USCIS May Now Require You to Travel Long Distances for Your Green Card or Naturalization Interview

When a foreign national applies for the I-485, Adjustment of Status to Adjust Status or N-400, Application for Naturalization, he or she must attend an interview with a U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) officer at a local USCIS office. Typically, the interviews are scheduled at USCIS locations nearest to the applicant’s home address.

On June 17, 2019, USCIS announced that in order to decrease long case processing times, it may shift cases from local field offices with large backlogs to offices with fewer cases. This means that an applicant may be scheduled to appear for an interview at a USCIS office outside of the jurisdiction closest to his or her home. This will likely cause additional planning and costs for individuals and families, as they may need to arrange for hotels, travel time and expenses. Interview notices are typically received 4 weeks in advance of the appointment date, and it is possible that USCIS may allow requests to reschedule interview at a USCIS field office closer to the applicant.

We will continue to update clients as additional information is released by USCIS regarding this change. Please contact the attorneys at MMH if you or your family member has an upcoming green card or naturalization interview.