U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has issued policy guidance in the USCIS Policy Manual to provide clarification on the interview criteria for asylees or refugees and applying for adjustment of status.
- Interviews are generally required when an officer is unable to confirm identity or admissibility based solely on the immigration records available.
- USCIS is re-establishing a uniform baseline for screening and vetting standards and is clarifying the
interview criteria for adjustment of status applications filed by aliens who are refugees, asylees, or
their derivative family members.
This guidance, published on August 1, 2025, in Volume 7 of the Policy Manual, is effective immediately and applies to adjustment of status applications pending or filed on or after the publication date. The guidance
contained in the Policy Manual is controlling and supersedes any related prior guidance.
Erickson Insights & Analysis
Erickson Immigration Group will continue monitoring developments and sharing updates as more news is available. Please contact your employer or EIG attorney if you have questions about anything we’re reporting above or if you have case-specific questions.