Where do you go for biometrics?

Biometric collection takes place at a USCIS Application Support Center (ASC) designated by USCIS in the applicant's biometrics appointment notice. USCIS operates more than 130 Application Support Centers across the United States, in major and mid-size cities, including locations in every state and the District of Columbia, plus offices in Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, and Saipan. The specific location assigned to an applicant is determined by the applicant's residential ZIP code and is shown on the Form I-797C, Notice of Action that arrives by mail typically four to eight weeks after Form N-400 is filed. The notice specifies the address, date, and time of the appointment.

Applicants must bring the original notice, a state-issued photo identification document (driver's license, state ID, or unexpired passport), and the receipt notice for Form N-400 (a separate I-797C confirming USCIS received the application). Applicants should arrive 15 minutes before the scheduled time, pass through a security screening (similar to TSA airport screening), and check in at the front desk. After check-in, the applicant waits in a reception area until called by an ASC technician. The actual biometric collection (fingerprints, photograph, and digital signature) takes 15 to 30 minutes.

Applicants who cannot attend the scheduled appointment can request rescheduling through their my.uscis.gov online account, by calling the USCIS Contact Center at 800-375-5283, or by sending a written rescheduling request to the address on the notice; rescheduling requests should be made before the original appointment date when possible. Failure to appear without rescheduling can result in administrative closure of the case, after which the applicant must contact USCIS to request reopening.

Applicants whose physical or medical condition prevents them from attending an ASC may request a home or hospital visit by USCIS, although these accommodations are rare and require advance documentation. ASC offices are accessible to applicants with mobility impairments, and most offices have interpreter services available on request, although applicants are encouraged to bring a translator or relative if specific language assistance is needed.