is it possible to have this interview before the biometrics?

2) Is this "THE INTERVIEW"??? The big one that is the final step in the process??? It says "Initial Interview", so I'm a bit confused as to what that means.

Any comments on my situation would be greatly appreciated! Thanks in advance and Happy Holidays!

- PHX Guy

It's possible to have the interview first. And yes, it's the 'big one'..

(FYI - I've read where people have gone to the biometrics location as a 'walk-in' - took their latest NOA/Appointment letter, checked in at the desk and were let in line. Can't hurt and only takes 10 minutes.)

[Phoenix_Guy 0]

Thanks ... but at the end of the day, a Green Card can't be issued until the biometrics is complete -- correct?

[zzzonzo 0]

Hi ... my wife has had to postpone her biometrics appointment a few times due to personal reasons. Not a big deal and the process is quite easy. As of this posting, she has not yet received her latest-and-greatest biometrics appointment date. However, today, we received a I-796C, NOA "Request for Applicant to Appear for Initial Interview" for her I-485! A few questions ...

1) Is it possible to have this interview before the biometrics?

2) Is this "THE INTERVIEW"??? The big one that is the final step in the process??? It says "Initial Interview", so I'm a bit confused as to what that means.

Any comments on my situation would be greatly appreciated! Thanks in advance and Happy Holidays!

- PHX Guy

It's possible to have the interview first. And yes, it's the 'big one'..

(FYI - I've read where people have gone to the biometrics location as a 'walk-in' - took their latest NOA/Appointment letter, checked in at the desk and were let in line. Can't hurt and only takes 10 minutes.)

Indeed, while your mileage may vary, I've done 'walk-in' a few times with great success. I may help that I think I've always happened to walk in on Wednesday, which is reserved for walk-ins at my local office. And it certainly helped that my local office is only 10 mins away.

It seems to me like it might be advantageous to have that taken care of prior to the interview if at all possible, to avoid any extra delay. I'm not sure they would be able to give approval at the interview if biometrics haven't yet been taken.

[Phoenix_Guy 0]

Another quick question ... is it normal to be issued our I-796C, NOA "Request for Applicant to Appear for Initial Interview" without having the associated I-485 application ever being "touched" when checking uscis.gov online Case Status updates??? That's our case --- we have the Interview Date, but a check today of uscis.gov still shows an October date. Thoughts/comments????

[Kathryn41 3,205]

Yes, it is normal to have a file receive no touches and yet still be processed. USCIS is not particularly good at updating whenever a file is worked on or processed. My AOS was approved with no touches appearing on it - the only touch that happened was the day after the biometrics - then nada until I received the notification I was approved.

You may ask if you could have the biometrics done the same day as the interview. I have seen others do this when there has been a delay in getting the biometrics. The one problem is that you probably won't be approved on the day of the interview since the security check from the biometrics will not - obviously - be completed.