InfoPass Electronic Scheduling System Opens in Los Angeles
Posted Mar 26, 2004

The USCIS announced on March 17, 2004 that it has opened InfoPass, an electronic appointment scheduling system, for the Los Angeles, Santa Ana, and San Bernardino local USCIS offices. The program is a pilot program, which started in Miami, Florida. At the present time, it is only available in the listed California local offices and the Miami district. Persons from those areas who have questions for immigration information officers may now schedule appointments online, through the USCIS WebSite. This will avoid the need to line up in the early morning hours to speak with an officer about a pending case or to ask a question.

These offices reportedly serve approximately 500,000 people a year. The USCIS plans to start the scheduled California InfoPass appointments on March 22, 2004. In order to serve the public, 1,140 InfoPass appointment slots will be available per day. The USCIS stated that it will increase the number of appointments if it becomes necessary in order to meet demand.

Computer access will be an issue for some. Most public libraries have free Internet service, however. In addition, the participating local offices will have InfoPass kiosks where individuals may walk in and schedule appointments. Though the offices will continue to take walk-in cases without an appointment for the immediate future, the InfoPass appointments will take priority.

We are pleased that the USCIS is improving its technology and phasing in such services. We will continue to monitor such improvements and inform our MurthyDotCom and MurthyBulletin readers as to when such capabilities come to their areas, so that they can take advantage of it.