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EXPLAINER · EVERY RULE QUOTED FROM AN OFFICIAL SOURCE · CHECKED OCTOBER 18, 2026

Green card interview

How USCIS interviews for adjustment of status work under the Policy Manual, who attends, and when an interview may be waived.

Adjustment of status is the process of applying for a green card from inside the United States.[1]

The USCIS Policy Manual starts from the rule that every adjustment applicant is interviewed unless USCIS waives it, and says waivers are decided case by case.[2][3]

The interview lets USCIS check important information about the applicant.[4]

Scheduling

USCIS reviews each case to decide whether an interview is needed.[5]

  • If one is scheduled, the applicant answers questions at a USCIS office under oath or affirmation.[6]
  • The notice gives the date, time and place.[7]
  • The case is moved to the USCIS field office (local office) that covers where the applicant lives.[8]

Who attends

  • In family cases, the person who filed the Form I-130 petition generally attends with the applicant.[9]
  • "Derivatives" (a spouse or child whose green card depends on the main applicant's case) are also required to appear.[10][11][12]

What happens at the interview

The officer checks that the applicant understood the form's questions, and the applicant can correct answers that were wrong or have changed.[13]

  • Unanswered or incomplete questions are resolved there.[14]
  • If anything is added or changed, the applicant re-signs and dates the application at the end.[15]
  • USCIS says to bring originals of everything submitted with the I-485, including expired passports and travel documents.[16]

When an interview may be waived

Officers may decide, case by case, that an interview is not needed, after considering all relevant evidence in the file.[17][18]

The Policy Manual lists example categories, and says the list is not complete.[19]

  • Applicants who are clearly ineligible for adjustment of status.[20]
  • Unmarried children under 21 of U.S. citizens, filing alone or with a family in which every applicant qualifies for a waiver.[21]
  • Parents of U.S. citizens.[22]
  • Unmarried children under 14 of green card holders, on the same filing conditions.[23]

Being in one of these categories does not guarantee a waiver, and applicants outside them can also have the interview waived.[24][25]

Reasons an interview may be required

Before waiving, officers are told to check the file against the reasons for requiring an interview. Those reasons include:[26]

  • A need to confirm identity or immigration status.[27]
  • Entry without inspection, or other open questions about how the applicant entered.[28]
  • Known criminal or national security concerns, or fraud concerns.[29][30]
  • Fingerprints rejected twice.[31]
  • A "Yes" answer to an eligibility question that an RFE cannot resolve.[32]

Special situations

  • A military spouse petitioner's appearance may be waived, but the applicant still attends.[33]
  • The same can apply to a U.S. citizen spouse petitioner who is incarcerated.[34]
  • Waiving an appearance because of illness or incapacity needs a supervisor's approval.[35][36]

Interpreters

An interpreter must translate word for word without adding opinions.[37]

The interpreter is generally a neutral person (a "disinterested party"), though an officer may allow a friend or relative.[38]

Related pages

Other steps in a green card case are covered in biometrics appointment and Request for Evidence.

This page explains general rules in plain English. It is not legal advice and does not tell you what applies to your case. Each numbered source below is the official page the sentence comes from; read it before relying on anything here.

Sources

  1. USCIS, Adjustment of Status. Last checked October 18, 2026.
    “Adjustment of status is the process that you can use to apply for lawful permanent resident (LPR) status (also known as applying for a Green Card) when you are present in the United States.”
  2. USCIS Policy Manual, Volume 7, Part A, Chapter 5 – Interview Guidelines. Last checked October 18, 2026.
    “All adjustment of status applicants must be interviewed by an officer unless the interview is waived by USCIS.”
  3. USCIS Policy Manual, Volume 7, Part A, Chapter 5 – Interview Guidelines. Last checked October 18, 2026.
    “The decision to waive the interview should be made on a case-by-case basis.”
  4. USCIS Policy Manual, Volume 7, Part A, Chapter 5 – Interview Guidelines. Last checked October 18, 2026.
    “The interview enables USCIS to verify important information about the applicant to determine eligibility for adjustment.”
  5. USCIS, Adjustment of Status. Last checked October 18, 2026.
    “USCIS officials will review your case to determine whether an interview is necessary.”
  6. USCIS, Adjustment of Status. Last checked October 18, 2026.
    “you will be required to appear at a USCIS office to answer questions under oath or affirmation”
  7. USCIS, Adjustment of Status. Last checked October 18, 2026.
    “We will send you a notice with the date, time, and location of the interview.”
  8. USCIS Policy Manual, Volume 7, Part A, Chapter 5 – Interview Guidelines. Last checked October 18, 2026.
    “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.”
  9. USCIS Policy Manual, Volume 7, Part A, Chapter 5 – Interview Guidelines. Last checked October 18, 2026.
    “For family-based applications, USCIS generally requires the Form I-130 petitioner to appear for the interview with the principal adjustment of status applicant.”
  10. USCIS Policy Manual, Volume 7, Part A, Chapter 5 – Interview Guidelines. Last checked October 18, 2026.
    “derivatives are also required to appear regardless of the filing category.”
  11. USCIS Policy Manual, Volume 7, Part A, Chapter 6 – Adjudicative Review. Last checked October 18, 2026.
    “the spouse or children of a preference immigrant can accompany or follow to join the principal beneficiary of an immigrant visa petition.”
  12. USCIS Policy Manual, Volume 7, Part A, Chapter 6 – Adjudicative Review. Last checked October 18, 2026.
    “they derive their status from the principal and are therefore known as derivatives of the principal.”
  13. USCIS Policy Manual, Volume 7, Part A, Chapter 5 – Interview Guidelines. Last checked October 18, 2026.
    “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.”
  14. USCIS Policy Manual, Volume 7, Part A, Chapter 5 – Interview Guidelines. Last checked October 18, 2026.
    “Any unanswered questions or incomplete answers on the application are resolved at the interview.”
  15. USCIS Policy Manual, Volume 7, Part A, Chapter 5 – Interview Guidelines. Last checked October 18, 2026.
    “If information is added or revised, the applicant should re-sign and date the application at the conclusion of the interview.”
  16. USCIS, Adjustment of Status. Last checked October 18, 2026.
    “must bring originals of all documentation submitted with the Form I-485 application. This includes passports, official travel documents, and Form I-94, whether or not they are expired.”
  17. USCIS Policy Manual, Volume 7, Part A, Chapter 5 – Interview Guidelines. Last checked October 18, 2026.
    “USCIS officers may determine, on a case-by case-basis, that it is unnecessary to interview certain adjustment of status applicants.”
  18. USCIS Policy Manual, Volume 7, Part A, Chapter 5 – Interview Guidelines. Last checked October 18, 2026.
    “When determining whether to waive an interview, an officer must consider all relevant evidence in the applicant’s record.”
  19. USCIS Policy Manual, Volume 7, Part A, Chapter 5 – Interview Guidelines. Last checked October 18, 2026.
    “The following list includes, but is not limited to, categories of cases where officers may decide to waive an interview”
  20. USCIS Policy Manual, Volume 7, Part A, Chapter 5 – Interview Guidelines. Last checked October 18, 2026.
    “adjustment applicants clearly ineligible for adjustment of status based on INA 245(c) and 8 CFR 245.1”
  21. USCIS Policy Manual, Volume 7, Part A, Chapter 5 – Interview Guidelines. Last checked October 18, 2026.
    “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)”
  22. USCIS Policy Manual, Volume 7, Part A, Chapter 5 – Interview Guidelines. Last checked October 18, 2026.
    “Parents of U.S. citizens; and Unmarried children (under 14 years of age) of lawful permanent residents”
  23. USCIS Policy Manual, Volume 7, Part A, Chapter 5 – Interview Guidelines. Last checked October 18, 2026.
    “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)”
  24. USCIS Policy Manual, Volume 7, Part A, Chapter 5 – Interview Guidelines. Last checked October 18, 2026.
    “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.”
  25. USCIS Policy Manual, Volume 7, Part A, Chapter 5 – Interview Guidelines. Last checked October 18, 2026.
    “if USCIS determines that an interview of an applicant in any other category not listed above is unnecessary, then USCIS may waive the interview.”
  26. USCIS Policy Manual, Volume 7, Part A, Chapter 5 – Interview Guidelines. Last checked October 18, 2026.
    “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.”
  27. USCIS Policy Manual, Volume 7, Part A, Chapter 5 – Interview Guidelines. Last checked October 18, 2026.
    “Need to confirm the identity of the applicant; Need to validate the applicant’s immigration status”
  28. USCIS Policy Manual, Volume 7, Part A, Chapter 5 – Interview Guidelines. Last checked October 18, 2026.
    “The applicant entered the United States without inspection, or there are other unresolved issues regarding the applicant’s manner of entry”
  29. USCIS Policy Manual, Volume 7, Part A, Chapter 5 – Interview Guidelines. Last checked October 18, 2026.
    “There are known criminal inadmissibility or national security concerns that cannot be resolved at a service center”
  30. USCIS Policy Manual, Volume 7, Part A, Chapter 5 – Interview Guidelines. Last checked October 18, 2026.
    “There are fraud concerns and the service center recommends an interview”
  31. USCIS Policy Manual, Volume 7, Part A, Chapter 5 – Interview Guidelines. Last checked October 18, 2026.
    “The applicant’s fingerprints have been rejected twice”
  32. USCIS Policy Manual, Volume 7, Part A, Chapter 5 – Interview Guidelines. Last checked October 18, 2026.
    “The applicant answered "Yes" to any eligibility question on the adjustment application, and the service center cannot determine eligibility through an RFE”
  33. USCIS Policy Manual, Volume 7, Part A, Chapter 5 – Interview Guidelines. Last checked October 18, 2026.
    “USCIS may waive the personal appearance of the military spouse petitioner; however, the adjustment applicant must appear for an interview.”
  34. USCIS Policy Manual, Volume 7, Part A, Chapter 5 – Interview Guidelines. Last checked October 18, 2026.
    “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.”
  35. USCIS Policy Manual, Volume 7, Part A, Chapter 5 – Interview Guidelines. Last checked October 18, 2026.
    “it may be appropriate to waive the personal appearance of an applicant or petitioner due to illness or incapacitation.”
  36. USCIS Policy Manual, Volume 7, Part A, Chapter 5 – Interview Guidelines. Last checked October 18, 2026.
    “In all such instances, an officer must obtain supervisory approval to waive the interview.”
  37. USCIS Policy Manual, Volume 7, Part A, Chapter 5 – Interview Guidelines. Last checked October 18, 2026.
    “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”
  38. USCIS Policy Manual, Volume 7, Part A, Chapter 5 – Interview Guidelines. Last checked October 18, 2026.
    “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.”

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