Read every line of the appointment notice
USCIS may schedule an applicant, petitioner, or other benefit requester at an Application Support Center to collect fingerprints, a photograph, a signature, or other biometrics. The notice provides the date, time, location, and document instructions.
Compare the notice with the filed case and calendar the appointment immediately. USCIS says the ASC cannot change a person's name or other biographical information during the appointment; an error should be addressed through the appropriate case process.
- Bring the original appointment notice.
- Bring the valid photo identification listed in the notice, such as a passport or government-issued identity document.
- Review any code or case numbers on the notice and keep a copy in the immigration file.
- Request a disability accommodation in advance through the USCIS process when needed.
Reschedule before the original appointment
USCIS says a person who cannot attend for good cause must request rescheduling through the USCIS online account before the original date and time. The online request must be made at least 12 hours before the appointment. A request to use a different ASC location also requires advance rescheduling.
USCIS policy lists examples that may support good cause, including illness, a medical appointment or hospitalization, previously planned travel, a significant life event, transportation problems, inability to obtain leave from work or caregiving, and a late or undelivered notice. Explain the real reason accurately and retain proof of the request.
- Use the online account connected to the case.
- Select a new date and location only through the available USCIS process.
- Save the confirmation page and replacement notice.
- Do not mail a rescheduling request; USCIS directs applicants to the online process.
Less than 12 hours away or already missed? Act promptly
When fewer than 12 hours remain, or the scheduled appointment has already been missed, USCIS instructs people to contact the USCIS Contact Center at 800-375-5283, use TTY 800-767-1833, or chat with Emma on the USCIS website. Record when contact was made and what guidance was provided.
Failing to appear without a timely, sufficient rescheduling request can lead USCIS to treat the related benefit request as abandoned and deny it. Some case types have special rules, so a missed appointment tied to asylum, NACARA, removal proceedings, or an urgent deadline should receive prompt legal attention.
- Do not ignore the notice because the address, date, or location seems wrong.
- Update the mailing address separately; rescheduling does not replace an address change.
- Keep evidence of late delivery, hospitalization, travel disruption, or other good cause.
- Review every later USCIS notice for a new appointment or case decision.
Do not walk into a different ASC without approval
USCIS says an applicant who appears at an ASC other than the location listed on the notice without first rescheduling will not be processed because of scheduling and security requirements. Follow the replacement notice rather than relying on an informal walk-in practice.
At the appointment, answer identity questions truthfully and review the acknowledgement presented for signature. Completing biometrics is one procedural step; it is not an approval, a background-check result, or a promise about processing time.