Form I-485 (Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status) is one of the most sought-after forms at the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services. Applicants pursuing to adjust status must be aware that interviews are a standard part of the process.
Once the I-485 petition is processed by USCIS, the interview will likely be the last step before the applicant attains lawful permanent residence in the United States. Still, if things do not go as expected at the end of the interview, the result may be a denial.
In this article, you will find out how to prepare for the I-485 Interview.
How to Prepare for I-485 Interview – In Detail
Who Will Attend the Interview?
Generally, the guidelines involved in the I-485 interviewing process include:
- USCIS may schedule the interview at an office nearest to the applicant
- For family-based petitions, both the applicant and the petitioner must attend the interview
- Marriage-based petitions always involve an in-depth interview
- Applicants cannot request USCIS to waive the interview
- Depending on the situation, USCIS may waive the interview on specific cases (which rarely occurs)
- Employers are not required to attend I-485 interviews for employment-based petitions
- Derivative applicants (i.e., spouse, unmarried children under 21) are usually expected to attend the interview
Is it Possible to Use an Interpreter?
Not all I-485 applicants may have the grasp of the English language to work their way through an interview conducted by a USCIS officer. In this sense, USCIS permits applicants not fluent in English to require the help of an interpreter for the interview.
The interpreter must file Form G-1256 (Declaration for Interpreted USCIS Interview) and submit it to USCIS on the day of the interview.
Yet, the interpreter must be a disinterested party without a bias towards the petitioner. Nonetheless, USCIS may permit a friend of the applicant to act as an interpreter based on discretion.
Plus, if the USCIS officer conducting the interview is fluent in the applicant’s language, the officer can conduct the exam without the use of an interpreter.
Preparing the I-485 Checklist
Once USCIS sends the applicant an appointment notice, it will include a list of items that one should take to the interview. Generally, applicants should expect to bring the following items to the interview:
- Government-issued photo identification or any other government-issued photo ID
- The original Appointment notice (I-797C, Notice of Action) sent by USCIS
- A full Form I-485 document package (including additional forms the applicant may have submitted)
- Original copies of all supporting documents submitted to USCIS with Form I-485 (e.g., birth certificate, marriage certificates, etc.)
- A valid passport
- Travel documents (if applicable)
- A medical report from the required medical examination written on Form I-693 (Report of Medical Examination and Vaccination Record)
- An up-to-date employment verification letter from a US employer (if applicable)
- Original copies of documents demonstrating shared life (only for applicants filing Form I-485 based on marriage)
After the Interview is Gone
If the applicant succeeds in the I-485 interview, USCIS will approve his petition. Typically, the officer who conducted the interview will place an I-551 stamp within the applicant’s passport. This stamp serves as temporary evidence of the applicant’s status as a lawful permanent resident.
Regardless, the agency will process the new green card and send it by mail to the address provided by the applicant.
Do You Want to Prepare for I-485 Interview and Ensure a Successful Outcome? – Work with Attorney Romy B. Jurado Today
If you want to avoid unnecessary risks when attending your I-485 interview, waste no time with uncertainty. Call Immigration Attorney Romy B. Jurado today at (305) 921-0976 or email [email protected] to schedule a consultation.
