USCIS Launches Online Appointment Request Feature
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services announced on August 21, 2023, a new online appointment request feature allowing applicants, attorneys, and representatives to request in-person appointments at local offices without calling the contact center. The article explains that the feature submits a request only, subject to review and approval by the contact center, and lists the appointment categories currently supported.
On August 21, USCIS announced a new online feature: applicants, along with their attorneys and representatives, can now submit requests for in-person appointments at local offices online, without having to call the USCIS contact center.
This online feature allows individuals or their representatives to submit appointment requests; it does not let applicants freely choose a time and secure an appointment. The USCIS contact center reviews the submitted information and decides whether to approve the request. Applicants may fill in their preferred appointment date and time, but USCIS does not guarantee that an appointment can be scheduled.
At present, online appointment requests are available only for the following matters:
- ADIT/I-551 stamp (temporary evidence of permanent resident status)
- Emergency advance parole: emergency travel
- Immigration judge approval: When an applicant is granted permanent residence or asylum by an immigration judge or the Board of Immigration Appeals during immigration proceedings, USCIS is responsible for producing the permanent resident card or providing proof of status, and the applicant usually needs to visit a local office.
- Afghan special immigrant CPR status
- Indians born in Canada
- Certified copy of naturalization certificate: Select this appointment reason if a foreign government requires a naturalization or citizenship certificate to be certified before it will accept it as evidence of U.S. citizenship.
- Deferred action: Deferred action is a discretionary determination that postpones removal action against an individual as an act of prosecutorial discretion.
- MyUSCIS account lockout: Select this appointment reason if you have forgotten your MyUSCIS account password and cannot retrieve the password reset email sent through self-service or the service desk.
- Parole in place (PIP): Select this reason to visit your local office and apply for parole in place. Parole is available to individuals who are present in the United States without admission or parole and who are the spouse, parent, son, or daughter of a member of the U.S. armed forces on active duty or in the reserve components, or of a veteran (whether living or deceased, as long as he or she was not dishonorably discharged).
- Request for local receipt of forms: Although most forms must be submitted through a lockbox or service center, the filing instructions for certain forms allow applicants to submit them at a local field office in limited circumstances. Officials at local offices may not assist in filing any application or petition.
- Verification referral: Select this reason if SAVE or E-Verify has referred you to a local office. USCIS has two verification programs—1) the SAVE program and 2) E-Verify. Both verification programs follow a process to verify the biographical information and validity of documents provided by an applicant or employee against Department of Homeland Security records. When SAVE/E-Verify cannot verify the applicant's or employee's information after additional verification, SAVE or E-Verify may refer the individual to a local office to correct or update their immigration records.
- Certified copy for service management error: Select this reason if you received a response from a local office or service center instructing you to make an appointment. When an applicant believes that a USCIS data entry and/or administrative error resulted in an unfavorable adjudicative action, this process allows the applicant, in certain circumstances, to request review of their case and correction of the decision.
- A-number request: USCIS provides information to various customers, which often involves releasing information covered by the Privacy Act. For example, an applicant may request Privacy Act-covered information, such as their A-number, when they need it to file forms (e.g., I-90, N565, etc.).
- Military appointment request: To support members of the U.S. armed forces, veterans, enlistees, and their families, USCIS prioritizes inquiries from military personnel and their families. In limited circumstances, even if the situation does not meet one of the criteria specified in the list, military personnel and their families may be scheduled for an InfoPass appointment with a local field office.
- Special Immigrant Juvenile (SIJ) – over age: A Special Immigrant Juvenile (SIJ) applicant must file Form I-360 before their 21st birthday to request SIJ status. An applicant may request an information appointment with a USCIS field office within 2 weeks after their 21st birthday. The field office will verify the applicant's timely filed Form I-360 and the date-stamped Form I-360, and will then send the I-360 and supporting documents to the USCIS lockbox.
- Central American Minors (CAM) parole program: The Central American Minors (CAM) refugee program provides certain eligible children who are nationals of El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras, as well as certain family members of these children, with the opportunity to apply for refugee status and possible resettlement.
