Q: Pretended to be my sibling on a phone call with USCIS agent. Will my sibling's app have issues?
My sibling applied for N400. She's currently out-of-states for a break. She got a notice few days ago that the biometrics appointment is scheduled for mid-July. However, she will not be able to attend that appointment, as she plans to head back to the states in late August. She tried to reschedule their biometrics appointment via online, but it did not provide dates that are more than a month away. So she asked me (in US) to ask the USCIS via phone if they can reschedule the biometrics appointment. Agent asked me the receipt #, alien #, name, DOB, address. All were fine. However, when agent asked about the email address, I stuttered because I wasn't sure if he just needed AN email address or if he was verifying the email address on file. Then the he kind of warned me that the call is being recorded and that I be truthful, asking me if I'm the person of interest. I just said yes and went with it because I was just calling on behalf of my sibling and had sibling's info. Are we in trouble
A:
I understand you were trying to help your sibling. Here are some suggestions for how to handle this situation:
1. Your sibling should contact USCIS directly as soon as possible to explain the situation honestly. They can call USCIS or use the online tools to reschedule the appointment themselves.
2. If online rescheduling doesn't offer suitable dates, your sibling can submit a written request to reschedule, explaining their circumstances and proposed return date.
3. Your sibling may want to consult with an immigration attorney for guidance on how to properly address this situation and minimize any potential issues.
4. In the future, it's best to have the applicant themselves contact USCIS directly, or to obtain formal authorization to speak on their behalf if assistance is needed.
5. Be prepared that there may be questions about this incident. It's generally best to be proactive and honest in addressing it.
The most important thing now is for your sibling to take appropriate steps to rectify the situation. While this was likely a misunderstanding rather than intentional fraud, it's crucial to handle immigration matters with utmost care and honesty.
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