Biometrics - Christmas Eve - surprised

[JL & ML 20]

Hi there,

 

We just got our NOA this past Saturday for a Biometrics appointment on December 24th at 3 p.m. We were very surprised at this; didn't know they are working on the afternoon of Christmas Eve.

 

They say I need only bring the appointment notice, my passport, and a driver's license. Will they accept a Canadian driver's license? 

 

Just wanted to make sure I show up with all necessary documentation and not be turned away. I went to the Michigan Secretary of State Office to get a Michigan driver's license last summer, but they needed a social-security number from me, and I won't have that until I get at least an EAD.

 

I tried calling USCIS's 1-800 number this morning to reach someone, but they are almost impossible to reach. Hence my asking here... will the documentation I plan on bringing be enough.

 

Thanks!

[payxibka 10,047]

8 minutes ago, JL & ML said:

Hi there,

 

We just got our NOA this past Saturday for a Biometrics appointment on December 24th at 3 p.m. We were very surprised at this; didn't know they are working on the afternoon of Christmas Eve.

 

They say I need only bring the appointment notice, my passport, and a driver's license. Will they accept a Canadian driver's license? 

 

Just wanted to make sure I show up with all necessary documentation and not be turned away. I went to the Michigan Secretary of State Office to get a Michigan driver's license last summer, but they needed a social-security number from me, and I won't have that until I get at least an EAD.

 

I tried calling USCIS's 1-800 number this morning to reach someone, but they are almost impossible to reach. Hence my asking here... will the documentation I plan on bringing be enough.

 

Thanks!

Valid government issued ID (doesn't need to be the US government).

[igoyougoduke 1,675]

10 minutes ago, JL & ML said:

Hi there,

 

We just got our NOA this past Saturday for a Biometrics appointment on December 24th at 3 p.m. We were very surprised at this; didn't know they are working on the afternoon of Christmas Eve.

 

They say I need only bring the appointment notice, my passport, and a driver's license. Will they accept a Canadian driver's license? 

 

Just wanted to make sure I show up with all necessary documentation and not be turned away. I went to the Michigan Secretary of State Office to get a Michigan driver's license last summer, but they needed a social-security number from me, and I won't have that until I get at least an EAD.

 

I tried calling USCIS's 1-800 number this morning to reach someone, but they are almost impossible to reach. Hence my asking here... will the documentation I plan on bringing be enough.

 

Thanks!

your passport and appointment letter are the only documents you need to take 

[whisperofvanilla 2]

Just as a side note from my experience: I had my biometrics scheduled for Christmas Eve of last year but when I got there, there were signs on the door to say the office was actually closed on the day (with a lot of people having turned up).

 

The USCIS website has a section for office closures which would be worth checking closer to the day and on the day of your appointment just to make sure it is actually open especially if you have a long journey to get there. 

[MavsFan77 6]

I was scheduled for biometrics on Christmas eve last year but as I was heading to another state for the holidays, I ended up doing a walk in a few days earlier. 

As @whisperofvanilla said, do check before you head to the office to see if it's open. Federal employees were given the 24th off last year and it may be the same this year too (they don't give much advance warning!)

 

 

 

 

[JL & ML 20]

"The USCIS website has a section for office closures which would be worth checking closer to the day and on the day of your appointment just to make sure it is actually open especially if you have a long journey to get there."

Thank you, I did see there is a USCIS page where they notify you of office closures, so I will check that the day of.

 

"Just as a side note from my experience: I had my biometrics scheduled for Christmas Eve of last year but when I got there, there were signs on the door to say the office was actually closed on the day (with a lot of people having turned up)."

"Federal employees were given the 24th off last year and it may be the same this year too (they don't give much advance warning!)"

My question is, then, why would they schedule my appointment for the 24th, Christmas Eve, at a place they know will be closed? I understood last-minute closures could be weather related, but if the office is simply closed that day because it's Christmas Eve, why put that date and time on the official appointment notice? Is this common?

Edited December 14, 2020 by JL & ML

[BellaUnion 75]

7 hours ago, JL & ML said:

My question is, then, why would they schedule my appointment for the 24th, Christmas Eve, at a place they know will be closed? I understood last-minute closures could be weather related, but if the office is simply closed that day because it's Christmas Eve, why put that date and time on the official appointment notice? Is this common?

Your appointment was probably scheduled before the executive order was signed. All FOs and ASCs are now closed on the 24th December. It's on the USCIS website - https://www.uscis.gov/about-us/uscis-office-closings

 

 

[JL & ML 20]

On 12/14/2020 at 7:08 PM, BellaUnion said:

Your appointment was probably scheduled before the executive order was signed. All FOs and ASCs are now closed on the 24th December. It's on the USCIS website - https://www.uscis.gov/about-us/uscis-office-closings

You are right, AOCs are apparently closed that date. Wasn't so a week ago!
Re: the executive order, are you talking about the recent one, the "pause" that Whitmer decreed? Could be...
I am sincerely confused, since, after speaking with some local people here in Lansing, I understood that December 24 is always a federal holiday, so why it was scheduled then at all is not clear...

 

I've been critical of the government on these forums before, and I don't want to be ungrateful for everything I've already received - being able to be here at all - but it just seems so opaque and difficult to reach anyone. This website has been an enormous help from day one.

Edited December 16, 2020 by JL & ML

[BellaUnion 75]

3 hours ago, JL & ML said:

Re: the executive order, are you talking about the recent one, the "pause" that Whitmer decreed? Could be...

You can find the order here, issued on 11th December: https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/executive-order-providing-closing-executive-departments-agencies-federal-government-december-24-2020/

 

I would be pretty annoyed as well. They did the same thing last year if I remember correctly and quite a few people got caught up in that.

[Rearviewmirror 397]

It could be worth trying to walk in the day before, but whether they are feeling festive or not seems to be very ASC dependent...

[DeleteMePlease123 91]

I was scheduled for biometrics today as well, lol. Guess we're getting automatically rescheduled.

[Letspaintcookies 2,310]

5 hours ago, Sarge420 said:

December 24 is not a federal holiday.  December 25 and Jan 1 are federal holidays and there are no appointments then.

The president made it to one this year for all government employees. 

[JL & ML 20]

Got the rescheduling notice this past weekend in the mail!

[mtldesai809 34]

On 1/4/2021 at 3:12 PM, JL & ML said:

Got the rescheduling notice this past weekend in the mail!

when was your original appointment schedule for?

[Chancy 6,243]

On 1/7/2021 at 9:38 AM, mtldesai809 said:

when was your original appointment schedule for?

 

"Biometrics - Christmas Eve - surprised"

 

On 12/8/2020 at 12:23 AM, JL & ML said:

We just got our NOA this past Saturday for a Biometrics appointment on December 24th at 3 p.m.