USCIS Can Now Ask For Biometrics Of H-1B And Green Card Applicants

India-West News Desk

WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) is reportedly issuing unexpected Requests for Evidence (RFEs) in certain H-1B visa and employment-based green card cases, demanding residential addresses of foreign workers for biometric data collection. This new development, highlighted in a Forbes report, marks a significant departure from standard procedures and is generating considerable apprehension among employers.

For many companies sponsoring foreign talent, this is the first instance of biometrics being requested in these specific employment-based immigration categories. The lack of clear explanation from USCIS regarding this change is fueling serious concerns about potential shifts in enforcement strategies or unannounced policy adjustments.

According to the Forbes report, employers sponsoring foreign workers through the H-1B visa program or the I-140 immigrant petition process are receiving RFEs that cite “potentially adverse information” regarding the beneficiary. However, instead of the typical requests for missing documentation or eligibility evidence, these notices specifically ask for the employee’s current home address to facilitate biometric data collection.

Biometrics, which include fingerprinting and photograph collection, have traditionally been a requirement for processes such as adjustment of status (applying for a green card from within the U.S.), asylum applications, and removal proceedings. Their application to nonimmigrant work visa petitions like the H-1B is a notable change.

The Forbes report suggests that this could indicate a move towards heightened scrutiny or a fundamental change in how USCIS oversees these employment-based immigration pathways.