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While I am still traveling in Europe I received I797 notice to appear for fingerprint appointment the next business day after the upcoming weekend. The letter says, if I don't show up, then my green card case will be considered abandoned.

What are my options to reschedule biometrics appointment (mail, phone, online)?

Initially my immigration attorney told me to reschedule appointment over phone. Unfortunately, I tried to call USCIS at +1(800)375-5283 and they told me that they can't reschedule these appointments over phone, because "Alexandria office schedules them and they don't have any control".

Now, I am trying to understand - if I can ask a friend to send rescheduling request over mail "the proper way" by sending back the i797 form. However, it is already Friday and appointment is on Monday. If my friend sends it out will USCIS honor the send date even if they may receive letter later after the original appointment time?

P.S. #1 I am solving this case with my immigration attorney in the meantime, but it seems that rescheduling appointments is a corner case that at least my employer's immigration attorneys is not very aware of. So I would like to hear outside opinion.

P.S. #2 In the worst case I am considering to buy ticket tomorrow back to the US, but that would be hassle I would like to avoid.

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  • Did you request and receive advance parole before leaving the US?
    – Giorgio
    Commented Feb 3, 2017 at 18:05
  • @Dorothy Advance Parole was requested, but not yet received. My immigration attorney told me that I can still travel on my H1B visa after receiving i-485 receipt notices.
    – GuestWhoWantsGreenCard
    Commented Feb 3, 2017 at 18:09
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    Then the advice, from a total stranger on the Internet, is to get on a plane and show up for that appointment on Monday.
    – Giorgio
    Commented Feb 3, 2017 at 18:21
  • @Dorothy Can you, please, explain why Advance Parole would make a difference for this situation? My immigration attorney was confident that there is no need to have it since I have valid H1B. Anyway, I would be more than happy to hear your opinion either way.
    – GuestWhoWantsGreenCard
    Commented Feb 3, 2017 at 18:30
  • @Dorothy H visas are apparently one of a few exceptions to the normal rules regarding advance parole: immihelp.com/advance-parole
    – phoog
    Commented Feb 3, 2017 at 20:11

1 Answer 1

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I remember receiving my letter and it had the exact instructions on how to reschedule your appointment if you cannot make it. So you need to just get a copy of your letter to check for those instructions. Infact that is the exact response that the USCIS website has as well.

https://my.uscis.gov/helpcenter/article/what-happens-if-i-can-t-attend-my-scheduled-biometrics-appointment

Just refer to that letter and follow those instructions accordingly.

Edit: The above link is no longer available. Here is an archive, but note it may no longer be relevant.

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