# Chapter 5 - Interview Guidelines

- Guidance
- Resources (11)
- Appendices (0)
- Updates (8)
- History (0)

All adjustment of status applicants must be interviewed by an officer unless the interview is waived by USCIS.**[1]** The decision to waive the interview should be made on a case-by-case basis. The interview enables USCIS to verify important information about the applicant to determine eligibility for adjustment. For family-based applications, USCIS generally requires the Form I-130 petitioner to appear for the interview with the principal adjustment of status applicant. In addition, derivatives are also required to appear regardless of the filing category.

During the interview, the officer verifies that the applicant understood the questions on the application and provides the applicant with an opportunity to revise any answers completed incorrectly or that have changed since filing the application. Any unanswered questions or incomplete answers on the application are resolved at the interview. If information is added or revised, the applicant should re-sign and date the application at the conclusion of the interview.**[2]**

## A. Waiving the Interview

### 1. General Waiver Categories

USCIS officers may determine, on a case-by case-basis, that it is unnecessary to interview certain adjustment of status applicants. When determining whether to waive an interview, an officer must consider all relevant evidence in the applicant’s record.

The following list includes, but is not limited to, categories of cases where officers may decide to waive an interview:**[3]**
                    -  Applicants who are clearly ineligible;**[4]** 
                    -  Unmarried children (under 21 years of age) of U.S. citizens if they filed a Form I-485 on their own (or filed a Form I-485 together with their family’s adjustment applications and every applicant in that family is eligible for an interview waiver); 
                    -  Parents of U.S. citizens; and 
                    -  Unmarried children (under 14 years of age) of lawful permanent residents if they filed a Form I-485 on their own (or filed a Form I-485 together with their family’s adjustment applications and every applicant in that family is eligible for an interview waiver).  

If USCIS determines, however, that an interview for an applicant in any of the above categories is necessary, an officer conducts the interview. Likewise, if USCIS determines that an interview of an applicant in any other category not listed above is unnecessary, then USCIS may waive the interview.**[5]**

### 2. Military Personnel Petitioners

USCIS may waive the personal appearance of the military spouse petitioner; however, the adjustment applicant must appear for an interview. USCIS makes every effort to reschedule these cases so that both the petitioner and adjustment applicant can attend the interview before deployment. The adjustment applicant may choose to proceed while the petitioner is abroad.

### 3. Incarcerated Petitioners

USCIS may waive the personal appearance of a U.S. citizen spouse petitioner who is incarcerated and unable to attend the adjustment of status interview. In these situations, the adjustment applicant must appear for an interview. An officer must take all the facts and evidence surrounding each case into consideration on a case-by-case basis when deciding whether to waive the U.S. citizen spouse petitioner’s appearance.

### 4. Illness or Incapacitation

An officer may encounter instances in which it may be appropriate to waive the personal appearance of an applicant or petitioner due to illness or incapacitation. In all such instances, an officer must obtain supervisory approval to waive the interview.

## B. Relocating Cases for Adjustment of Status Interviews

Unless USCIS determines that an interview is unnecessary, the case should be relocated to the field office with jurisdiction over the applicant’s place of residence once the case is ready for interview. 

The reasons for requiring an interview may include: 
                    -  Need to confirm the identity of the applicant; 
                    -  Need to validate the applicant’s immigration status; 
                    -  The applicant entered the United States without inspection, or there are other unresolved issues regarding the applicant’s manner of entry; 
                    -  There are known criminal inadmissibility or national security concerns that cannot be resolved at a service center; 
                    -  There are fraud concerns and the service center recommends an interview; 
                    -  The applicant’s fingerprints have been rejected twice; 
                    -  The applicant has a Class A medical condition that the service center cannot resolve through a Request for Evidence (RFE); 
                    -  The applicant answered “Yes” to any eligibility question on the adjustment application, and the service center cannot determine eligibility through an RFE; or 
                    -  The service center has not been able to obtain an applicant’s A-File, T-File, or receipt file (when the applicant has multiple files). 

## C. Interpreters

An applicant may not be fluent in English and may require use of an interpreter for the adjustment interview. At the adjustment interview, the interpreter should: 
                    -  Present his or her valid government-issued identity document and complete an interpreter’s oath and privacy release statement; and 
                    -  Translate what the officer and the applicant say word-for-word to the best of his or her ability without adding the interpreter’s own opinion, commentary, or answer. 

In general, a disinterested party should be used as the interpreter. An officer may exercise discretion, however, to allow a friend or relative of the applicant to act as interpreter. If the officer is fluent in the applicant’s preferred language, the officer may conduct the examination in that language without use of an interpreter. 

USCIS reserves the right to disqualify an interpreter provided by the applicant if the officer believes the integrity of the examination is compromised by the interpreter’s participation or the officer determines the interpreter is not competent to translate. 

## Footnotes

----

[^ 1] See 8 CFR 209.1(d), 8 CFR 209.2(e), and 8 CFR 245.6.

[^ 2] See 8 CFR 103.2(b)(7). 

[^ 3] See 8 CFR 245.6. USCIS is not required to waive the interview, even if an applicant falls within one of the categories listed in 8 CFR 245.6 or in this section.

[^ 4] See 8 CFR 245.6 (refers to adjustment applicants clearly ineligible for adjustment of status based on INA 245(c) and 8 CFR 245.1). 

[^ 5] Before waiving an interview for any adjustment applicant, officers should ensure that the record does not meet any of the criteria for requiring an interview. See Section B, Relocating Cases for Adjustment of Status Interviews [7 USCIS-PM A.5(B)].

## Resources

8 CFR 208.24 - Termination of Asylum

8 CFR 209.1(d) - Adjustment of status of refugees - Interview

8 CFR 209.2(e) - Adjustment of status of alien granted asylum - Interview

8 CFR 245.6 - Interviews for adjustment of status

INA 209, 8 CFR 209 - Adjustment of status of refugees and asylees

INA 245(i), 8 CFR 245.10 - Adjustment of status of certain aliens physically present in the United States

AR-11, Change of Address

G-1256, Declaration for Interpreted USCIS Interview

G-28, Notice of Entry of Appearance as Attorney or Accredited Representative

I-485, Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status

How to Use the USCIS Policy Manual Website (PDF, 2.99 MB)

## Appendices

No *appendices* available at this time.

## Updates

May 11, 2021

This technical update replaces all instances of the term “alien” with “noncitizen” or other appropriate terms throughout the Policy Manual where possible, as used to refer to a person who meets the definition provided in INA 101(a)(3) [“any person not a citizen or national of the United States”].

1 USCIS-PM - Volume 1 - General Policies and Procedures

2 USCIS-PM - Volume 2 - Nonimmigrants

6 USCIS-PM - Volume 6 - Immigrants

7 USCIS-PM - Volume 7 - Adjustment of Status

8 USCIS-PM - Volume 8 - Admissibility

9 USCIS-PM - Volume 9 - Waivers and Other Forms of Relief

10 USCIS-PM - Volume 10 - Employment Authorization

11 USCIS-PM - Volume 11 - Travel and Identity Documents

12 USCIS-PM - Volume 12 - Citizenship and Naturalization

December 15, 2020

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) is updating guidance in the USCIS Policy Manual regarding adjustment of status interview waiver categories and expanding the interview criteria for asylee and refugee adjustment of status applicants.

Read More

7 USCIS-PM A.5 - Chapter 5 - Interview Guidelines

7 USCIS-PM L.5 - Chapter 5 - Adjudication Procedures

7 USCIS-PM M.5 - Chapter 5 - Adjudication Procedures

September 02, 2020

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) is revising its policy guidance in the USCIS Policy Manual to align with the Fee Schedule and Changes to Certain Other Immigration Benefit Request Requirements Final Rule, published in the Federal Register on August 3, 2020. This guidance becomes effective October 2, 2020. For information regarding implementation, see Appendix: 2020 Fee Rule Litigation Summary.

Read More

1 USCIS-PM A - Part A - Public Services

1 USCIS-PM B - Part B - Submission of Benefit Requests

2 USCIS-PM - Volume 2 - Nonimmigrants

7 USCIS-PM A - Part A - Adjustment of Status Policies and Procedures

7 USCIS-PM F - Part F - Special Immigrant-Based Adjustment

7 USCIS-PM M - Part M - Asylee Adjustment

11 USCIS-PM A - Part A - Secure Identity Documents Policies and Procedures

May 21, 2020

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) is updating and incorporating relevant Adjudicator’s Field Manual (AFM) content into the USCIS Policy Manual. As that process is ongoing, USCIS has moved any remaining AFM content to its corresponding USCIS Policy Manual Part, in PDF format, until relevant AFM content has been properly incorporated into the USCIS Policy Manual. To the extent that a provision in the USCIS Policy Manual conflicts with remaining AFM content or Policy Memoranda, the updated information in the USCIS Policy Manual prevails. To find remaining AFM content, see the crosswalk (PDF, 316.97 KB) between the AFM and the Policy Manual.

1 USCIS-PM - Volume 1 - General Policies and Procedures

2 USCIS-PM - Volume 2 - Nonimmigrants

3 USCIS-PM - Volume 3 - Humanitarian Protection and Parole

4 USCIS-PM - Volume 4 - Refugees and Asylees

5 USCIS-PM - Volume 5 - Adoptions

6 USCIS-PM - Volume 6 - Immigrants

7 USCIS-PM - Volume 7 - Adjustment of Status

8 USCIS-PM - Volume 8 - Admissibility

9 USCIS-PM - Volume 9 - Waivers and Other Forms of Relief

11 USCIS-PM - Volume 11 - Travel and Identity Documents

12 USCIS-PM - Volume 12 - Citizenship and Naturalization

October 08, 2019

This technical update replaces all instances of the term “foreign national” with “alien” throughout the Policy Manual as used to refer to a person who meets the definition provided in INA 101(a)(3) [“any person not a citizen or national of the United States”].

1 USCIS-PM - Volume 1 - General Policies and Procedures

2 USCIS-PM - Volume 2 - Nonimmigrants

6 USCIS-PM - Volume 6 - Immigrants

7 USCIS-PM - Volume 7 - Adjustment of Status

8 USCIS-PM - Volume 8 - Admissibility

9 USCIS-PM - Volume 9 - Waivers and Other Forms of Relief

10 USCIS-PM - Volume 10 - Employment Authorization

11 USCIS-PM - Volume 11 - Travel and Identity Documents

12 USCIS-PM - Volume 12 - Citizenship and Naturalization

October 25, 2018

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) is updating policy guidance in the USCIS Policy Manual to remove references to Biographic Information (Form G-325A).

Read More

7 USCIS-PM A - Part A - Adjustment of Status Policies and Procedures

7 USCIS-PM B - Part B - 245(a) Adjustment

7 USCIS-PM F - Part F - Special Immigrant-Based Adjustment

7 USCIS-PM L - Part L - Refugee Adjustment

7 USCIS-PM M - Part M - Asylee Adjustment

7 USCIS-PM O - Part O - Registration

May 15, 2018

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) is updating guidance regarding adjustment of status interview guidelines and interview waivers.

Read More

7 USCIS-PM A.5 - Chapter 5 - Interview Guidelines

February 25, 2016

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) is issuing policy guidance addressing the general policies and procedures of adjustment of status as well as adjustment under section 245(a) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA).

Read More

7 USCIS-PM A - Part A - Adjustment of Status Policies and Procedures

7 USCIS-PM B - Part B - 245(a) Adjustment

## Version History

No historical versions available.

0
Current as of April 11, 2024

Back

Next

0 / 2000To protect your privacy, please do not include any personal information in your feedback. Review our Privacy Policy.