Fingerprinting Procedures For Immigrant Benefits

You must be fingerprinted if you apply.

On December 3, 1997, the Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) began implementing new fingerprinting procedures for immigration benefit applicants as required by the fiscal 1998 appropriations bill. The new procedures require immigration benefit applicants to be fingerprinted by INS, state or local law enforcement agencies designated by INS, or United States consular or military offices abroad. The procedures also changed the process so that naturalization applicants filed their applications before being fingerprinted and were then notified by INS for a fingerprinting appointment at an Application Support Center (ASC) or other INS-designated location.

Effective March 29, 1998, applicants for all immigration benefits requiring fingerprints will be fingerprinted after filing an application with INS. INS will also charge a $25 fingerprinting fee to all benefit applicants, except those applying for asylum, granted a fee waiver following a written appeal to a District Director or Service Center Director, or those residing outside the United States.

New Procedures for All Immigration Benefits Begin March 29

Beginning March 29, 1998, applicants for all immigration benefits requiring fingerprints should file their applications without a fingerprint card. Applicants will be mailed a notice scheduling them for fingerprinting at one of the more than 100 fingerprinting offices INS is opening around the country or another INS-designated facility. The notification will specify a week for the applicant to appear. Applicants who cannot appear during their scheduled week can either reschedule or bring the notice to their specified location for walk-in services on any Wednesday, for up to 84 days after the date they were first scheduled.

Until March 28, applicants for benefits other than naturalization should continue to file fingerprint cards with their applications, and will be fingerprinted by INS free of charge. Applicants with applications filed on or before March 28 will not be charged the new fee. Beginning March 29, the $25 fee should be submitted with the application in addition to the filing fee for the benefit being sought. Applicants for asylum, those granted fee waivers and those residing outside the United States will not be charged for fingerprinting. Applicants residing outside the United States should have their fingerprints taken at a U.S. consular or military office and submit the prints with their application.