Recently, more individuals are reporting that U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) is requesting them to upload supporting evidence in advance of their immigration interviews. This development may indicate a broader move toward virtual or hybrid interview formats—a trend our immigration law firm is beginning to observe firsthand.
One of our recent cases involved a client residing in Baltimore who attended what would typically be an in-person interview. However, in this instance, the USCIS officer appeared virtually from New York City. Ironically, our attorney, Alec Nelson, also participated telephonically from NYC, making the entire interview remote for both legal counsel and the interviewing officer. Luckily, our firm had uploaded the documents in advance, despite us not knowing that the officer would be virtual.
During the post-interview debrief, it was noted that staffing shortages in the USCIS field office had led to officers from other cities being assigned to conduct interviews remotely. This kind of resource-sharing may become more common as USCIS adapts to increasing caseloads and personnel limitations.
Despite the virtual setting, it’s important to note that clients are still expected to bring original documents to their interviews. These documents must be shown to the interviewing officer over the camera. In our recent case, the officer asked the client to “hold your green card up to the camera” not once, but twice, to confirm authenticity.
What This Means for Applicants
- Be prepared for a virtual or hybrid interview. While your appointment notice may list a physical location, the officer may not be present in the room.
- Upload evidence ahead of time if requested by USCIS. This is not only helpful but may now be a required step before your interview.
- Bring original documents with you. Even in a virtual setting, officers will likely want to see physical proof via video.
- Expect changes in how USCIS conducts interviews. As offices face staffing shortages, more remote adjudications may be used to ensure timely processing.
At our firm, we’re monitoring this trend closely and preparing our clients accordingly. If you receive a notice or request from USCIS that seems unusual or different from previous procedures, don’t hesitate to reach out. We’re here to help you navigate each step of your immigration journey with clarity and confidence.
For any questions, concerns, or comments, kindly contact us at josh@wildeslaw.com.
*This was posted on October 21, 2025, and may not be updated.