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Bradford H. Bernstein
This article was written and reviewed by Bradford H. Bernstein, a second-generation leader at Law Offices of Spar & Bernstein, P.C., who has helped over 100,000 clients with immigration and personal injury issues. Brad joined the firm in 1993, became a partner in 1997, and assumed leadership in 2000 after Harry Spar retired.
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How To Reschedule Your USCIS Appointment: Key Takeaways
- You can inform the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) about the need to reschedule your interview by calling or sending a letter
- If you have an immigration attorney, they can send an email to the respective field office where your interview is scheduled to take place
- To reschedule your USCIS appointment, you must have a valid reason, such as a family or medical emergency, or an important trip that cannot be cancelled or postponed
- The USCIS appointment is an important part of various application processes such as adjustment of status or applying for citizenship in the United States
- If you fail to attend your scheduled appointment and do not inform USCIS ahead of time, your application may be denied, and you may need to go through the entire process again, losing out on both money and time
In Fiscal Year 2023, USCIS processed an unprecedented 10 million immigration cases, many of which required applicants to attend a scheduled appointment.
From biometrics to interviews and oath ceremonies, each appointment marks an important step in moving your case forward.
But what happens if you suddenly can’t make it?
We’ll break down:
- How to reschedule your USCIS appointment
- What qualifies as a valid reason
- How long the process typically takes
Need to reschedule your USCIS appointment?
How To Reschedule A USCIS Appointment
You must have a valid reason to reschedule your USCIS appointment. If this is the case, check your notice for information on rescheduling and follow the instructions stated within the document.
Generally, for a different interview date, you can contact USCIS by:
Phone
Call the USCIS Contact Center at 800-375-5283 (TTY 800-767-1833) from Monday to Friday, 8 am to 8pm Eastern time. Provide the customer service representative with your:
- Name
- Birth date
- Address
- Case number
The Contact Center representative will create a request to reschedule your appointment in the system. It can take several weeks to process the request.
If you prefer to mail your request, be sure to send it directly to the field office listed on your notice. Include a short letter explaining why you can’t attend, and don’t forget to attach a copy of your appointment notice.
Online
If your appointment is for biometrics, InfoPass, or a naturalization interview, you may be able to reschedule it online.
- Log into your USCIS account at my.uscis.gov.
- Follow the instructions on your original appointment notice.
If you’re working with an immigration attorney and they have the contact information for your local USCIS field office, they can submit a rescheduling request on your behalf. The direct email option usually isn’t available to the public.
To support the request, give your attorney any documentation that explains why you can’t attend: a medical note, hospital admission letter, or travel itinerary.
Keep in mind that rescheduling may delay your case. Processing times vary, but it can take anywhere from a few weeks to a few months to get a new interview date.
Valid Reasons For Rescheduling Your USCIS Appointment
You can reschedule your USCIS appointment if an unexpected and valid circumstance occurs, and you send a rescheduling request ahead of time.
These reasons can be:
- Medical emergencies
- Illness
- Family emergencies like death or hospitalization of a close relative
- Important trips
- Natural disasters or severe weather that prevent you from traveling
- Other unavoidable circumstances
How Long Does It Take USCIS To Reschedule An Appointment?
It typically takes around 4-6 weeks for USCIS to either approve or deny your request to reschedule.
- If USCIS accepts your request, you will receive a letter in the mail or an email to confirm your new appointment.
- If USCIS finds your reasons invalid, they will deny your request to reschedule.
You will not be charged a penalty for rescheduling your appointment.
Types Of USCIS Appointments You Can Reschedule
USCIS schedules different types of appointments depending on the type of your application and the stage of your immigration journey. Each serves a specific purpose in reviewing and processing your case.
USCIS Biometrics Appointment
USCIS officers will collect your fingerprints, photo, and signature to confirm your identity and run mandatory background and security checks.
If you have family members who also need to attend a biometric screening, USCIS may try to schedule your appointments together.
If you have been scheduled for biometrics but your dependents have not yet received their appointment notice, they may be permitted to attend your appointment.
However, the decision to combine your biometrics appointments is entirely up to the USCIS officers.
Green Card Interview Appointment
The purpose is to determine eligibility for lawful permanent residence (Green Card). The appointment can be:
- Marriage-based interview, to prove your marriage is genuine (Check marriage interview questions you may be asked).
- Employment-based interview to confirm your eligibility for a Green Card based on employment.
- Family-based interview, to verify the family relationship, whether between parent and child or siblings, and confirm family history or living arrangements.
Typically, if you are applying for a Green Card based on family relations, both you and your sponsor (petitioner) need to be present at the interview.
If you are applying for a Green Card based on employment, your employer does not need to be present at the interview.
Not comfortable communicating in English? USCIS allows you to bring an interpreter to your interview to interpret for both you and the USCIS officer.
Under limited circumstances, and entirely upon their discretion, USCIS can waive your interview and proceed with your Green Card application.
Naturalization Interview Appointment
It’s held to assess your eligibility for U.S. citizenship and includes:
- Questions about your application and background
- A naturalization test made of two components: civics (to evaluate your knowledge of American government and history) and English (to evaluate your ability to read, write, and speak basic English). Check out common citizenship test questions and answers.
Asylum Interview Appointment
Its purpose is to determine eligibility for asylum protection in the U.S.
Regardless of the type of scheduled appointment, failure to attend it without prior notice can have serious consequences.
The USCIS officer will assume you have given up on your application, and your application will be paused, considered abandoned or denied.
If this happens, you will need to file a new application, pay the fee again and start the process from the very beginning.
If your application is denied on abandonment grounds, you will not be able to appeal the USCIS decision. However, under certain circumstances, you will be able to file a motion to reopen the case.
Unsure how to reschedule your USCIS appointment the right way?
How Can Spar & Bernstein Help You Reschedule Your USCIS Interview?
If you need to reschedule your USCIS interview, whether it’s for a Green Card or citizenship, it may delay your case by several months, so it’s important to act quickly.
Our immigration attorneys at Spar & Bernstein are here to help.
With a team of highly knowledgeable, accomplished attorneys and 60+ years of legal experience, our team at Spar & Bernstein handles all areas of immigration law, from citizenship and naturalization to family immigration, employment immigration, DACA, and deportation and removal defense.
If you need to reschedule your USCIS interview appointment, our experienced attorneys will:
- Review the reasons for your rescheduling request and determine whether they are valid.
- Contact USCIS on your behalf to reschedule your interview.
- Help you prepare and file any additional documents USCIS may require, following your request.
- Help you prepare for your USCIS interview.
- Follow up on your application after your interview.
- Take steps to speed up the process in the event of delays.
For more information on how long it takes USCIS to reschedule your interview, check out the video below from Brad Bernstein, the Managing Partner at Spar & Bernstein.
How To Reschedule Your USCIS Interview Appointment: FAQs
How early should I notify USCIS I want to reschedule?
Try to submit your reschedule request at least 48–72 hours before your appointment. Don’t wait until the exact appointment date unless there’s an emergency, as missing it without notice can jeopardize your case.
How many times can I reschedule my USCIS appointment?
In most cases, you can only reschedule once. Repeated reschedule requests may be denied, and your application could be delayed or canceled.
How long does it take USCIS to send a new appointment date?
USCIS typically will send you a new appointment date within 4–8 weeks, but this can vary based on case type and your local USCIS office’s workload. In some cases, it may take longer, especially if your original appointment was for an interview in a high-volume location like NYC.
What if I miss my appointment without rescheduling?
If you miss your appointment without notifying USCIS, your application may be denied or considered abandoned. Contact our immigration attorneys at Spar & Bernstein immediately to discuss your options and next steps.
Worried that rescheduling your appointment might delay your case?
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