Quick answer: Does Form I-90 require a biometrics appointment?
Yes. USCIS generally schedules applicants who properly file Form I-90 to renew or replace a Green Card for a biometrics services appointment. Under current USCIS policy, Form I-90 is excluded from photograph reuse, so USCIS requires new biometrics, including a new photograph. The appointment notice lists the date, time, and location. Failing to appear without properly rescheduling may cause USCIS to treat the application as abandoned and deny it.
This guide is for lawful permanent residents who filed or plan to file Form I-90 for a 10-year Green Card renewal or Green Card replacement. It explains when USCIS schedules biometrics, how to read the appointment notice, what identification to bring, and what happens at the Application Support Center. It also covers rescheduling, missed appointments, missing notices, and the steps that may follow once USCIS collects the required biometrics.
Form I-90 biometrics requirements at a glance
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| Is biometrics required? | USCIS generally schedules Form I-90 applicants for biometrics. |
| Is a new photograph required? | Yes, under current USCIS policy. |
| What may USCIS collect? | A photograph, fingerprints and a signature, as applicable. |
| Where is it completed? | Usually at a USCIS Application Support Center. |
| Is there a separate biometrics fee? | No. Biometrics is included in the applicable Form I-90 filing fee. |
| What if the appointment is missed? | USCIS may treat the application as abandoned and deny it. |
Does Form I-90 require new biometrics?
Yes. USCIS generally requires applicants who file Form I-90 to renew or replace a Permanent Resident Card to complete a new biometrics services appointment. At an Application Support Center, USCIS verifies identity and generally collects a new photograph, fingerprints and a signature. Under the photograph policy effective December 12, 2025, Form I-90 is specifically excluded from photograph reuse, even when USCIS has a recent photograph from an earlier case.
USCIS sends Form I-797C with the date, time, location and attendance instructions. The appointment is a processing step, not an interview or approval decision. Applicants temporarily outside the United States under U.S. military or government orders may have different submission requirements, including an FD-258 fingerprint card and passport-style photograph. They should follow the current Form I-90 instructions.
When will USCIS schedule the appointment?
USCIS generally schedules the biometrics appointment after it accepts Form I-90 for processing. The applicant receives Form I-797C, Notice of Action, showing the appointment date, time and Application Support Center location. A copy may also appear in the applicant’s USCIS online account.
USCIS does not publish a fixed appointment schedule for every Form I-90 case. Timing can vary based on case intake, ASC availability and USCIS operations. Applicants should monitor mailed notices and their online account and keep their address current with USCIS.
What should you bring?
Bring the Form I-797C biometrics appointment notice and a valid, unexpired government-issued photo identification document. USCIS lists examples such as your Green Card, passport or driver’s license. If your Green Card is unavailable because it was lost, stolen or destroyed, bring another acceptable photo ID and follow any additional instructions in the notice.
Also bring any document USCIS specifically requests. Review the notice before leaving because required identification can depend on your circumstances. Bring original identification rather than a photocopy unless USCIS instructs otherwise. Form I-90 applicants generally do not need passport-style photos for a standard ASC appointment; USCIS takes the required new photograph during biometrics.
What happens at the appointment?
At the Application Support Center, staff review your Form I-797C and photo identification to confirm your identity and connect the appointment to your Form I-90 case. They may verify biographic information, including your name, date of birth and sex, and review any documented changes. USCIS then takes a new photograph and collects fingerprints and a digital signature, as applicable.
The visit is limited to biometrics collection. It is not normally an interview about your eligibility, and ASC staff do not approve Form I-90 or issue your Green Card. After collecting the biometrics, USCIS uses them for identity verification, applicable background and security checks, and production of the new card if the application is approved.
For broader information about ASC preparation and procedures that apply across USCIS applications, see what to expect at a USCIS biometrics appointment.
Is there a separate biometrics fee?
No. USCIS does not charge a separate biometrics services fee for Form I-90. Required biometrics are included in the applicable filing fee. Review the current Form I-90 fees before filing because fees and payment rules may change.
How do you reschedule or handle a missed appointment?
If you cannot attend on the scheduled date, request rescheduling before the appointment whenever possible. Follow Form I-797C and use the online self-service rescheduling tool through your USCIS account or contact the USCIS Contact Center. USCIS requires good cause for rescheduling. Do not mail the request or visit an Application Support Center simply to ask for another date. Save the confirmation and monitor your account and mail for the new notice.
If the appointment date has passed, contact the USCIS Contact Center promptly. The online rescheduling tool cannot be used after a missed appointment. Explain why you missed it, provide your receipt number and follow the instructions USCIS gives you. USCIS may consider a late request while Form I-90 remains pending, but a new appointment is not guaranteed.
Failure to appear may cause USCIS to treat Form I-90 as abandoned and deny it. Do not automatically submit a duplicate application. If USCIS denies the case, follow the decision notice and review Form I-90 rejection and denial options before deciding whether to refile.
What if the appointment notice does not arrive?
If you expected a biometrics notice but it did not arrive, check your USCIS online account and Case Status Online for an update or electronic copy. Confirm that USCIS has your current mailing address; updating your address with USPS does not update USCIS records. Do not visit an Application Support Center without a notice. If your account shows that a notice was issued or you believe it was missed, contact USCIS promptly with your receipt number and A-Number available. See Form I-90 problems after filing for additional notice and account guidance.
What happens after biometrics?
After USCIS collects your biometrics, Form I-90 remains pending while the agency completes identity verification, applicable background and security checks and its eligibility review. Completing the appointment does not mean the application is approved or provide a completion date.
USCIS may continue reviewing the case, issue a Request for Evidence, schedule an interview when needed or make a decision. If approved, USCIS produces and mails the new Green Card. Monitor your account and mail, keep your address current and respond to notices by their deadlines. Review the current Form I-90 processing time before submitting a case inquiry.
Accommodations and special circumstances
If a disability or medical condition affects your ability to attend, communicate or provide biometrics, request a reasonable accommodation from USCIS as early as possible. USCIS determines whether in-office support, alternative arrangements or, in limited circumstances, mobile biometrics is appropriate. If an injury, scar or skin condition makes fingerprinting difficult, attend unless USCIS instructs otherwise and inform ASC staff. A fingerprint accommodation or waiver does not automatically remove the Form I-90 appointment or new-photograph requirement. Follow your notice and the USCIS accommodation instructions.
FAQs About Form I-90 Biometrics Appointment
Does the biometrics appointment extend my Green Card’s validity?
No. Attending biometrics does not extend your Green Card. For a qualifying 10-year-card renewal, the Form I-90 receipt notice generally extends the card’s validity for 36 months beyond its expiration date when presented with the expired card. Replacement applicants without their card may need temporary Form I-551 evidence.
Can USCIS schedule a second Form I-90 biometrics appointment?
Yes. USCIS may issue another appointment notice if it cannot use the biometrics collected at the first appointment or needs updated information while the case remains pending. A second notice does not by itself mean Form I-90 will be denied. Follow the newest notice and contact USCIS if the instructions conflict.
Can I attend my biometrics appointment at a different ASC?
Do not assume you can attend a different Application Support Center. Use the location on Form I-797C unless USCIS approves rescheduling or sends an updated notice. If the assigned location is impractical, use the available rescheduling process before the appointment. Walk-in service at another ASC is not guaranteed.
Choose the correct next step
Your next step depends on whether USCIS has scheduled your appointment, you need to reschedule, or you have not yet filed Form I-90.
You received an appointment notice
Review the date, time, location and instructions on Form I-797C. Gather the required identification and attend the Application Support Center listed in the notice.
You need to reschedule
Request rescheduling before the appointment whenever possible. Follow the notice and use the current USCIS rescheduling process. Keep the confirmation and watch for a replacement appointment notice.
Your notice did not arrive or your case has another problem
Check your USCIS account, confirm your mailing address, and use the appropriate case-contact process. Do not file another Form I-90 solely because a notice is delayed. Review Form I-90 Problems After Filing
You have not filed Form I-90
Confirm whether you need to renew an expiring 10-year Green Card or replace a lost, stolen, damaged, or incorrect card. Then select the service that matches your filing reason. Renew My Green Card or Replace My Green Card.
ImmigrationDirect provides a private Form I-90 preparation service and is not affiliated with USCIS. Its service fee is separate from the USCIS filing fee. Blank government forms and filing instructions are available free from USCIS.
