InfoPass Expanding around the U.S.
Posted Jun 11, 2004 ©MurthyDotCom

The USCIS announced in early June 2004 that the InfoPass appointment system will continue to expand. The system is targeted for a July 31, 2004 start date in Baltimore and other USCIS offices along the east coast. According to the announcement, the program is expected to be in effect throughout the United States by the end of the year. ©MurthyDotCom
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InfoPass is an online appointment system, designed to enhance the ability to communicate with the local USCIS offices about case-related matters. It also applies to appointments for requesting interim Advance Parole and Employment Authorization Documents. Currently, in most offices, the procedures involve long waiting lines and no system for setting an appointment. We provided information about InfoPass to our MurthyDotCom and MurthyBulletin readers when it became available in Southern California. Refer to our March 26, 2004 article, InfoPass Electronic Scheduling System Opens in Los Angeles.
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The USCIS offices will have kiosks available for those without Internet access to set appointments. As we noted previously, many public libraries provide Internet facilities, often free of charge. One might also check with various ethnic community organizations and immigrant support groups that work to provide such access. ©MurthyDotCom
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The ability to make an appointment will be an enormous benefit for all. The queues for waiting at some local USCIS offices tend to be extremely long. An appointment system will benefit everyone, including the USCIS employees who have had to face tired, frustrated individuals who may have waited outside in the elements for hours to ask a simple question. We at The Law Office of Sheela Murthy are very pleased that these much-needed steps are already underway and being implemented on a fast track. We also note that it appears there will be provisions for emergencies when it may be impossible to schedule an appointment ahead.