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Fingerprinting for US Immigration

Submitted by Chief Editor on Aug 3rd 2011

USCIS requires applicants and petitioners for certain immigration benefits to be fingerprinted for the purpose of conducting FBI criminal background checks. For ensuring both the quality and integrity of the process, fingerprints are done only at authorized fingerprint sites like USCIS offices, Application Support Centers (ASCs), and U.S. consular offices and military installations abroad. In general, USCIS schedules applicants and petitioners to be fingerprinted at an authorized fingerprint site after an application or petition is filed for which a fee is charged. USCIS charges a set fee per person (for most applicants) at the time of filing applications or petitions for this fingerprinting service.

The following three points apply for all immigration benefits applications (see exceptions below) requiring an FD-258 fingerprint check filed with USCIS after March 29, 1998:

1. Do not submit a completed fingerprint card (FD-258) with the application. The application will be accepted without the fingerprint card attached. If one submits a completed fingerprint card with the application on or after March 29, 1998, the card will be rejected and the applicant will be scheduled to be fingerprinted by USCIS.

2. Do submit fee, in addition to the application fee, payable to USCIS, with the application as the cost to be fingerprinted by USCIS is covered in it.

3. After USCIS receives the application, USCIS will provide an appointment letter with the location of the nearest USCIS authorized fingerprint site with instructions. The appointment letter must be taken to USCIS authorized fingerprint site specified in the letter for fingerprinting.

Exceptions:

Applicants and petitioners residing abroad who are fingerprinted at a United States consular or military installation abroad do not need to be fingerprinted by USCIS and are exempt from the fingerprint fee. These applicants and petitioners must file their completed card at the time their application or petition is filed.

The following forms are subject to exceptions to the above requirements.

Special Instructions for Form I-817 "Application for Family Unity Benefits under the Family Unity Program" or Form I-821 "Application for Temporary Protected Status"

Special Fingerprint Instructions for Form I-600, "Petition to Classify Orphan as an Immediate Relative (Orphan Petition)," and Form I-600A, "Application for Advance Processing of Orphan Petition (Advance Processing Application)"

Form I-589, "Application for Asylum and for Withholding of Removal"

To find the Application Support Centers (ASCs) closest see the "USCIS Service and Office Locator" page. One can also call toll free number at 1-800-375-5283.

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