U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced a recent change to its policy related to rescheduling biometrics appointments. Biometrics appointments are usually required by individuals applying for permanent residence, U.S. citizenship, green card replacement applications, reentry permit requests, and other related applications.

USCIS announced that it has closed its Biometrics Processing Unit (BPU) in Alexandria, Virginia. The BPU, which until now, would accept written requests to reschedule, will no longer be accepting mail-in requests.

New instructions by the agency indicate that one must call the USCIS Contact Center at 800-375-5283 before the date and time of the original appointment date and establish good cause for the rescheduling request. Failure to call prior to a scheduled appointment or failure to establish good cause, may result in a denial of the application. The government may also consider the application abandoned.

It would be best to give immediate attention to any notification from USCIS to appear for a biometrics appointment in order to keep a request for an immigration benefit alive.

The USCIS announcement can be found here.

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