Starting on September 13, 2023, affirmative asylum applicants who are not fluent in English are required to bring their own interpreters to their asylum interviews. Individuals who prefer to complete the asylum interview process with a language other than English also have the choice to bring an interpreter.
If an applicant is not fluent in English and does not bring an interpreter, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) may consider it a failure to appear. If so determined, the asylum application may be dismissed or referred to an immigration judge. Each case will be considered individually.
The interpreter must be at least 18 years old and fluent in English and the language the applicant speaks fluently.
The interpreter cannot be:
- The applicant’s attorney or accredited representative
- A witness who is testifying on behalf of the applicant
- An employee or representative of the government of the applicant’s country of nationality or, if stateless, the country of last habitual residence
- An individual with a pending asylum application who has not yet completed their asylum interview
The current temporary final rule (TFR) that requires affirmative asylum applicants to use USCIS contracted interpreters available by phone for asylum interviews expires on September 12, 2023. Starting on September 13, 2023, individual affirmative asylum applicants must bring their own interpreters to the interview.
If you have questions about the asylum process or any other immigration-related issues, contact us at ILBSG. Our team actively monitors ongoing updates to U.S. immigration policy to ensure our clients optimize their odds of a successful outcome. We are with you every step of the way.