Cell phone in USCIS Brooklyn office

[akravche 1]

Hello all,

 

My wife received an appointment for biometrics at 1260-1278 60th St. office in Brooklyn.  The letter states in bold that cell phones are not permitted.  Since we'll get there by public transport, we won't have an option to leave the phones in the car.

Has anyone went through this office recently?  Do they scan bags and reject cell phones?  If so, is there a way to store it somewhere?

[Laniakean 13]

13 minutes ago, akravche said:

Hello all,

 

My wife received an appointment for biometrics at 1260-1278 60th St. office in Brooklyn.  The letter states in bold that cell phones are not permitted.  Since we'll get there by public transport, we won't have an option to leave the phones in the car.

Has anyone went through this office recently?  Do they scan bags and reject cell phones?  If so, is there a way to store it somewhere?

They only enforce this rule while in the area for people taking the biometrics. You are free to keep you cellphones and even use them at waiting area by the entrance where you will fill out a short form. I have been there many times and the last one was just last week, and it has been always the same so I am sure you will and your wife will be just fine.

[akravche 1]

1 hour ago, Laniakean said:

They only enforce this rule while in the area for people taking the biometrics. You are free to keep you cellphones and even use them at waiting area by the entrance where you will fill out a short form. I have been there many times and the last one was just last week, and it has been always the same so I am sure you will and your wife will be just fine.

Thank you, a bit confused about one thing though, probably because I've never been there.  So, when my wife goes to the room where they take biometrics, will she has to leave her phone outside or keep it quietly in her bag?

 

Also, somewhat unrelated question, we filed two applications - petition to remove condition on greencard and request to travel.  We got appointment letter only for request to travel, will there be anyone there to ask if the two biometric appointments got combined?

thanks.

[Laniakean 13]

53 minutes ago, akravche said:

Thank you, a bit confused about one thing though, probably because I've never been there.  So, when my wife goes to the room where they take biometrics, will she has to leave her phone outside or keep it quietly in her bag?

 

Also, somewhat unrelated question, we filed two applications - petition to remove condition on greencard and request to travel.  We got appointment letter only for request to travel, will there be anyone there to ask if the two biometric appointments got combined?

thanks.

Keeping the phone on silent mode in her purse should be more than enough. She will probably spend no more than five minutes in the booth where she will have her fingerprints scanned and picture taken.

 

To be clear, this ASC is just a wide room which I assume used to be a store in a small shopping mall. There are really no walls or partitions. Just a security checkpoint where they will ask her for the appointment letter and give her the form, a bank of seats by the entrance to fill up the form, then a short line to a reception desk where her documents will be checked for accuracy and where she will be assigned a queue number, and then another set of seats near the booths I mentioned before. At first, she will be directed to the grey seats (where you can join her), and then her number will be called to go to red seats at the front (you cannot go with her at this point).

Only after passing by the reception and getting the number you guys should not have your phones exposed anymore. Having said that, the longest time I spent there was around 25 minutes so I really don’t think there are any concerns about missing important FB or Instagram posts (I hear you can get people talking to you as well on those things but I am not sure ).

 

As for the I-131/I-751 question, my guess is no. This ASC seems to be an outsourced or simply a data entry facility (I had biometrics for an UK visa there as well) and they don’t seem to really have real access to the case files. Feel free to ask at the reception desk as it seems it is where the most knowledgeable people seat.