The date has arrived: The United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) reminded positive asylum seekers on Monday, September 11, 2023, that they must be accompanied by an interpreter to their positive asylum application starting Wednesday, September 13, 2023. interview if they are not fluent in English or wish to continue their asylum interviews in a language other than English.

You can read the reminder notice on its website.

There they also point out that “if you need an interpreter and do not bring one to your interview, or if your interpreter does not speak English and you do not demonstrate a justifiable reason,” USCIS may consider that a failure to appear. your interview and we may deny your asylum application or refer your application to an immigration judge.”

We will assess on a case-by-case basis whether the reason is justified.

USCIS

Asylum seekers in the United States will be required to have their own interpreters from September 2023

Requirements for Interpreters in the United States

The interpreter cannot be:

These are the two types of asylum you can apply for in the United States and who you can arrange it with

What is affirmative asylum in the United States?

Attorney Julio Oyhanarte, an expert on immigration issues, explains that “positive asylum is typically claimed by people who entered the United States on a visa and apply to the USCIS.”

USCIS Notice on Interpreters

The United States Citizenship and Immigration Services provides the following report on the interpreter issue.

On September 23, 2020, “we published a temporary final rule (TFR) requiring asylum seekers to use our contracted telephone interpreters for their asylum interview instead of bringing an interpreter to their interview.”

They released that TFR to reduce the spread of Covid-19 during asylum interviews with USCIS asylum officials while the COVID-19 national and public health emergency was in effect.

They have issued four consecutive TFRs extending the requirement, with the current extension in effect until September 12, 2023 (next Tuesday).

This fourth extension “provided additional time after national and public health emergencies have passed so that USCIS can prepare for the return to previous regulatory requirements.”

With the expiration of the TFR, USCIS will return to the old legal requirement that an asylum seeker provide an interpreter.

(JO)