What is biometric collection?
Answer
The process of fingerprints and photograph
Explanation
Biometric collection is the process by which USCIS captures the applicant's fingerprints, photograph, and signature for identity verification and background checks. The collection takes place at a USCIS Application Support Center (ASC) at a scheduled appointment after Form N-400 is filed. USCIS operates more than 130 Application Support Centers across the United States; the assigned location is shown on the biometrics appointment notice (Form I-797C, Notice of Action) mailed to the applicant typically four to eight weeks after filing.
At the appointment, USCIS staff scan the applicant's ten fingerprints electronically using a livescan machine (no ink), capture a digital photograph against a neutral background, and capture a digital signature on a signature pad. The entire visit usually takes 15 to 30 minutes.
The fingerprints are sent to the FBI's Criminal Justice Information Services Division for a Federal Bureau of Investigation Name and Fingerprint Check, which compares the fingerprints against the Integrated Automated Fingerprint Identification System (IAFIS) for any matches against criminal records. USCIS uses the results to confirm the applicant's identity, identify any criminal history that might affect the good moral character requirement under section 316(a)(3) of the Immigration and Nationality Act, and run name checks against multiple federal databases including the Terrorist Screening Database. The photograph captured at biometrics is the photograph that appears on the eventual Certificate of Naturalization issued at the oath ceremony.
Under the USCIS fee schedule effective April 1, 2024, the cost of biometric services is included within the unified Form N-400 filing fee ($710 online, $760 paper) and is not charged separately. Applicants who cannot attend their scheduled appointment can request rescheduling through their my.uscis.gov online account or by calling the USCIS Contact Center at 800-375-5283; failure to appear without rescheduling can result in administrative closure of the case. Applicants 75 years or older are not required to pay a biometric services fee under the prior fee structure but still attend the appointment to provide fingerprints, photograph, and signature.
Why this matters for your test
Biometric collection is a mandatory step in every N-400 case and the basis for the FBI background check that establishes good moral character. Knowing what happens at the appointment, what to bring, and how to reschedule prevents avoidable delays and confusion.
Source: USCIS Application Guide (2025)
