U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services has announced a fourth extension to a temporary final rule (TFR) requiring use of a USCIS interpreter at certain affirmative asylum interviews. This TFR extends the requirement through Sept. 12, 2023. After that date, affirmative asylum applicants who cannot proceed with the interview in English must provide their own interpreters.
Extending this TFR until after that declaration expires will provide public notice that the TFR is expiring and help ensure an orderly and efficient return to prior practice.
Under the TFR, certain asylum applicants must use USCIS’ contract telephonic interpreters instead of bringing their own interpreter to their affirmative asylum interview. USCIS contract interpreters are available in 47 languages, listed on the TFR webpage.
There is no fee to use a government-provided interpreter. If an applicant does not speak English or any of the 47 languages listed, they must bring their own interpreter to the affirmative asylum interview.
