Category Archives: Immigration News

Rescheduling biometrics appointments may sometimes be necessary. Depending on the type of application you file with USCIS, you may be required to appear at a USCIS office for a biometrics appointment. For example, biometrics may be required if you file an I-485 (adjustment of status or green card application), I-765 (application for employment authorization document), I-131 (application for travel document), or an I-539 (application for extension or change of status).

During a biometrics appointment, USCIS will collect your fingeprints, a photo, and a sample of your signature.

How to Know if a Biometrics Appointment is Required

If you are required to appear for biometrics, USCIS will mail an appointment notices to your address and your attorney’s address. The notice will tell you when and where USCIS expects you to appear. You should make every effort to go to your appointment as scheduled. Rescheduling the appointment will take time and likely delay processing of your application.

How to Reschedule Your Biometrics Appointment

If you cannot make it to your scheduled biometrics appointment, you may contact USCIS to reschedule according to the appointment notice’s instructions or the the following procedure:

1. Call the USCIS Contact Center at 1-800-375-5283 before the date and time of your original appointment.
2. Explain why you have “good cause” for recheduling.
3. Wait for a USCIS scheduler to call you back with a new date and time. Please note: USCIS often takes multiple days or weeks to respond to a rescheduling requiest.

It is vitally important to call as early as possible to request rescheduling. If you do not call USCIS before your scheduled appointment, or if USCIS thinks you do not have good cause to reschedule, they may not agree to reschedule the appointment. If USCIS refuses to reschedule or you do not hear back from them in time and you do not attend the original appointment, your underlying application may be considered abandoned and be denied.

Questions About Rescheduling Biometrics Appointments?

To find out more about rescheduling or determining if you are eligible to reschedule an appointment, please contact immigration attorney Jessie M. Thomas at (214) 838-0045. Jessie provides immigration legal services for family-based green cards, adjustment of status and U.S. Citizenship.

Eligible individuals have the option to apply for a green card from within the United States, through a process called adjustment of status. The application to adjust status is called a Form I-485, and it must be accompanied by an additional form that establishes the basis on which the applicant qualifies for the green card. This is typically either a Form I-130 (if applying for a green card through family), I-140 (if applying for a green card through employment), or I-526 (if applying for a green card based on investment).

Filing the Form I-485 application to adjust status, however, does not give the applicant the ability to travel or work in the United States. For that, the applicant must file the Form I-765 application for work authorization, and the Form I-131 application for advance parole for travel authorization. If the green card applicant leaves the U.S. before receiving travel authorization, their adjustment of status application will be abandoned.

Are You A Green Card Applicant with a Pending I-485 Adjustment of Status Application?

If so, you may be expecting to receive an employment authorization document (EAD) and advance parole (AP) combo card. However, USCIS recently began issuing the two documents separately.

What Is a Combo Card?

In 2011, USCIS announced that they would begin issuing employment and travel authorization on a single “combo” card for those green card applicants already livig lawfully in the United States and filing an adjustment of status (AOS) application. By combining the documents, USCIS enabled applicants to carry a single document that was more durable and secure than the previous AP document.

What Did a Combo Card Look Like and What Should I Expect in the Mail Now?

To avoid any issues, applicants should file their I-765/I-131 applications well in advance of their anticipated employment and planned travel abroad.

Applicants should continue to monitor their pending EAD applications closely and be realistic about making travel and/or employment plans while they wait for their documents to be issued.

Questions About Your Adjustment of Status?

If you would like to schedule a free immigration consultation, please text (214) 838-0045 or call (214) 838-0045 .

Removal of conditions interviews may be waived for some family-based immigrants.

On Thursday, April 7, 2022, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced that it will take a risk-based approach to waiving interviews for conditional permanent residents (CPRs) who file Form I-751, Petition to Remove Conditions on Residence.

USCIS will no longer require everyone who obtained their CPR status via processing at a U.S. consulate overseas to go to an interview after they file a Form I-751.

Instead, USCIS will assess if a CPR needs an I-751 interview based on the following:

• There is sufficient evidence in the file that the marriage is real,

• The CPR is eligible for a waiver of the joint-filing requirement (if applicable),

• There is no indication of fraud or misrepresentation in the file,

• There are no complex facts or issues that require an interview to resolve, and

• The CPR does not have a criminal history that would make him/her removable from the U.S.

View USCIS’ news release for more information on this change.

Questions about your removal of conditions interview?

If you need help with removing conditions on your permanent residence status. Or if you are looking for assistance preparing for your removal of conditions interview please request a free immigration consultation with immigration attorney Jessie M. Thomas today.