Is USCIS conducting green card interviews during Covid-19? Can my green card interview be waived?

On June 4, 2020 certain USCIS field offices started resuming non-emergency in person appointments. USCIS indicated on its website that the particular USCIS field office that is processing your green card application will send you an interview notice or re-scheduling notice if your green card interview was scheduled in the last couple of months but cancelled due to Covid. Some USCIS field offices are faster than others in re-scheduling the green card interviews.

Can USCIS waive my green card interview?

USCIS officer has a discretion to waive your green card interview in the following situations:

• Unmarried children under the age of 21 of U.S. citizen;
• Parent of a U.S. citizen;
• Asylee previously interviewed by a USCIS officer;
• Refugee previously interviewed by a USCIS officer;
• Unmarried child of a Green card holder;
• Applicant who is clearly ineligible

Please note that the list above is not exclusive and the interview may be waived in other situations if the USCIS officer determines that the green card interview is not necessary.

Please note that USCIS officers will determine on a case-by-case basis whether the green card interview is not necessary and should be waived. This means that if your friend’s green card interview was waived that does not mean that your interview will be waived as well, and because the interview waiver is discretionary you cannot request that the interview is waived.

Recently, some USCIS field offices approved employment based green cards without an interview. Additionally, we just had a case where a green card was approved for a parent of a U.S. citizen without a green card interview. USCIS requested that we submit a medical examination for the green card applicant and USCIS then approved the case without an interview.

Please click here  to find out more information about USCIS resuming certain processes.

Please click here to find out updates on USCIS furloughs.