US Citizenship and Immigration Services reminds affirmative asylum seekers that, starting September 13, 2023, they must bring an interpreter to their affirmative asylum interview if they are not fluent in English or want to continue with their affirmative asylum interviews. asylum in a language other than English.
If you need an interpreter and do not bring one to your interview, or if your interpreter is not fluent in English, and you do not show good reason, we may consider this a failure to appear for your interview and may dismiss your asylum application or refer that request. application to an immigration judge. We will analyze on a case-by-case basis whether the reason is reasonable.
The translator must be fluent in English and a language you speak fluently, and must be at least 18 years old. The interpreter may not:
- Your attorney or authorized representative;
- A witness testifying on your behalf;
- A government representative or employee of your country of nationality (or, if you are stateless, of your country of last habitual residence); Although
- A person who has a pending asylum application and has not yet been interviewed.
On September 23, 2020, we published a temporary final rule (TFR) that requires asylum seekers to use our contracted telephone interpreters for their asylum interview instead of bringing an interpreter to their interview. We are publishing this TFR to reduce the spread of COVID-19 during asylum interviews with USCIS asylum officers while the COVID-19 national and public health emergency is in effect. We have published four consecutive TFRs extending the requirement, with the current extension in effect until September 12, 2023. This fourth extension provides additional time after national and public health emergencies expire to allow USCIS which can prepare for the return of the previous regulatory requirement. With the expiration of the TFR, we reverted to the previous regulatory requirement that an asylum seeker provide an interpreter under 8 CFR 208.9(g).
