How much of a hassle is it to change biometrics appointment date

[Olufemi 0]

Hello all,

I am a USC who recently got married, my wife is currently on a H1-B. We submitted our I-130 & 485 a few weeks ago and we have just gotten an appointment date for Biometrics in a few weeks.

The problem is my wife is scheduled to be out of town on a business trip on that date. We are trying to figure out if we should make plans for her to cancel or cut short the trip, or possibly reschedule the biometrics appt.

We obviously do not want to draw the ire of the USCIS if this type of thing is considered a "no-no" or looked upon negatively, just wanted to get some feedback before we do anything.

My fear is that the appointment may just get pushed WAY back if we ask for a new date.

Thanks in advance

[zooch76 9]

I don't think you'll "draw the ire" of the USCIS or anything negative like that. However, I have heard that rescheduling your Biometrics is a big pain - everything from the notice getting lost to your package getting bumped to the bottom of the pile. All that being said, that's just what I have heard and I have not experienced it first-hand.

But if it was me, I would do everything I possibly could to be at the appointments they schedule for me. Rescheduling anything would be an absolute last resort for me.

[Kathryn41 3,205]

Actually, the pain is in rescheduling the interview - rescheduling the biometrics is easy.

There should be an option on the form you received with the biometrics notice that says what to do if you can't make that appointment. You send back the form and request a new appointment date, stating the reason why the first one is not available for you. Be sure to make a photocopy of your notice before you mail it back. You could also provide them with dates that are not good for your wife so they can reschedule around those dates.

or,

you could try and do a 'walk-in' appointment. Some offices allow unscheduled biometrics visits by those who have their biometrics appointment and can't make their scheduled date. Not all offices allow this and some only allow it on certain days of the week (eg.Wednesdays or Saturdays). You could ask and see if anyone else had done a walk-in biometrics appointment for your Application Support Center or USCIS office (wherever the biometrics are being done) and decide based on that.

When you go, your wife would show them the letter, explain that she cannot make the schedule date and would they allow her to do a walk in appointment instead? If they say yes, everything is fine. If they say no, then you would request a rescheduled appointment the way the letter states. Try to do a walk in early so you have time to send off the request for a reschedule before the actual appointment date.

I had to reschedule a biometrics during my AOS process as I was travelling and would not be back until the day after the appointment. It was no problem to reschedule and the new appointment was for about 5 weeks after the first.

Edited December 7, 2010 by Kathryn41

[Olufemi 0]

Thanks all for the feedback, I think we will explore the Walk-in option.

Just a random question: You do have to "walk-in" at the Center in which you were originally scheduled right? Can you do it in another city if you have the letter?

[Kathryn41 3,205]

You could try it at another center if there is one closer to you - or you are in the vicinity at the time. The worst they can do is say no so you haven't lost anything in the trying.