Biometrics is a crucial step in the I-765 Employment Authorization and I-485 Adjustment of Status process. Once your employment authorization is received by USCIS, they will schedule you for biometrics, which includes fingerprinting and taking your ID photo. USCIS will keep you updated on every step via text messages, email, and your USCIS account.
Table of contents
Scheduling and Notification
After submitting your application, you will receive a notification from USCIS about your biometrics appointment. This notification will include the date, time, and location of your appointment. You will also receive an ASC Appointment Notice in your mail, which contains detailed information about your application, including application numbers, online account number, case type, USCIS Alien number, notice date, biometric code, applicant’s name and address, application center, and the date and time of the appointment.
Preparing for the Appointment
Before your appointment, make sure to fill out the Applicant’s Information Worksheet (AIW), which is included in the ASC Appointment Notice. This worksheet requires basic information about the applicant and will be taken during your biometrics. On the day of your appointment, arrive at the service center 15 minutes before your scheduled time. You are not allowed to enter the service center earlier than your appointment time.
At the Service Center
Upon entering the service center, your appointment letter along with your AIW will be checked. Make sure to fill out your AIW to avoid delays. At the reception, your papers along with your ID will be checked. Identification must be valid as stated in the ASC appointment letter. Afterwards, all the documents will be given back to you with a paper attached to it and your token number. Wait until your number is called.
Biometrics Process
Proceed to the counter and give all your documents to the person in charge of biometrics. The process will only take a few minutes. Your photo will be taken at the same counter, and you will do the fingerprinting as well. The staff will make you review all the details on the screen, confirming that your information is correct, such as name, birthday, etc., and you need to sign it electronically. Your NOA paper and your ID will be given back to you. They will ask you to answer survey questions about your satisfaction with their service, and then you’re good to go.
Post-Appointment Updates
While on your way home, you may receive multiple emails from USCIS about updates made to your case. Log in to your USCIS account to check the updates. You will see that the dates are updated on both of your cases. When you check the Progress tab, both your I-485 and I-765 will be updated to the last step case decision. You may be exempted from the interview step of your I-485 if it is completed as soon as you are done with biometrics.
Personal Experience Timeline
November 27, 2024 – Day 0
Sent packet for I-765 Work Authorization and I-485 – Adjustment of Status via USPS (United States Postal Office) using express delivery to arrive the next day but there’s a delay with USPS. They refunded the amount as stated in express delivery policy.
December 4, 2024 – Day 7
One week after sending the packet, an SMS message notification was received that the case was received. There are two separate text messages for each case number – for I-765 & I-485. The screenshot below is case number for I-765.
December 9, 2024 – Day 12
Notice of Action 1 received by mail. This is an instruction is USCIS Account Access Notice in my case since I don’t have a USCIS online account yet. It is a step-by-step process in creating an online account along with an online access code to login and to be able to access updates on your case/s. If both I-765 and I-485 were submitted together, both cases will appear in your online account.
December 21, 2024 – Day 24
An email received notifying us that there’s an action taken with our case. By logging in to the website, you will know what the email was all about. In this case, there’s an update on biometrics scheduled.
Adjustment of Status is the primary application; you will see the update under your I-485 case history tab like this.
However, a pdf copy of the appointment details will be found under the document tab. Note that whenever there’s an update with your case, an email notification will be sent, and you need to login to see the update.
Here, you will see the details of your appointment – when (date and time) and where (location). The same ASC Appointment Notice will be sent to your mailing address.
There are two pages of ASC Notification. The first page contains details about your application such as application numbers, online account number, case type, USCIS Alien number, notice date, biometric code*, applicant’s name and address, application center and date and time of the appointment.
Page 2 is the Applicant’s Information Worksheet. This needs to be filled out. All the information required here are basic information about the applicant. This will too, be taken during your biometrics.
January 6, 2025 – Day 40 – Biometrics
Make sure to arrive at the service center 15 minutes before your appointment time. You are not allowed to enter the service center earlier than your appointment time.
Upon entering the service center, your appointment letter along with your AIW will be checked. Make sure to fill out your AIW or Applicant’s Information Worksheet to avoid delays. In reception, your paper along with your ID. Identification must be valid as stated in the ASC appointment letter. Afterwards, all the documents will be given back to you with a paper attached to it and with your toke number. Wait until your number is called.
Proceed to the counter and give all your documents to the person in charge of biometrics. The process will only take a few minutes. Your photo will be taken at the same counter, do the fingerprinting. The staff will make you review all the details on the screen confirming that your information is all correct such as name, birthday etc. and sign it electronically. Your NOA paper and your ID will be given back to you. They ask you to answer the survey questions basically how happy you are with their service and you’re good to go.
While on our way home, I received multiple emails from USCIS that there were updates made in my case/s.
I immediately logged in to my USCIS accounts to check what the updates were and saw that the date were updated on both of my cases.
When I turned to myProgress tab, both my I-485 and I-765 were updated to the last step – case decision. I was exempted from the step 3 (interview) of my I-485 as I saw it was also completed as soon as I am done with biometrics.
January 8, 2025 – Day 42 – Approval of I-765 (Work Employment Authorization)
On January 8, 2025, I got approval for my I-795. The copy of the Notice was uploaded on the website while I received the hard copy by mail on January 13, 2025.
January 16, 2025 – Day 50 – ID Card Produced
On January 16, 2025, an email notification received that an update has been made in my USCIS account. When I checked, it said that my work authorization card was produced. Case Closed.
January 18, 2025 – Day 52 – Physical ID Card
A physical ID card for work authorization was delivered to our mailbox. The ID card is valid for five years.
Having your work authorization allows you to work legally in the United States, which is incredibly beneficial while you wait for your green card approval. Plus, the validity of my ID is a generous five years, giving an ample time to settle in and build my career. Get more information to prepare for your initial K-1 visa process and overcome future obstacles.
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Disclaimer: This blog post is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Immigration processes and requirements can change. Please consult the official websites of the U.S. Department of State and the specific U.S. Embassy or Consulate for the most current instructions.
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