2nd Biometrics Appointment

[Nick_Visa 0]

November Filer here.

Just looking for a little advice on how to proceed with an issue.

We received a biometrics appointment letter in Dec. and did a walk-in at the ASC to have the biometrics completed, that part went just fine. We actually had to do a walk-in because we were planning to be out of the country for a good month on vacation. We were relieved that we had the biometrics out of the way before we left.

I came back today from the vacation and there was another I-797C letter in the mailbox that said something to the effect of "the FBI was unable to process your fingerprint card" and it had another appointment to have the biometrics taken a second time. Unfortunately we were both gone when that letter arrived and missed the biometrics appointment on 01/06/2010.

I've read other posts and it doesn't seem like a big deal if you miss the biometrics appointment as long as you take action shortly afterward. I would think it would be less of a deal since we made it to the first one. I just wanted to verify what the best way to proceed is at this point. My wife won't be back until late in January so I've written a cover letter that states why we missed the biometrics appointment and that we'd like to re-schedule when my wife will be around. I plan on just sending the appointment reschedule request in the mail to the ASC and sending a copy to Vermont where we filed the I-751.

Is this the correct way to proceed? Should I go to the ASC in person (it's very closeby) or just mail it to them like the instructions ask?

Thanks for the advice!

[Nick_Visa 0]

Update: Looks like after some more reasearch here on the forums, others' who have missed a biometrics date just go to the ASC in person with the notice and explain the situation. Should I do that?

[Nick_Visa 0]

Update #2:

I went to the ASC bright and early this morning (2nd one in) and told them the situation of how we'd missed the redo biometrics appointment, he took the original, made a copy for me and said to expect another appointment in the mail. I asked if it was an issue since we'd missed the appointment and he said not a problem since we took care of it relatively quickly (appointment was supposed to be last weds, the 6th).

Looking through older posts circa 2007, it looks like the old I-797's had a statement that if you missed the original appointment date, you could go on any following Wednesday as a walk-in to have them completed. These older 797's also had a cutoff date, after which the application would be abandoned, that cutoff date looked to be about 3 months after the original biometrics date. They probably got rid of this wording on recent forms for obvious reasons of people continually missing the dates.

I'll send a copy to the VSC with an explanation cover letter as well.

Yet another learning experience!

[ELW 5]

Looks like from your posts that you never sleep!

Thanks for writing up your experience, it was interesting and will be helpful to others in the future.

[Darnell 8,479]

usually the ASC is not the local USCIS office - but - if anything else gets wonky - set up an INFOPASS appointment, go to the USCIS office, and talk with a staff officer, get the new appointment scheduled.

I think you'll be ok from handling it at the local ASC office, but really - if any problem - get an INFOPASS appointment.

GOOD LUCK !

[Nick_Visa 0]

ELW, Jet lag is working it's wonders on me, nothing like waking up at 2AM wondering where you are haha.

Darnell, Thanks, I'll send the copy to the VSC so they'll have a record. If for some reason I don't get another appointment I'll setup an INFOPASS. If it comes to an Infopass appointment at least I can say I sent stuff to the VSC as soon as I could. The only person that can attend an Infopass appointment is the one applying for AOS right? If so I'd have to wait until my wife gets back anywho.

Also, I forgot to mention that the officer at the ASC said that if for some reason I didn't get another notice in the next month, that I could come in to the ASC when my wife gets back with a copy of the I-797 to get the biometrics done ad-hoc.

[Darnell 8,479]

ad hoc rocks !