USCIS Interview Scheduling Error: Interviewer Absent on Appointment Day

A petitioner recently shared a cautionary account of a USCIS green card interview that went awry due to an internal scheduling error. Upon arriving at the USCIS office, the couple checked in normally and were directed to the waiting room — unaware that their assigned interviewer was not present that day. The front desk officer who checked them in failed to notify them of this issue at the time of check-in. After waiting over two hours — a duration their attorney had indicated was not unusual — the beneficiary approached the front desk and only then learned of the error. The officer acknowledged the interviewer was absent and, rather than taking proactive steps, suggested the couple should have checked in sooner on their own initiative. Following escalation to a supervisor, the couple was eventually interviewed by a substitute officer who had not reviewed their case file and conducted what was described as a rushed interview. While the interview did proceed, it was notably brief and the officer indicated she would need additional time to review the case materials afterward. The outcome of the interview remains pending at the time of posting. The petitioner expressed relief that the appointment was not cancelled outright, given the lengthy waits typically associated with rescheduling USCIS interviews. The key takeaway from this experience: applicants should proactively check with the front desk if they have not been called after approximately 30 minutes, regardless of expectations about USCIS wait times. Do not assume a long wait is normal without confirming your interviewer is actually present and available.