USCIS Shifts Some Green Card Interviews Abroad, Impacting Applicants in the U.S.

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services announced it will shift some green card interviews to U.S. consulates abroad, a change that will affect applicants who have been living in the United States and filed their applications domestically.

The policy applies to certain adjustment of status applications, typically filed by individuals already in the U.S. seeking permanent residence. Under the new procedure, USCIS may transfer the case to a U.S. consulate in the applicant's home country for an interview, rather than conducting it within the United States.

The move is intended to reduce backlogs and streamline processing, but it could create additional travel and logistical burdens for applicants who must now return to their country of origin for an interview. The change primarily impacts applicants from countries with high volumes of green card petitions.

USCIS stated that the shift will be implemented on a case-by-case basis and that applicants will receive notification if their interview is transferred abroad. The agency emphasized that the policy does not affect all adjustment of status cases and that some applicants may still have their interviews conducted in the United States.