Earlier this week, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) launched a new online form allowing individuals, attorneys, and accredited representatives to request in-person appointments at local field offices.
This is an important development that can make scheduling appointments more convenient. In the past, appointments could only be made by calling the USCIS Contact Center which was time consuming.
The online request form allows you to ask for an appointment for services like ADIT stamping, advance parole, and immigration judge grants. You can even suggest a preferred date and time, though USCIS doesn’t guarantee it will be available.
After submitting the form, USCIS reviews requests and sends a confirmation if an appointment is scheduled. They may still need to call you if more information is required. You’ll get a reference number to use if you need to follow up.
The goal is improving customer experience by collecting information upfront and potentially booking appointments without needing to talk to an agent. This should reduce frustration for those seeking time-sensitive services.
At my firm, we help clients navigate the immigration system every day. I’m pleased USCIS is modernizing and making some processes more efficient. The online appointment request form looks promising for reducing hassle. We’ll be keeping an eye on how well it works as part of our commitment to providing the best possible legal guidance.