Press Release

USCIS Expands Green Card Interviews for Refugees, Asylees

December 16, 2020

On Tuesday, USCIS announced that it will require most refugees and asylees applying to become permanent residents to attend an in-person interview.  The expanded criteria for case-by-case interview determination can be found in the USCIS Policy Manual, Volume 7, Part L, Chapter 5, Part B, and applies to adjustment applications filed on or after December 15, 2020.

The most concerning new interview criteria is the following:

The applicant is a citizen of, or last habitually resided in, a country that is now, or was at the time of last residence, a State Sponsor of Terrorism.

Because Iran is a designated State Sponsor of Terrorism, it is expected that all refugees and asylees from Iran who file their green card application on or after December 15, 2020 would be required to attend an in-person interview.