Online scheduling eases immigration lines

MURRAY — When Bin Lin took her number at the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services office recently, she found a new way to see an immigration officer — an online appointment.

"It's the worst," Lin said of the usual long waits for help. She's waited up to four hours for an appointment. "If you can schedule an exact time, that could be really helpful."

The new online scheduling system, InfoPass, is a move officials with the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services say will eliminate notoriously long lines to meet with officers.

InfoPass is available in 12 languages at the CIS Web site, www.uscis.gov, said Allan Speirs, officer-in-charge of the CIS Salt Lake sub-office.

Speirs said the new scheduling system, which was introduced in Miami, will allow people to schedule appointments at times that are convenient for them, and gives them an easy way to change appointments.

"They know they are going to be seen for sure," he said. "It's more convenient."

So far, appointments are filling up fast. On most days, by 7:30 a.m. the day is booked, except for cancellations, Speirs said.

"There are no lines out the door whatsoever," Speirs said.

Speirs noted the system will be especially helpful for those traveling to Salt Lake for their appointments from elsewhere in the state. After an introductory period, all appointments with immigration officials will be scheduled online, he said. Exceptions will be made for emergency cases and those who travel long distances.

Tony Yapias, director of the state Office of Hispanic Affairs, said he's tested the site and it's user-friendly for those who are computer savvy. He said, however, that many Hispanic immigrants don't have a computer at home, and will have to learn how to use and access computers. Yapias said he's also concerned about the possibility of businesses charging people for using their computers to access the free system.

CIS is working with Utah's offices of minority affairs and community-based groups to help residents access the new system, Speirs said.

"We're going to have to work with people, teaching them how to go to different public libraries," Yapias said. "I've seen people spend hours and hours in line. I believe in the end, it's going to have a positive effect. . . . It will take some getting used to."