Lev Kobrin
03-03-2007, 01:50 AM
February 28, 2007
UPDATE New Biometrics Process for Conditional Permanent Residents
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announces the implementation of a new nationwide
biometrics process for conditional permanent residents who file Form I-751, Petition to Remove Conditions
on Residence. The new process is effective immediately. Under the old process, following the approval of
Form I-751, an approval notice was issued instructing the applicant to appear at a USCIS District Office for
processing of his or her Form I-551, Permanent Resident Card (“Green Card”). The approved applicant
would manually submit passport-style photographs, index fingerprints, and a signature on Form I-89, I-551 or
I-586 Card Data Collection Form, for creation of his or her permanent resident card.
The new process, as authorized in 71 Federal Register 15469 (March 28, 2006), requires all conditional
permanent residents to appear at a USCIS Application Support Center (ASC) after filing Form I-751 in order
to have their biometrics electronically captured. An ASC appointment notice will automatically be sent by
mail to the applicant with the specific date, time and location for biometric processing. Biometric processing
includes the electronic capture of an applicant’s photograph, signature, index fingerprint and ten-print
fingerprints. The photograph, signature and index fingerprint are used to generate the lawful permanent
resident card, if the Form I-751 is approved. The ten-print fingerprints are captured for the purpose of
conducting a criminal background check and are processed for applicants between the ages of 14 and 79.
Applicants (except for “overseas applicants” described below) will no longer be required to submit passportstyle
photographs, since photographs will be captured at an ASC.
USCIS requires all conditional permanent residents, including those residing overseas pursuant to military or
government orders, to submit the standard base petition fee of $205 and a biometric services fee of $70.
Following the submission of all applicable fees, a scheduled appearance at an ASC and the approval of Form
I-751, applicants will be issued a permanent resident card by mail. The process for “applicants overseas due
to military or government orders” is different and is described below.
It is important to note that each conditional resident dependent eligible to be included on the principal
applicant’s Form I-751 and listed under Part 5 of Form I-751, must submit an additional biometric services
fee of $70. This includes dependents residing overseas pursuant to military or government orders, regardless
of age.
http://www.ilw.com
ILWCOM
PROVIDED BY
The leading
immigration
law publisher
Purpose of The New Process
This new process will enhance security and enable USCIS to provide better customer service. Elimination of
the manual processing of Form I-89 will reduce the potential for fraud by electronically verifying the identity
of an applicant through his or her unique biometrics. An applicant can now check his or her case status
on-line and minimize visits to USCIS Field Offices. By using electronic fingerprint technology, rather than
manually capturing fingerprints, USCIS will reduce processing times for criminal background checks.
Efficiency in case processing will increase, and applicants will receive their permanent resident cards in a
more timely manner.
Exception For Conditional Resident Applicants and Conditional Resident Dependent Children
Residing Overseas Due to Military or Government Orders
Since USCIS does not have ASCs overseas, conditional resident applicants and their conditional resident
dependents will not receive an ASC appointment notice. In order for USCIS to conduct biometric processing
of these conditional residents residing overseas and to generate a permanent resident card for approved
applicants, principal applicants and their conditional resident dependent/s between the ages of 14 and 79 are
required to submit two fingerprint cards (Form FD-258). In addition, all applicants and eligible dependents,
regardless of age, are required to submit two passport-style photos. As indicated on the instructions of Form
I-751, both items are required at the time of filing the form. Conditional resident applicants currently residing
abroad pursuant to military or government orders must have their fingerprints taken at a U.S. Military
Installation, Overseas USCIS Office, U.S. Consulate, or U.S. Embassy. In order for USCIS to identify filings
based on military or government orders, applicants are required to indicate on top of Form I-751, “ACTIVE
MILITARY or GOVERNMENT ORDERS”, and submit a copy of their current military or government
orders. USCIS customers inquiring about their pending petitions may use the following two methods to
receive information:
• Call the National Customer Service Center (NCSC) at 1-800-375-5283.
• Use the USCIS web-based Case Status Service located at: http://www.uscis.gov/
-USCIS
UPDATE New Biometrics Process for Conditional Permanent Residents
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announces the implementation of a new nationwide
biometrics process for conditional permanent residents who file Form I-751, Petition to Remove Conditions
on Residence. The new process is effective immediately. Under the old process, following the approval of
Form I-751, an approval notice was issued instructing the applicant to appear at a USCIS District Office for
processing of his or her Form I-551, Permanent Resident Card (“Green Card”). The approved applicant
would manually submit passport-style photographs, index fingerprints, and a signature on Form I-89, I-551 or
I-586 Card Data Collection Form, for creation of his or her permanent resident card.
The new process, as authorized in 71 Federal Register 15469 (March 28, 2006), requires all conditional
permanent residents to appear at a USCIS Application Support Center (ASC) after filing Form I-751 in order
to have their biometrics electronically captured. An ASC appointment notice will automatically be sent by
mail to the applicant with the specific date, time and location for biometric processing. Biometric processing
includes the electronic capture of an applicant’s photograph, signature, index fingerprint and ten-print
fingerprints. The photograph, signature and index fingerprint are used to generate the lawful permanent
resident card, if the Form I-751 is approved. The ten-print fingerprints are captured for the purpose of
conducting a criminal background check and are processed for applicants between the ages of 14 and 79.
Applicants (except for “overseas applicants” described below) will no longer be required to submit passportstyle
photographs, since photographs will be captured at an ASC.
USCIS requires all conditional permanent residents, including those residing overseas pursuant to military or
government orders, to submit the standard base petition fee of $205 and a biometric services fee of $70.
Following the submission of all applicable fees, a scheduled appearance at an ASC and the approval of Form
I-751, applicants will be issued a permanent resident card by mail. The process for “applicants overseas due
to military or government orders” is different and is described below.
It is important to note that each conditional resident dependent eligible to be included on the principal
applicant’s Form I-751 and listed under Part 5 of Form I-751, must submit an additional biometric services
fee of $70. This includes dependents residing overseas pursuant to military or government orders, regardless
of age.
http://www.ilw.com
ILWCOM
PROVIDED BY
The leading
immigration
law publisher
Purpose of The New Process
This new process will enhance security and enable USCIS to provide better customer service. Elimination of
the manual processing of Form I-89 will reduce the potential for fraud by electronically verifying the identity
of an applicant through his or her unique biometrics. An applicant can now check his or her case status
on-line and minimize visits to USCIS Field Offices. By using electronic fingerprint technology, rather than
manually capturing fingerprints, USCIS will reduce processing times for criminal background checks.
Efficiency in case processing will increase, and applicants will receive their permanent resident cards in a
more timely manner.
Exception For Conditional Resident Applicants and Conditional Resident Dependent Children
Residing Overseas Due to Military or Government Orders
Since USCIS does not have ASCs overseas, conditional resident applicants and their conditional resident
dependents will not receive an ASC appointment notice. In order for USCIS to conduct biometric processing
of these conditional residents residing overseas and to generate a permanent resident card for approved
applicants, principal applicants and their conditional resident dependent/s between the ages of 14 and 79 are
required to submit two fingerprint cards (Form FD-258). In addition, all applicants and eligible dependents,
regardless of age, are required to submit two passport-style photos. As indicated on the instructions of Form
I-751, both items are required at the time of filing the form. Conditional resident applicants currently residing
abroad pursuant to military or government orders must have their fingerprints taken at a U.S. Military
Installation, Overseas USCIS Office, U.S. Consulate, or U.S. Embassy. In order for USCIS to identify filings
based on military or government orders, applicants are required to indicate on top of Form I-751, “ACTIVE
MILITARY or GOVERNMENT ORDERS”, and submit a copy of their current military or government
orders. USCIS customers inquiring about their pending petitions may use the following two methods to
receive information:
• Call the National Customer Service Center (NCSC) at 1-800-375-5283.
• Use the USCIS web-based Case Status Service located at: http://www.uscis.gov/
-USCIS