Date Announced

USCIS updates the Policy Manual to expand the criteria that determine whether a refugee and asylee applying for adjustment of status should be referred for an interview. The Policy Manual guidance includes eight new criteria for interview referral:

• "The applicant has an articulable national security or terrorism-related ground of inadmissibility concern."
• "Other eligibility fraud, identified on a case-by case basis, where Fraud Detection and National Security (FDNS), Center Fraud Detection Operations (CFDO), or Background Check Units (BCU) recommends interview."
• "Immigration records are insufficient for the officer to determine whether or not the applicant is inadmissible based on past or current placement in removal proceedings at any time."
• "The applicant has conflicting or multiple identities, other than properly documented by legal name changes."
• "A sworn statement is required to address the applicant’s admissibility."
• "An interview would yield clarifying information, such as with an unclear response to a request for evidence concerning the applicant’s admissibility."
• "The applicant is a citizen of, or last habitually resided in, a country that is now, or was at the time of last residence, a State Sponsor of Terrorism."
• "The officer has any other articulable concern regarding identity, inadmissibility, national security, public safety, or fraud, and recommends an interview to help resolve that concern."

[ID# 1244]

Effective Date of Change