USCIS Biometrics Collection Expanded

Whether you’ve applied for anything with USCIS before or not, you are probably aware that there’s a biometrics appointment that you’d have to attend. The biometrics collection is important, and from now on, it may be taken from multiple types of immigrants. But what exactly is this biometrics collection that is so necessary when applying for any immigration benefit? Read on to find out more about the matter.

What Is Biometrics Data?

Biometrics data refers to the physical human characteristics, or behavioral ones, that belong to a certain individual. This data is used in order to identify a person digitally to grant them access to various things, such as national systems, for instance. The most known type of biometrics data includes fingerprints and facial patterns. All the biometrics collected from a person are considered unique to that specific individual, and will help with easy identification.

Very often, biometrics data is collected from people who apply for certain immigration benefits. These people have to show up on a previously decided date to have their biometrics data taken. Without the biometrics or if the applicant does not show up for the appointment, the immigration benefits will not be granted.

Why Does the U.S. Collect Biometric Data on Immigrants?

The U.S. collects biometric data on immigrants for a variety of reasons.

One of them is to verify the identity of the person. It is important to make sure that an individual who applies for immigration benefits goes to the biometric appointment because it will help create a unique identity for that person. Collecting this information will help certain institutions offer the individual the services he/she applies for – for instance, a green card.

Of course, there are also other reasons for collecting biometric data. Another very good reason for it is the fact that it works against identity theft. Many times, illegal immigrants are trying to get into the U.S. using someone else’s personal information. There have been situations where immigrants have gone undetected for years. This is harmful to the person whose identity got stolen, especially if the immigrant ends up committing crimes or other bad things under the false identity.

Thus, collecting biometric data is helpful in preventing fraudsters from stepping into the U.S. with identities they do not own.

Another good reason is for making sure that the person applying for the immigration benefits doesn’t have a serious criminal record. If someone has done any immigration violations or any crimes in the past, they should not have easy access to the same benefits as a responsible and honest person does. As such, the biometrics data is a good way to prevent that from happening.

Why Is Biometric Data Collection Being Expanded for Immigrants?

From now on, more people will have to undergo the biometrics appointment. Whereas there were about 3.3 million immigrants who qualified for the appointment in the past, the requirement will now extend to more than 6 million immigrants. But why is that?

There are a few reasons why biometric data collection got expanded. One of the reasons is the fact that it will help introduce contactless vetting in order to make improvements to the processing times.

On top of that, it will reduce a lot of paperwork. The authorities will not depend on piles of paper anymore. Instead, they will use technology in order to collect the information of the applicant. It will not only save a lot of time but will also make it easier for someone to find out the true identity of the person, see potential criminal records and prove the familial relationships of someone.

Another reason is the fact that it will help with the surveillance of possible fraudsters. It will make it easier to identify people who are committing any type of fraud – at the same time, it will prevent identity theft. Thus, benefits will only be given to those who are eligible.

The Department of Homeland Security’s final rule on this has been cleared by the White House regulatory review office already. However, some expect president-elect Joe Biden to halt all of the similar midnight regulations. When he gets into the office, he might change things. There might also be some opposition that could lead to privacy invasion lawsuits.

How Is the Data Collection Process Being Expanded?

The new published final ruling stated that DHS will have to collect biometrics data from anyone who applies for immigration benefits. In the past, only people with applications that involved background checks had to have their biometrics taken. Things will be much different now, as even people applying for green cards, non-immigrant visas, work permits, and so on will have to go to the biometrics appointment.

On top of that, there will be more people who will have to go to a biometrics appointment. For example, as mentioned before, there will be over 6 million immigrants annually who will have the biometric requirement, compared to before when the requirement was for 3.3 million people.

Another thing that changes is what types of data the services will collect. Most people are aware that fingertips and facial patterns are collected from applicants. But in the future, there might be a larger biometric collection. The extension will basically involve palm prints, DNA testing, iris scans, and voice recordings. In the end, this will help US institutions keep track of the applicants and make sure they are who they say they are.

Even more, the expansion is expected to get even larger over time. This is because technology is under constant development, which means there may be new ways to gain information from people, more specifically immigrants. So, if there will be new varying technologies, then it will help better identify all immigrants who are seeking U.S. immigration benefits.

Also, there will be no age bar for this particular biometrics appointment. Before the new ruling, the biometric system collection was limited to petitioners who were older than 14. Now, there will be no age bar for the collection. People under 14 will have to get their information collected. Eye-scans, voice recordings, and everything else will be included in their appointment.

It is possible for the appointment to be sought at different stages of the immigration process as well, until or after the applicant obtains U.S. citizenship.

Who Does the Expansion Affect?

The expansion will affect immigrants from multiple categories. Now, even people who apply for non-immigrant visas and green cards will have to go to a biometric data appointment. Furthermore, people who are applying for work permits, including those who are dependents of foreign workers, U.S. citizen applicants, and DACA members are also affected by the expansion.

The Bottom Line

The new ruling regarding the biometrics collection affects a lot of immigrants, as there is a bigger number of people who will be scheduled for an appointment. More information is going to be collected, and there are more categories of immigration benefits that require a biometrics appointment. So far, it’s hard to know if president-elect Joe Biden will change this or not – we’ll just have to wait and see what the future brings.

Frank Gogol

I’m a firm believer that information is the key to financial freedom. On the Stilt Blog, I write about the complex topics — like finance, immigration, and technology — to help immigrants make the most of their lives in the U.S. Our content and brand have been featured in Forbes, TechCrunch, VentureBeat, and more.

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