Received a USCIS Notice About "FBI Privacy Requirements"? Here Is What It Means (October 2026)

Since the middle of September, many of our clients have received a one page letter from USCIS with the subject line "FBI Privacy Requirements for Biometrics Collection by USCIS," and we have been getting a lot of calls about it. Seeing "FBI" on a letter from immigration is unsettling, especially when your case is pending and you have done nothing wrong. The short answer: you do not need to do anything, but you should keep the notice.

What Does the Notice Say?

1. No action is required. The notice says, in bold: "You do not need to take any further action at this time." USCIS will send a separate notice if it needs anything else from you.

2. It is about your fingerprints. The notice explains that USCIS uses your biometrics, meaning your fingerprints and photograph, to check criminal history records kept by the FBI.

3. It explains your rights. You may request a copy of your own FBI record and ask for corrections if it is wrong or incomplete.

Why Did USCIS Send It?

Federal law requires USCIS to tell applicants how their fingerprints are used for FBI checks and what their privacy rights are. That is the formal reason for the letter.

The notice also describes a change in how background checks work. In the past, the fingerprint check was mostly a single moment. The notice explains that since 2017 USCIS has been moving toward a process it calls Continuous Immigration Vetting, and that applicants are being enrolled in the FBI's continuous vetting process. In plain terms, your fingerprints stay on file, and if new criminal history information is added to FBI records later, USCIS can be informed.

Just as Important: What This Notice Does NOT Mean

1. It does not mean there is a problem with your case. The notice goes to all applicants whose biometrics are collected for FBI checks. It is not a response to anything in your file.

2. It does not mean you are under investigation. The copies we have seen are identical apart from the name and the date.

3. It is not a new appointment or a request for evidence. You are not being asked to give fingerprints again, and there is no deadline and nothing to mail back.

Things to Keep in Mind

• Keep the notice with your immigration papers, in the same folder as your receipt notices and biometrics appointment letter.

  
  

• Tell your attorney right away about any arrest or charge, even one that seems minor, and even if it was later dismissed. Because the check no longer ends on the day of your biometrics appointment, something that happens while your case is pending may still reach USCIS. If you have had no contact with the police, this is not a reason to worry. It is a reason to stay careful, and to make sure your attorney hears about any problem from you first.

  
  

• Some details are still to be seen. The notice does not say how long this enrollment lasts or whether it continues after a case is approved. We will share updates as we learn more.

  
  

Questions?

If you have questions about this notice or your case, contact our office. We serve our community in English and Spanish.

This post is for general information only and is not legal advice. Every case is unique. Please consult a qualified immigration attorney about your specific situation.