One of the most frustrating parts of an immigrant’s path to citizenship is having to attend mandatory check-in appointments. Even more frustrating is the lack of a simple way to schedule these appointments.
A recent tool offered by the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, or ICE, can solve this issue for some in Daytona Beach and other Florida locations. The new online appointment scheduler aims to provide an easy method for noncitizens to make their check-in appointments.
Who is the scheduler for?
Currently, the online scheduling tool is only intended for those who were detained and then released by U.S Customs and Border Protection (CBP) at a border. After the CBP releases migrants, they give them an I-385 form and instruct them to make an appointment with Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO).
Before the release of the scheduler, immigrants had to appear in person or make a telephone call to schedule an appointment. Since most new arrivals to America have a poor grasp of English, it is hard to make these appointments in a voice-to-voice or face-to-face setting.
The scheduler is bilingual, working efficiently in both English and Spanish. Other benefits of the scheduler include:
- Ease of access (smartphone compatible and available on the web)
- Gives released noncitizens time to practice English before their appointment
- Helps ICE officials process immigration documents more efficiently
- Gives immigrants a better chance of complying with instructions
If you fail to check-in with ICE after you were apprehended and then are released, you could face expulsion from the U.S. With this new system; migrants should not have any problems making appointments as required.
Continue learning more about family immigration to improve your odds of achieving American citizenship.