USCIS Implements Identity Verification at Field Offices

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has begun employing “Customer Identity Verification” (CIV) in its domestic field offices. The tool allows applicants to submit biometric data (fingerprints and photographs) when appearing at USCIS offices for interviews or to receive evidence of an immigration benefit. It will be phased in between September 9 and October 21, 2013.

After an applicant arrives at a field office, clears security, and is called to the counter, USCIS will electronically scan two fingerprints and take a picture to verify identity. The process takes a few minutes and applies only to those who have an interview or are receiving evidence of an immigration benefit. Those who come to a USCIS office for InfoPass appointments or to accompany an applicant will not undergo this process.

Currently, USCIS requires applicants and petitioners requesting immigration or naturalization benefits to visit an Application Support Center (ASC) to provide biometric data. “This requirement, along with providing a government-issued document for examination, will not change,” USCIS said.

CIV connects instantly to the United States Visitor and Immigrant Status Indicator Technology’s (US-VISIT) Secondary Inspections Tool (SIT). SIT is a Web-based application that processes, displays, and retrieves biometric and biographic data. US-VISIT also links databases associated with border inspections and security.

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