The work of a USCIS interview lawyer is to go over your application, evidence and possible problem areas before you meet the officer, and to attend the interview with you under a Form G-28. A USCIS interview is a procedure in which a USCIS officer verifies the contents of an application in person. Common ones are marriage green card, Form I-485 adjustment of status and Form N-400 naturalization. You must answer the officer's questions yourself, so preparation focuses on making your answers consistent with the application record. The information below is current as of November 6, 2026.
Which applications require an interview
- Form I-485 adjustment of status. Applicants are interviewed unless USCIS decides to waive the interview, and whether to waive is decided case by case. In family-based cases, the Form I-130 petitioner generally must attend together with the principal applicant, and accompanying family members must attend too.
- Form I-130 marriage petitions. USCIS may interview the applicant, the beneficiary or both at any stage, either together or separately. For a Form I-130 filed on its own, USCIS requires an interview if the evidence that the marriage is genuine is insufficient, or the materials contain significant inconsistencies or adverse information.
- Form N-400 naturalization. The officer places the applicant under oath and asks questions about the application and background. Unless you qualify for an exemption, you will also be tested on English and civics.
For a checklist of evidence in marriage cases, see Marriage Green Card Lawyer: Process, Documents and Interview Preparation, and for naturalization requirements, see Naturalization N-400 Process and FAQ.
What separate interviews of spouses are
The commonly mentioned Stokes interview takes its name from the 1975 New York federal court case Stokes v. INS. The USCIS Policy Manual cites this case in the item on "requiring an interview when evidence of a genuine marriage is insufficient," and the manual also states that the two parties may be questioned separately.
When you are questioned separately, the officer may compare your answers. Do not memorize answers in advance, and if you do not remember, simply say you do not remember. If you receive a second interview notice, first tell your attorney how the last interview went, then recheck the timeline and the evidence.
What to bring
Everything depends on the interview notice. Bring all of the documents the notice lists.
Naturalization interview: USCIS lists the interview notice, your green card, a state-issued identification document (such as a driver's license), and all valid and expired passports and travel documents that record your departures from the U.S. For other documents, see the M-477 checklist.
Green card interview: Generally bring the interview notice, passport, entry records (such as Form I-94), a copy of the application you filed and the original evidence. USCIS may ask to see the originals at any time.
Foreign-language documents: Attach a complete English translation, along with the translator's certification that the translation is complete and accurate and that the translator is competent to translate.
Interpreter: For green card interviews the interpreter should generally be a disinterested person, though the officer may allow a relative or friend at the officer's discretion. The interpreter must show identification, take an oath to interpret word for word, and may not add opinions of their own. At a naturalization interview, only qualified applicants may use an interpreter, at their own expense.
What a USCIS interview lawyer can do
The attorney must submit a Form G-28, signed by both the attorney and the applicant, for USCIS to accept it. USCIS says the most common mistake is a form that is unsigned or missing a signature. In naturalization cases, the Form G-28 can be submitted with the Form N-400 or at the interview.
Beginning May 18, 2026, for interviews at USCIS field offices, the attorney must attend in person, and remote participation is no longer allowed, with a few exceptions. Who will attend and what time they will arrive should be made clear when you engage the attorney.
Under the naturalization part of the USCIS Policy Manual, an attorney may advise on legal questions but should not answer questions the officer asks the applicant. If the attorney is not present at a naturalization interview and the applicant does not wish to proceed alone, the officer must reschedule. If the applicant is willing to proceed alone, the applicant signs a statement waiving representation.
What an attorney can do before the interview:
- Go through the application item by item and find any address, job or marriage information that has changed.
- Review your entry and exit records and earlier immigration applications.
- If you have an arrest record, a removal order or removal proceedings, a gap in status, or a short prior marriage, tell your attorney before the interview so you can discuss the risks in advance and prepare court documents.
What to watch on interview day
At a green card interview, the officer will confirm that you understand the questions on the application and will let you correct any errors or answers that have changed. If there are changes, you must sign again at the end. If you find an error, say so on the spot rather than waiting for the officer to ask.
If USCIS requires you to appear and you do not, the application will be considered abandoned and denied, unless USCIS received a rescheduling or change of address request before the appointment time and accepted your reason. Naturalization cases are subject to a different rule. USCIS field offices do not accept walk-ins, and the interview location is the address on the notice.
Contact us
Lu Xin Law Offices is located at 36-09 Main Street, Suite 5-D5, Flushing, New York, and has an office at 14 65th St, West New York, New Jersey. The responsible attorney, Michael R. Curran (Attorney Curran), is licensed in New York and New Jersey. If you need a USCIS interview lawyer to review your documents, bring your interview notice and the application you filed and call 347-618-3386. For our services, see Immigration Legal Services.
FAQ
Can I bring a lawyer to a USCIS interview?
Yes. The attorney must submit a Form G-28 signed by both the attorney and the applicant. Beginning May 18, 2026, attorneys generally must attend field office interviews in person and may not appear remotely, with a few exceptions.
Can my lawyer answer the officer's questions for me?
Generally no. The naturalization part of the USCIS Policy Manual states that an attorney may advise on legal questions but should not answer questions the officer asks the applicant.
What if I get an interview notice but cannot go?
USCIS must receive your rescheduling request before the appointment time. If you do not appear and there is no rescheduling or change of address request that USCIS accepts, the application will be considered abandoned and denied. Naturalization cases have a separate rule.
Sources: uscis.gov, uscis.gov, uscis.gov, uscis.gov, uscis.gov, uscis.gov, my.uscis.gov, uscis.gov, uscis.gov, uscis.gov, ecfr.gov, ecfr.gov. The information above is current as of November 6, 2026. Immigration rules and fees may change, so check the latest official requirements before you file.
Attorney Advertising. This article is general information and is not legal advice on any particular case. Eligibility, procedures and outcomes depend on the facts of each case, the applicable law and the decision of the government agency.