‼️Starting May 18, 2026, attorneys will no longer be able to participate in interviews online or by phone. USCIS now requires an attorney’s in-person presence at the interview, or the client will be alone at the interview
⚠️This applies to:
✔️Green card interviews
✔️Citizenship (naturalization) interviews
✔️Family reunification cases
✔️Asylum interviews
✔️any other meetings at USCIS offices
✅May be a limited exception. However, there are still no detailed conditions when attorneys will be allowed to attend interviews remotely.
❓What should clients do now? There are three options:
✅First, if you want a lawyer to be present in person at the interview, you need to discuss travel expenses, accommodations, and other details in advance.
✅Second, thoroughly prepare for the interview with your lawyer in advance so you can feel confident even without a lawyer present.
✅Third, look for a lawyer in your city, but this significantly limits your choice of true professionals, a good lawyer may not be in your city or even your country.
🟢US immigration law is federal, so licensed lawyers can represent clients from any US state and anywhere in the world, even while residing in any country. However, a ban on remote attendance at interviews will create additional difficulties for clients and a workload for lawyers due to the travel required.
✔️But nothing is impossible; contact me, we’ll discuss everything and decide the best course of action for your specific situation, based on your plans and goals.
Immigration attorney Irina Lust
18 years of experience
Schedule a consultation:
✉️irina@myimmigrationlawyerusa.com
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