End of infopass ...

[poh 124]

Sounds like you won't be able to schedule an infopass appointment online..... This is unfortunate because their online status checker is inaccurate and calling the call center is such a hassle.   USCIS to Expand Information Services Modernization Program to Key Locations

10/30/2018

Program provides operational efficiencies, improves delivery of services WASHINGTON—U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) will expand its Information Services Modernization Program to key field offices, beginning with the Detroit Field Office and the five offices in the Los Angeles District on Nov. 13. Field offices in the Newark, Great Lakes, and San Francisco districts will implement the program during the first quarter of fiscal year (FY) 2019. USCIS anticipates expanding the program to all remaining field offices by the end of FY 2019. The Information Services Modernization Program ends self-scheduling of InfoPass appointments and instead encourages applicants to use USCIS online information resources to view general how-to information and check case statuses through the USCIS Contact Center. Recent improvements to online tools provide applicants the ability to obtain their case status and other immigration information without having to visit a local field office. Since USCIS launched a pilot of this program in March, transitioning from the InfoPass appointment system to the Information Services Modernization Program has improved the delivery of emergency and other services that can only be provided in person and made operations more efficient overall. “Expanding this program is a significant step in our efforts to move more USCIS services and information online,” said USCIS Director Francis Cissna. “It also frees up agency staff to spend more time adjudicating benefit requests which should help reduce case processing times. USCIS remains committed to pursuing the most effective and efficient ways to administer our nation’s lawful immigration system.” Based on surveys and other data, USCIS determined that most people who made in-person information service appointments through InfoPass could have received the same information by calling the USCIS Contact Center or checking the USCIS website. Importantly, when it is determined an applicant does need in-person assistance under the Information Services Modernization Program, personnel at the USCIS Contact Center will help schedule an appointment without the individual having to search for available timeslots. Early results indicate the Information Services Modernization Program provides essential assistance while saving the public time and effort. The program will also allow USCIS to better align resources to reduce case processing times. For more information on USCIS and its programs, please visit uscis.gov or follow us on Twitter (@uscis), Instagram (/uscis), YouTube (/uscis), and Facebook(/uscis).

Edited October 31, 2018 by poh

[geowrian 22,335]

I actually don't mind this overall.

A lot of InfoPass appointments were being made that yield no more information than was available online. People with more urgent issues were unable to even schedule an appointment due to slots being full. It's better to free up that time to handle those cases as well as processing cases.

The part that sucks is that you can't self-schedule so you're bound by somebody else's calendar.

 

InfoPass appointments for people that live nearby a USCIS office are inconvenient. For people that live further away (~2.5-3h each way for me), it's a big hassle requiring a day off work, travel expenses, etc., so being able to pick when that is on your own was the one nice thing about the process.

[Russ&Caro 1,548]

Well, until people can print their own i551's from their USCIS accounts and home printers, I think there will be infopass appointments. Sounds like they're just scaling back some of the types of service requests that they'll be handling going forward.

[ThomasNC1988 762]

35 minutes ago, geowrian said:

I actually don't mind this overall.

A lot of InfoPass appointments were being made that yield no more information than was available online. People with more urgent issues were unable to even schedule an appointment due to slots being full. It's better to free up that time to handle those cases as well as processing cases.

The part that sucks is that you can't self-schedule so you're bound by somebody else's calendar.

 

InfoPass appointments for people that live nearby a USCIS office are inconvenient. For people that live further away (~2.5-3h each way for me), it's a big hassle requiring a day off work, travel expenses, etc., so being able to pick when that is on your own was the one nice thing about the process.

100 percent agree. The number of people wanting an InfoPass to see why their petition was taking so long has always blown my mind. Newsflash they do not know what is taking your petition so long because they don't have it.

[WandY 430]

Great News!!! Save the field office trips for real emergencies. I love it!

[ahm12 83]

so if you need a stamp on your passport because green card either expired or has not come yet you will have to call to get an appointment ?