Infopass is a tool provided by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) in order to give foreign nationals the chance to make appointments for a variety of immigration needs. These appointments can be made at USCIS field offices across the country, and in some instances even at USCIS offices internationally. It allows either the individual in question or a legal representative to make appointments online for ADIT Stamp services, Emergency Advance Parole documents (not to be confused with expediting an existing Advanced Parole request), and Immigration Judge Grants. It also allows certain asylum and Nicaraguan and Central American Relief Act (NACARA) applicants to schedule specific kinds of appointments. The website also gives an option to translate into several different languages. To find the Infopass appointment website, a simple Google search of "Infopass," or searching for the same on USCIS’ website, will take you to the appointment link.

When requesting a process through Infopass, the platform navigates the user through an easy to follow four-step process. First, the website will want to ascertain who is making the request, whether the beneficiary or a representative. If this appointment is being made by the representative, it will ask for their contact information and ask if they would like to receive text messages to confirm availability before calls. It is highly recommended, when possible, to receive the text message as a missed call can cause serious delays in the process. If the representative has a USCIS Online Account, they can input the information during this step to link this to their account.

The second step is to specify what kind of appointment is being requested: ADIT Stamp, Emergency Advance Parole (EAP), Immigration Judge Grants, or "other." "Other" is put in quotations here, because whenever I have tried to use this option, a message appears on the screen stating that “You must contact the USCIS Contact Center” for services not related to the other three options. If a service other than these three needs to be requested, you can call the number they provide, and when given the chance to state the purpose of the call, say "Infopass." In our experience, this tends to quickly connect you to an actual individual who can take your request from there, as opposed to trying to navigate the labyrinthine setup of automated messaging.

When selecting the other three options, the website will ask for additional information such as when the individual needs their proof of status for benefits (ADIT), when they are planning to travel (EAP), or information about the final order from the Immigration Judge. The timing of requests is also important, as asking for an ADIT Stamp appointment too far in advance, or if asking for an EAP within ten business days, the system will instruct the user to instead call the USCIS contact center. During this step the system will also ask whether there is a certain day or time of day that would be preferable to receive their call.

The third and fourth steps simply involve collecting the requisite personal information of the beneficiary who will be attending the appointment, and then finally making the appointment itself. This information will include name, date of birth, zip code, country of birth, receipt number of relevant application or petition, A-Number, and contact information (both email and phone number). Once all this information is plugged in, the last step is simply reviewing the information, and, if everything is accurate, then submitting your appointment request. To be clear, this is a request and the wait for an appointment will vary depending on the local office. If it is an emergency, it is usually best to call, say "Infopass," and set this appointment up with the agent on the line.

While it can be limited in scope, if any of the aforementioned appointment types are needed, Infopass truly is a quick and relatively accessible tool to use. Setting up the appointments can be done in a few minutes, the service is offered in multiple languages, and can all be done by either the individual or their representative. And if the system cannot do as requested, calling the USCIS contact center and asking for "Infopass" is a reliable way to talk to a person and address your needs.

If you have any questions about the Infopass process, please contact your RIS assigned attorney.