U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has announced that it will begin expanding in-person interviews for certain applicants for lawful permanent resident (green card) status. According to USCIS, this is “part of the agency’s comprehensive strategy to further improve the detection and prevention of fraud and further enhance the integrity of the immigration system.”

Effective Oct. 1, USCIS will begin to phase-in interviews for the following:

• Adjustment of status applications based on employment (Form I-485, Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status).  Previously, applicants in these categories rarely required an in-person interview with USCIS in order for their application for permanent residency to be adjudicated.
• Refugee/asylee relative petitions (Form I-730, Refugee/Asylee Relative Petition) for beneficiaries who are in the United States and are petitioning to join a principal asylee/refugee applicant.

Beyond these categories, USCIS is planning an incremental expansion of interviews to other benefit types.
Our office will be in touch to discuss how to prepare for the interviews as soon as we receive any interview appointment notices. Please contact us should you have any questions or concerns.