On June 28, the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) introduced a new self-service tool that enables individuals, and their attorneys and accredited representatives, filing benefit requests to reschedule most appointments for biometric services prior to the original appointment date.
Previously, only benefit requestors and accredited representatives could request a rescheduling of biometric services appointments by contacting the USCIS Contact Center. With this new tool, individuals who have or create a USCIS online account can reschedule most biometric services appointments without the need for a phone call. However, the tool cannot be used to reschedule appointments that have already been rescheduled two or more times, are within 12 hours, or have already passed.
This online tool for rescheduling biometric services appointments is accessible through a USCIS online account, regardless of whether the case was submitted online or via mail. While benefit requestors and accredited representatives still have the option to call the USCIS Contact Center for appointment rescheduling, USCIS strongly encourages users to utilize the new tool to save time, increase efficiency, and reduce call volumes to the Contact Center.
Additionally, USCIS is providing guidance in the USCIS Policy Manual to clarify that the agency may consider untimely requests for rescheduling biometric services appointments, as well as the consequences of failing to appear for an appointment. The guidance also explains how the agency evaluates timely rescheduling requests made with “good cause.” Good cause is established when the reschedule request provides a valid reason for the inability to attend the original appointment, such as illness, medical appointments, planned travel, significant life events, transportation issues, work or caregiver constraints, or delivery issues with the appointment notice.
USCIS only accepts untimely rescheduling requests made via the USCIS Contact Center and does not accept untimely requests for rescheduling by mail, in-person at a USCIS office, or through the myUSCIS online rescheduling tool.
