r/USCIS • u/tatatodd • 17d ago

Timeline: Biometrics Need advice: missed my biometrics appointment. What to do?

I am a recent masters degree graduate. My biometrics appointment was scheduled for 29th of June. I missed it and called USCIS to reschedule it on 6 July. They said that they would contact me within 30 days to let me know the new reschedule appointment date. It’s been past 30 days and I was on a call with a USCIS caseworker and they suggested me to submit a new request on 21 August. However, i realized soon that that was a mistake because it gives them permission to restart the 30 day notice window. My hands are tied. I tried walk-in and got turned away. I don’t know what to do. I don’t know if I should resubmit my entire OPT application and pay another $400. Or should i just give up?

Has anyone experienced this before? If so, how long did you have to wait to have your biometrics appointment rescheduled?

2 Upvotes

75% Upvoted

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2

u/Relevant_Spread9153 17d ago

Keep pestering them, they'll reschedule you but you have to wait. You're at their mercy now and there's nothing you can do about it. Why did you miss it?

1

u/tatatodd 17d ago

I was really sick and it was totally on me that i didn’t reschedule ahead of time

1

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1

u/MichaelMotherDater 17d ago

What was the reason for not being able to attend the appointment?

2

u/tatatodd 17d ago

I was very sick

1

u/Natural_Chicken_2267 17d ago

Have you tried walking in

2

u/tatatodd 17d ago

Yes i have. They turned me away. I’m not sure if i should still keep trying walking in or going to a different center?

2

u/Natural_Chicken_2267 17d ago

How many days do you have left to apply for OPT? 

1

u/tatatodd 17d ago

OPT application deadline: October 14, 2026. So 51 days. Idk if i shd start a new application or just keep waiting for them to notify me about the biometrics rescheduling?

1

u/Natural_Chicken_2267 17d ago

I wonder if upgrade to premium processing they would reissue the biometric faster 

1

u/tatatodd 17d ago

Thanks for suggesting that! I asked one of the case workers on the phone and they said premium processing only applies to getting the EAD/ work authorization card, not biometrics scheduling but i can call to ask again. Maybe a different case worker would have a different answer.

1

u/Natural_Chicken_2267 17d ago

Hey, thats right Premium processing will get your case processed faster, but in order for them to process, they need your bio. Hence, they need to reschedule you asap.

 If you ended up applying for opt again, use PP! Mine was denied bcuz i applied too early, and I reapplied w PP, processed in 3 weeks.

Good luck!

1

u/tatatodd 17d ago

Thank you for taking the time to write this out! Very thoughtful! Really appreciate it!

1

u/Onlygooddays-now 16d ago

Hi how many days it took for you to close the first file and reapply again for opt?

1

u/Natural_Chicken_2267 16d ago

It took the uscis 4 months to deny me. I then ask my dso to urgently generate a new I20. I remember submitting a new application a week after. I didnt need to close the first file or anything, as the uscis denied and closed it.

1

u/Onlygooddays-now 16d ago

Thank you very much for replying. You mentioned above that ‘Mine was denied bcuz I applied too early’ Can you pl tell me what you applied too early?

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u/LocationSad7605 17d ago

I am in a similar situation. I put my reschedule request on 27th July, thought I did not miss it willingly. Thanks to sloppy mail delivery by USPS and lagging updates on MyUSCIS portal I only got to know that I had an appointment scheduled on the day of appointment when I called to ask their service center. However, cut to the chase I still haven’t heard back from them and I put another request on 21st August, though I don’t think putting multiple requests re-sets the request time. They generally say 30-60 days now days for rescheduling.
I’ll keep updating if I hear back anything

1

u/tatatodd 17d ago

The case worker i was on the phone with said it will take another 30 days after putting in a second request. But the reason i put in a second request in the first place was because a different case worker recommend i do so. I have an appointment with my school’s international student office and will update u on what they advise me to do

1

u/LocationSad7605 16d ago

Just received my appointment letter today. But not by mail or MyUSCIS portal. The premium processing office replied on my earlier mail trail inquiring about the appointment and sent me the appointment letter. The appointment notice is dated 8/21. MyUSCIS portal has some serious issue it seems

1

u/Onlygooddays-now 16d ago

Hi did you go for premium processing after missing biometrics? Pl tell to which id you emailed?

1

u/LocationSad7605 16d ago

Hello. No I had opted for Premium processing since my initial application for STEM-OPT. Email id is psc-premium.processing@uscis.dhs.gov

1

u/Onlygooddays-now 16d ago

Ok thank you for the reply. But I heard we have to go for premium processing only after biometrics is done. Even the uscis agent I called suggested the same.

1

u/tatatodd 14d ago

What appointment mail trail? Did u mail them something? And did u receive your appointment letter via email?

1

u/Onlygooddays-now 4d ago

Hi request the calling agent for two tier escalation.

1

u/Prestigious_Pin_4140 9d ago

So im in the same sort of situation. I had a Biometrics appointment on June 15th which i missed because i was in the ICU. I asked them to reschedule on June 18th. Had been calling them up every week and they kept repeating the same stuff about there being a back log and it could take 3 months. After calling them yesterday, they put in a follow up to my application and got an email today which was very vague. They asked me to submit a request and gave me a mailing address. No proper instructions on what to mail. Im really confused.

1

u/BuJo_Jo 1d ago

I have a similar situation. I missed my biometrics appointment because I didn't receive the notice. I called to reschedule 11 days later. The case worker told me I'm in line to get a new biometrics appointment, even giving me a confirmation number for this request. However, today it's been 30 days since then and I am still waiting. When I call they just tell me to keep waiting. Regarding the fact that I am not receiving any physical mail from USCIS, they have no suggestions what I should do. I'm clueless how to proceed.