Biometrics reused unexpectedly?

[fred16384 4]

Hi,

 

Long time lurker, first time poster here. I've been a green card holder for over 20 years. I just filed my N-400 online and within an hour received a notification that my biometrics will be reused. However, the last time I got my biometrics taken was almost 10 years ago for my green card renewal.

 

I'm confused, because I would have expected to have my biometrics taken for my N-400 application. Did something go wrong, or am I overthinking this?

 

Thanks!

Edited August 18, 2023 by fred16384
clarify abbreviation

[Crazy Cat 41,844]

Overthinking.  Good luck on this last leg of your journey.

[Mike E 11,739]

14 minutes ago, fred16384 said:

I'm confused, because I would have expected to have my biometrics taken for my N-400 application. Did something go wrong, or am I overthinking this?

In the past 10 years, have you entered the U.S. a CBP port of entry?

[fred16384 4]

Just now, Mike E said:

In the past 10 years, have you entered the U.S. a CBP port of entry?

 

Yes.

[Mike E 11,739]

1 minute ago, fred16384 said:

 

Yes.

IMHO, the biometrics collected by CBP are used by USCIS to decide if it needs to collect biometrics before your N-400 interview.

Basically, USCIS can compare you most recent CBP biometrics with your most recent USCIS biometrics to decide if the delta is large enough to justify another collection.
 

At your N-400 interview, USCIS might collect biometrics.

[fred16384 4]

8 minutes ago, Mike E said:

Basically, USCIS can compare you most recent CBP biometrics with your most recent USCIS biometrics to decide if the delta is large enough to justify another collection.
 

At your N-400 interview, USCIS might collect biometrics.

 

Thank you for the explanation. Sounds like I was overthinking things indeed  

[Verrou 1,962]

started during covid, they tried to reused biometric whenever possible. they've been reusing my biometric that they took in 2018 until now

[M+K IL 102]

2 hours ago, Mike E said:

Basically, USCIS can compare you most recent CBP biometrics with your most recent USCIS biometrics to decide if the delta is large enough to justify another collection.

Ah, I wonder if the reason I had a biometrics appointment is that I've been using Global Entry in the meantime.

 

At that appointment they just sample two fingers so it did look like they were just measuring the delta

[Scandi 4,166]

It's normal to get that message and yet later get a biometrics appointment anyway. In some cases they reuse biometrics, definitely, but most of the time they will have you go through it at a later date even if you already got the message it's not needed. Just wait and see what happens.

With the biometrics they also take your photo, which is the photo used on your naturalization certificate. For people who actually had their biometrics reused during the pandemic, USCIS either used an old photo, or they had the applicant either bring photos to the interview or had photos taken at the interview. I know of at least one other Swede who had to go take photos at a local CVS after his interview, and bring them back to USCIS so they could use them for his certificate. But yeah, those were pandemic times. 

[Scooter McGee 7]

I was in pretty much the same position. Nine years since my Green Card application; but when applying for N-400 also received a quick notification that biometrics would be re-used. Neither were biometrics collected at my N-400 interview in July. You should be good to go.