U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) Implements Risk-Based Approach for Conditional Permanent Resident Interviews

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced a new policy update to adopt a risk-based approach when waiving interviews for conditional permanent residents (CPR) who have filed a petition to remove the conditions on their permanent resident status. USCIS Director Ur M. Jaddou stated, “Implementing a risk-based strategic approach to the CPR-interview process will increase efficiencies that improve processing times, allow for a better use of agency staffing resources, and help reduce the pending caseload while still maintaining procedures to identify fraud and protect national security.”

Previously, UCIS interviews were mandatory for Form I-751, Petition to Remove Conditions on Residence. USCIS agency officers now have the discretion to waive the interview requirement if 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.