USCIS IMPLEMENTS RISK-BASED APPROACH FOR CPR INTERVIEWS

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has announced a policy update to adopt a risk-based strategic approach when waiving interviews for conditional permanent residents (CPR) who have filed a petition to remove the conditions on their permanent resident status.

Effective immediately, new criteria will guide USCIS officers on when to waive interviews for CPRs who filed a Form I-751, Petition to Remove Conditions on Residence. 

This update replaces previous agency guidance that required all CPRs to undergo an interview if they obtained CPR status via consular processing.

Under this policy update, USCIS may waive the interview requirement if the agency officer determines there is sufficient evidence about the bona fides of the marriage, the joint-filing requirement is eligible for a waiver (if applicable), there is no indication of fraud or misrepresentation in supporting documents, there are no complex facts or issues to resolve, and there is no criminal history that would render the CPR removable.

A noncitizen who obtains permanent resident status based on a marriage that began less than two years before obtaining that status receives permanent resident status on a conditional basis for two years.

To remove the conditions on permanent resident status, family-based CPRs generally must file a Form I-751 within the 90-day period before the two-year anniversary of when they obtained CPR status.

Visit the Policy Manual for Comment page to comment on this update.

Source: USCIS