Can I go to a different office for my biometrics test?

[whitby10528 0]

i received the letter advising me of my biometrics test today, but I am currently on vacation in LA and will be here over Christmas, visitng with family who have come over from Australia (where i come from).

Is it possible to do my biometrics test at a different office - in LA? Has anyone tried to do this?

[Hypnos 6,576]

You can go to any ASC in the country (find a list here: https://egov.uscis.gov/crisgwi/go?action=offices.type&OfficeLocator.office_type=ASC) although they may not accept walk-ins, since it varies from office to office.

Try going to the nearest one and see what happens.

[NickD 202]

Can only go by our experience, two immigrants, three biometrics each for the three phases with a NOA stating a specific place at a specific time. Can change this if you want, but will lead to long delays.

For us a 450 mile round trip that took less than five minutes, times six or 2,700 miles of total driving. If our appointment was at 8:00 AM, was there, leaving at 4:00 AM, if poor weather, left earlier. Emilio said they store biometrics for 18 months, was less than 12 for us between the I-751 and N-400, still had to go. If you don't show up, N-400 would be canceled, lose your fee, and will have to apply all over again.

You should know by this time how the USCIS operates, no choice for the AOS and ROC stages, have to do that to stay here legally. With the N-400, is optional, but we wanted to get this over with and knew we were in for a nine month commitment. So planned our vacations around these unknown dates. Then you are finally free of the USCIS.

[DebWa 26]

If it doesn't work to do a walk-in at the nearest office in LA you could try what we did for my husband. We were out of the country when we received his biometrics, so my Mom took my husband's letter and a copy of his NOA1 and went to the office for us. She was able to change his appointment to 1 week later without any problems. It's worth a try and shouldn't cause as many delays as if you submit your request by mail.

[happilycontent 16]

I live in West LA. I did an early walk in, at the Wilshire office. I went around 2pm, I think, and there was nobody in there. You can try it, if you're in the area. I don't know if they'll accept someone from out of state, but they do accept walk ins. I'll give you the office address.

1015 Wilshire Boulevard, Suite 100 Los Angeles, CA 90017

Good luck, and I hope you enjoy your trip.

[whitby10528 0]

thank you so much for all the help.

i called the customer help line this morning and the woman i spoke to read from a pre-written screed dealing with the issue. apparently i can go to another office - and she gave me an address - but i have to go at the same time. i'm going to drop in beforehand, tho, to confirm this with the actual office.

to date, all our dealings for visas, green card, and so forth have been handled by company lawyers, so we've had virtually no interactions with this government body, so nothing negative thus far. since we're here as permanent residents and not trying to bring out family members or anything of that nature, if the worst comes to the worst, we'll let ithe application lapse and just stay here on our green cards. not our optimum plan, tho, and i expect to be able to do the biometrics out here in LA.

[Hypnos 6,576]

Emilio said they store biometrics for 18 months

Biometrics, once captured, are valid for 15 months.