Radlyn Mendoza is a USCIS Norfolk immigration office liaison, a member of the American Immigration Lawyers Association, and a member of the Virginia State Bar.
The Norfolk immigration office, located at 5678 East Virginia Beach Boulevard, is a USCIS (United States Citizenship and Immigration Services) field office that handles biometrics, interviews, and various other services. The Norfolk office has, however, moved some of its application work to other field offices – and that means you may receive notices from other field offices that haven’t handled your case before.
Common Immigration Questions About the Norfolk VA Immigration Office
Many people who need to schedule appointments or services at the Norfolk office have a tough time getting information, so we’ve created this FAQ that includes answers to the most common questions.
Can I go to the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) office without an appointment?
USCIS field offices do not allow walk-ins. You need an appointment for an in-person visit to the Norfolk USCIS field office.
What is the address of the USCIS Norfolk field office?
The USCIS Norfolk field office is at 5678 E Virginia Beach Blvd. in Norfolk. It is close to the intersection of N Military Highway and Virginia Beach Blvd.
How do I make an appointment with the Norfolk immigration office?
You must call the USCIS Contact Center at 800-375-5283 (or TTY at 800-767-1833) to schedule one. You can only schedule appointments by phone between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. Monday through Friday. If you’re currently outside the U.S., you can set your appointment online here.
Can I get InfoPass in 2023?
Info Pass was an online service from USCIS that allowed people to schedule an appointment with an immigration officer in a field office. if you are inside the United States, you can no longer schedule an appointment online using Info Pass for domestic offices. A replacement system called InfoMod was introduced in 2019. The change was brought in to reserve scarce USCIS resources for applicants whose business must be conducted in person.
Under the new process, you should call USCIS. You can initially talk to a tier 1 agent and ask for a tier 2 agent to schedule an appointment. When you call the 1-800 number for an in-office appointment in Norfolk, an official will call you back within 72 hours. You should be available to ensure you don’t miss that call. If you do, you’ll have to start over by calling the 1-800 number. It’s important to be persistent and not give up.
How easy is it to get an appointment at the USCIS Norfolk field office?
The new system involves considerable automation. Typically, you must work through the automated phone system and ask to speak to an agent. You can ask the agent to help you schedule an appointment. If he or she cannot or will not schedule one, ask to speak to a supervisor to schedule your appointment. Dealing with USCIS is often frustrating. It’s important to keep trying.
What services does the Norfolk VA USCIS office provide?
Like other USCIS field offices in the United States, the Norfolk office provides interviews for all non-asylum cases such as getting a Green Card. It hosts naturalization ceremonies and provides appointments to help applicants who need additional services to those provided on the USCIS website.
How long does it take to get a biometrics appointment at the USCIS Norfolk field office?
Backlogs associated with the COVID-19 pandemic have increased wait times at field centers. You should receive a biometric appointment notice 4 and 12 weeks after submitting your application.
What happens if you miss your biometrics appointment for citizenship?
Always prioritize your scheduled biometrics appointment with USCIS. If you don’t show up, it can take the government longer to process your petition. When you miss a biometrics appointment, either because you never received your biometrics notice or because you simply couldn’t make it, you can reschedule it. In Norfolk, the Application Support Center, which handles biometrics and is located on the first floor, will generally take a walk-in biometrics appointment if you have your notice. If you never received it, you will likely have to call the 1-800# to get a new one.
If you receive your biometrics notice and know you cannot make that particular date and time, you can send the notice back to USCIS at the address on your biometrics notice requesting a reschedule.
Unfortunately, you cannot pick a specific date for the appointment.
Can you reschedule an immigration interview?
You can reschedule if you can’t make it to your N-400, adjustment of status, or another interview at the Norfolk USCIS office. Follow the instructions on the interview notice, which involves mailing the notice back to USCIS and requesting a new interview. You must give the reason for the rescheduling. It’s in your best interest to do everything you can to make it on the originally scheduled date.
How long does it take to reschedule an immigration interview?
It typically takes 4-6 weeks for USCIS to approve or deny your request to reschedule a canceled appointment. You will receive an interview cancellation notice in the mail containing a new appointment notice. The length of time between your original appointment and your new interview appointment varies depending on how busy the Norfolk immigration office is.
Can I travel after a citizenship interview?
You can travel outside the U.S. after your citizenship/naturalization interview. You’ll still have the passport issued to you by your country of origin, and you can use it for international travel. After you take your oath of allegiance and become a U.S. citizen, you can get a U.S. passport and use that to travel outside the country.
Can I postpone the oath ceremony?
If you can’t make it to your Naturalization Oath Ceremony, return Form N-445 (Notice of Naturalization Oath Ceremony) to the Norfolk immigration office. Include a short explanation with the form to explain why you can’t go to the oath ceremony. You should save a copy of the letter before you send it. After USCIS receives your letter, it will reschedule your ceremony and send you a new Form N-445, which will include the date and time your ceremony will take place.
How do I get a temporary I-551 stamp?
I-551 Temporary Evidence stamps serve as temporary legal proof that a foreign national has the right to obtain a work permit and have unlimited residency in the United States. You can get a stamp on your passport by scheduling an appointment with USCIS by calling 800-375-5283. Temporary evidence of permanent resident status is necessary for the government to process a new green card. It takes several weeks to get an I-551 stamp, so book an appointment as early as possible. Usually, the stamp is valid for 6 months to a year.
Do I have to visit the Norfolk USCIS field office for questions about my case?
Many questions can be answered virtually by checking out tools on the USCIS website without the need to visit a field office. If you cannot get an answer to your question online, call the USCIS Contact Center to request an appointment.
Do COVID restrictions still apply at USCIS field offices?
Field offices are no longer impacted by COVID-19-linked closures, and visitors do not have to wear masks. However, you cannot visit a field office with COVID-19 or symptoms. You should not visit the office if you have been within six feet of someone with COVID for more than 15 minutes in the last ten days or returned from international or cruise ship travel in the past five days. Check the restrictions on the USCIS website.
Do You Need to Talk to an Attorney or Work Through the Norfolk Immigration Office?
The immigration process is time-consuming and frustrating. The COVID-19 pandemic has increased delays at the Norfolk field office and others across the country. Many people rely on help from a Norfolk immigration attorney to take the stress out of the process. Immigration law can be confusing, and rules change frequently. Working with someone who understands the process and stays on top of current changes makes sense.
Call us at 757-464-9224 to schedule a consultation with Gardner & Mendoza, PC. We can help you through the process, particularly if you’re in an area served by the Norfolk immigration office, and we’ll be happy to give you case-specific legal advice when you need it.