Hi, everyone. In this video, I'd like to talk with you about virtual immigration
interviews. It's something we're seeing being used more frequently and you know that our
firm likes to share information regularly. If you're going through the immigration
journey, you'll want to stay tuned for all of this video to get all of the information
about exactly what is happening with virtual interviews and what you can
expect. Before I dive into that topic, I'd like to introduce myself. I'm Attorney Megan Pastrana.
Our firm is the immigration firm for couples. We're dedicated exclusively to assisting couples in
navigating the immigration process. If you haven't subscribed to our YouTube channel, please do so now.
We regularly post video updates about important information in the world of
immigration for couples and we also have a Facebook group called Immigration for Couples.
Virtual immigration interviews. I'd like to talk about what it is and when
they're occurring and what you can expect if you happen to have a virtual immigration interview.
For those of you who are going through an immigration process called Adjustment of
Status, that is a process that happens here in the United States. The entire process for naturalization
and sometimes, removal of conditions, you would have an interview as part of the process in your case.
We are constantly seeing USCIS, like so many organizations, having to adapt and
change as COVID continues to evolve. We can have social distancing and safety
protocols in place. USCIS is constantly working to find creative and unique ways to
be able to conduct interviews to maintain social distancing and to complete as many
interviews as possible to keep things moving forward.
What we have been seeing is, maybe if you've gone to an immigration interview
recently maybe you've seen this as well. We help couples all over the United States, so we're seeing
in USCIS offices all across the US that the officers will have plexiglass barriers in
place, separating themselves from the individual who's being interviewed. Then there's a little
window where you can slide documents through to the officer. That's one of the things that we
have seen. I discussed that in a separate video but something that we wanted to share with all
of you, something we're seeing happening now with more frequency is a virtual immigration interview.
What this is and what you should be prepared for is that virtual immigration
interviews still happen at the USCIS office. What we're seeing is that in some case
types, USCIS is working on having this occur in more than one case type, but we're seeing this
happen a lot in naturalization cases is that the officer will conduct a virtual interview
You still will attend the USCIS office for your interview. That's listed on your interview
notice. When we have gone to represent clients at their interviews, what happens is
that in a virtual interview, the officer will take us back to an interview room.
The client or the immigrant will sit on the other side of the desk. We as
attorneys, always sit behind our client. We're in the room with our clients
and then what happens is there will be a screen like an iPad or a computer
that's set on the desk right in front of you and the officer will be in a separate room.
This is a way that USCIS is experimenting with making sure they have so many individuals
that are coming for interviews that they have been able to really have more social distancing
to keep people as safe as possible. If you go to your interview, you might just
have an interview where the officers on the other side of the the plexiglass screen or you
might have one of these virtual interviews. Either way, don't panic. We just want you to know
that it's something that we are seeing happening more frequently. If you have a virtual
interview, then they will have a computer or an iPad in front of you
then the officer will be in a separate room and he or she will show up on the screen.
You'll be able to do your interview as if they were there
in the room and the officers have been really great about making sure that you can hear them
and that they can hear you. Some of our tips would be: don't be afraid to let the
officer know you didn't hear that. Sometimes with technology, it's great
but if there's any issues with sound or video, don't be afraid to let the officer know.
But for the most part, we have seen the technology that they've been using has been working well
We've been able to hear the officer very well and hear the questions as if they were in the room
and so that's what the virtual interviews are. That's what we're seeing
What will happen is there are certain papers that you have to sign or approve.
They'll either bring those those papers up on the screen for you to approve if there's any changes
in your application or they'll have a printer right next
to you. You'll have the computer screen with the officer talking to you and then
there'll be a printer right next to you. The officer will say, "I'm going to print out
whichever form that you'll have to sign now, it'll come off the printer.
You'll sign it and then you'll hold it up and show the officer so they can see you sign in the right
place and then they have you place it in a secure tray. What we do for our clients if we're
with them then, we can help them make sure they're signing in the right place and help orient you
if you're nervous during that process. Of course, you are. It's a very important day but
just wanted to give you some of those insider tips. Things that we're seeing. Just so you can be
prepared and it doesn't catch you off guard. If you happen to have a virtual interview.