USCIS field offices closed to the public on 3/18/2020 and began re-opening on 6/4/2020. The office re-opening process will be phased in over time and will depend in part on State-specific stay at home orders. To see if the USCIS field office and/or Application Support Center (ASC) for your area is open, please visit https://www.uscis.gov/about-us/uscis-office-closings.
Naturalization ceremonies will be the first priority. Thereafter cancelled biometrics appointments and naturalization interviews will be the second priority for rescheduling.
Requirements for entering USCIS field offices and ASCs
Everyone over the age of 2 must wear a mask/face covering.
Bring your own black or blue pen to sign documents.
Do not arrive more than 15 minutes before your appointment or 30 minutes before your naturalization ceremony.
Hand sanitizer will be provided at the entry.
No walk-ins will be permitted.
Each applicant may be accompanied only by necessary personnel - attorney, translator (in certain circumstances), immediate family members included in the application, guardians for minors and helpers for disabled applicants.
Each individual seeking entry to the building will be required to answer health screening questions.
Anyone who is ill, has been in contact with someone who has tested positive for COVID-19 or feels uncomfortable coming to the USCIS field office or ASC for health reasons may call USCIS to re-schedule their appointment. Information on rescheduling appointments will be provided on the appointment notices.
Due to physical distancing requirements and sanitation procedures, fewer interviews/ appointments will be scheduled each day.
Biometrics Procedures
Biometrics appointment rescheduling will be phased in beginning July 13.
Notices for biometrics rescheduling should be mailed out 2 weeks before the appointment date.
USCIS will automatically reschedule any biometrics appointments that had to be cancelled and will mail out new appointment notices.
USCIS will also include a worksheet to be completed at home and brought to the biometrics appointment. Previously, this worksheet would have been completed in person during the biometrics appointment.
No walk-ins will be permitted.
Applicants will be asked to remove their masks for brief periods to confirm identity and to have the biometrics photograph taken.
Only individuals with biometrics appointment notices should attend the appointment. Do not bring extra people with you.
USCIS is re-using biometrics in limited circumstances. If you have had your biometrics taken by USCIS within the past 12 months, they may re-use the existing biometrics data and your biometrics appointment will not be rescheduled.
Adjustment of Status (Green Card) Interviews
Employment-based adjustment of status interviews may continue to be waived on a case-by-case basis.
Naturalization (Citizenship) Procedures
USCIS will send out new notices to schedule applicants for naturalization ceremonies.
Ceremonies will be shorter.
Naturalization ceremonies that were postponed due to the pandemic should be completed by the end of July.
No guests will be permitted to attend naturalization ceremonies with the exception of those providing disability assistance or serving as guardians for minor applicants.
Naturalization interviews may be conducted by video conference in separate rooms at the USCIS field office.
If accompanied by an attorney, the attorney will participate from a separate room at the USCIS field office. Alternatively, the attorney may be present telephonically. In this case, at the beginning of the interview the applicant should ask the USCIS officer to contact the attorney. The USCIS officer will use the phone number provided on form G-28 to contact the attorney.
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