USCIS Expanding In-Person Interview Requirements

On August 28, 2017, USCIS announced that it will begin expanding the requirement of in-person interviews for certain immigration benefit applicants.

Effective October 1st, USCIS will phase-in interviews for the following:

* Adjustment of Status applications based on employment.
* Refugee/asylee relative petitions for beneficiaries who are in the U.S. and petitioning to join a principal asylee/refugee applicant.

Previously, USCIS did not require in-person interviews for these types of applications.

According to the USCIS press release, “This change reflects the Administration’s commitment to upholding and strengthening the integrity of our nation’s immigration system,” said Acting USCIS Director James W. McCament. “USCIS and our federal partners are working collaboratively to develop more robust screening and vetting procedures for individuals seeking immigration benefits to reside in the United States.”

USCIS plans an expansion of the requirement of an in-person interview to other benefit types. As a result of these new in-person interviews, it should be anticipated that processing of all immigration benefit applications may slow significantly.

Categories: Immigration Blog