USCIS 2026 Alert: Lawyers Must Be Physically Present at Green Card Interviews from May 18

A notable procedural change is taking effect at USCIS field offices starting May 18, 2026. Under the new rule, immigration attorneys will no longer be permitted to participate in green card interviews by phone — they must be physically present at the USCIS office with their client during the interview. This reverses a longstanding accommodation that allowed lawyers to join interviews remotely, which had been particularly useful for applicants whose attorneys practice in a different city or state. The change was shared by a community member on Reddit and has generated significant discussion among applicants with upcoming interviews. For EB-3 applicants in the adjustment of status process, this rule change carries direct financial implications. If your current immigration attorney is not located near your assigned USCIS field office, you face two options: retain a local attorney who can appear in person, or pay for your existing attorney's travel expenses including flights and hotel accommodations. Applicants with interviews scheduled after May 18 are strongly encouraged to contact their attorney immediately to confirm their ability to appear in person. Those in the EB-3 pipeline — particularly those who have recently received interview notices following I-140 approval — should treat this as an urgent action item to avoid complications at a critical stage of the green card process.