Until recently, fingerprints were not part of the “biometrics” collected from intercountry adoptees seeking a Certificate of Citizenship (Form N-600). Suddenly, however, fingerprints are being taken for the N-600 in specific limited circumstances. Here’s what to know.
Biometrics is a required appointment for nearly every person who applies for an U.S. immigration benefit, whether it is for naturalization, for a renewed green card, or for an application for a Certificate of Citizenship. But what is required for biometrics is different for each type of case. Until recently, only a photo and signature has been required for clients who apply for a Certificate of Citizenship (Form N-600). That’s it. Photo and signature, and it’s what I’ve correctly been telling my clients for years.
That’s now changed, but it’s hard to say why or whether it’s a permanent change. It also appears to be happening in limited circumstances: only if you reschedule your initial biometrics appointment. That is, if you cannot make the initially scheduled biometrics appointment and need to reschedule it, you likely will be required to provide fingerprints at that rescheduled appointment.
Why is this Happening?
It’s hard to say exactly, but it likely relates to increased “re-screening” for certain immigration applicants, and applications for a Certificate of Citizenship have been caught up in these new screening requirements. Multiple sources have reported on a USCIS effort to “re-screen” naturalization, green card, and asylum applicants (among others) who have pending cases and whose fingerprints were taken prior to April 27, 2026. While this should not include applicants for a Certificate of Citizenship, it appears that rescheduling your appointment will trigger the extra screening, leading to fingerprinting. To date, only clients who have rescheduled their appointments after April 27, 2026, have been required to provide fingerprints. Clients who attend their scheduled biometrics appointment, even those initially scheduled after April 27, 2026, have not been required to do so.
What Should I Do?
If at all possible, attend the initial appointment so that you only need to provide a photo and signature. If you have no choice but to reschedule, there is not a lot you can do to avoid fingerprinting. We don’t know, however, what USCIS does with the fingerprints, as FBI background checks are not required for the N-600. While it’s possible nothing is done with the fingerprints, your fingerpints nevertheless become part of your USCIS file.
Do I Need to Worry?
I don’t see a specific need for N-600 clients to worry about fingerprinting, other than it becomes part of an overall surveillance state and is part of the expanded collection of biometric data stored by the US government. But I am watching this development closely. I am also monitoring a separate US government proposal to expand biometrics to include collection of DNA and other personal biodata, even requiring biodata collection from U.S. citizens.
How Do I Know If My Biometrics Appointment Will Include Fingerprints?
Each USCIS biometric notice contains a “Code” in the top right corner of the notice, and those codes generally are one of several numbers: 1, 2, 3, or 5. Codes 2 and 3 are generally the most common, and Code 2—at least in the context of a Certificate of Citizenship (N-600)—means only a photo and signature. For rescheduled appointments, the biometrics Code changes from 2 to 3, meaning full fingerprinting (all 10 fingers) plus photo and signature.
