USCIS Offers Free Interpreters For Asylum Interviews During Pandemic

If you’re a speaker of a language other than English and do not possess English proficiency, then the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services or USCIS allows you to use interpreters. You can then submit certified translation documents. But for asylum interviews, you can use a USCIS-approved interpreter for your cause. And the good news is due to the COVID-19 pandemic, USCIS has waived off the fees usually charged for the services. Therefore, you can get a free interpreter for asylum interviews.

What is an Asylum Interview?

Every year, thousands of people are admitted into the United States because they have suffered persecution at their native place or in a foreign country. They might have faced persecution because of their race, nationality, religion, or political opinion. People admitted in this process are called asylees.

But to get asylum from the United States, the asylees must demonstrate that they have indeed suffered persecution. This is done through a process known as the “Affirmative Asylum” process. It is a seven-step process of which the asylum interview is one part.

The entire process is as follows: 

• Step 1: Arrival in the US
• Step 2: File a petition for asylum by submitting Form I-589, Application for Asylum and Withholding of Removal
• Step 3: Fingerprinting and background check
• Step 4: Issuance of interview notice from USCIS
• Step 5: Asylum Interview process
• Step 6: Determination of your asylum application by Asylum Officer and Supervisory Asylum Officer
• Step 7: Receive Decision

As you can see, the interview is the fifth process, which, to a large extent, determines your eligibility for asylum in the US. If approved, you can permanently stay in the US, opening the path to citizenship.

There is also a Defensive Asylum process for people who arrive in the United States illegally. They are also required to go through the interview process.

Who Needs an Interpreter?

USCIS also understands that most of the people seeking asylum come from non-English speaking territories. Hence, they might need interpreters to communicate with the agencies officially. The interpreters can work in as many as 47 languages. So, the interpreters are for those who cannot speak or write properly in English.

You’re free to use your own interpreter. You can contact one of the many agencies present across the United States and get them to work for you. In this case, you’re responsible for paying fees from your pocket.

But to be able to get the services of a contracted interpreter offered by the government, you must meet the following requirements:

• You meet the definition of an asylee/refugee
• You’re fluent in one of the 47 languages offered by USCIS. If not, you must bring your own interpreter
• You’re not in the process of removal proceedings
• You’re physically present on US soil

What Does an Interpreter Do at an Asylum Interview?

Interpreters are expected to be involved in a lot of things. At an asylum interview, their general role includes, but is not limited to:

• Translating the questions asked to the asylum seeker and then translating the answers back to the USCIS officials in real-time.
• Translating official documents from English to a foreign language and vice versa.
• Checking the documents filled up by the asylum seeker for accuracy and making corrections, if prompted.
• Assisting in the filing of paperwork, if needed
• Assisting USCIS personnel or the asylum seeker in any other official task, if prompted

Usually, translating documents back and forth from one language to another with 100% accuracy is the primary responsibility of a USCIS contracted translator. They need to ensure that the meanings, context, and sentence structure are not altered when translating.

Private interpreters can help you with tasks beyond the above scope. For example, you can request medical interpreting, a legal interpreting, a EUO interpreting, live translation of documents, or audio, among other services. But consequently, expect to pay more for the services incurred.

Why are Free Interpreters Available During the Pandemic?

You are usually expected to pay for your own interpreters. So whatever they charge you, you must compensate them.

But the contracted interpreters offered by the USCIS are free of charge. The federal agency compensates them, and you’re not billed for the services whatsoever.

This is because of the “Temporary Final Rule” that’s in place amidst the COVID-19 pandemic. The Coronavirus that reportedly broke out in Wuhan and then spread all across the globe put the world into a standstill. City-, state-, and country-wide were put in place to curb the highly infectious disease.

As a result, USCIS shut down the offices and facilitation centers. To keep the operations running, it turned to the internet and remote work technology. Therefore, the interpreters, which the asylum seeker was supposed to bring with him/her, were taken care of by the USCIS for free of cost.

If you speak any of the 47 languages offered by USCIS, you must use the free interpretation service for your asylum interview. USCIS ensures that they’re proficient and qualified for carrying out the translations. They’ll be connecting to the interview remotely via telephone or the internet. You, and all of the parties involved, should have no problems with communication.

In case you refuse to use the interpreter provided by the USCIS and the language you speak covers the 47 languages offered by USCIS. The agency will be liable to consider the case as a failure to appear without good cause. Then it can even dismiss your asylum seeking application and refer you to the immigration court from where you’ll be eventually departed.

Therefore, if the language is covered, you should use the interpreter contracted by USCIS.

How Long will USCIS Provide Interpreters?

 The Temporary Final Rule came into effect from September 23, 2020, onwards. This was to keep the workforce and people seeking services safely. The rule will be in effect till March 22 of 2021. Depending on the situation, the date can get extended. If not, then you’ll be asked to bring in your own interpreters to the asylum interview.

By the time your interview is scheduled, you should check with the USCIS officials whether the free interpreter service is being offered. If yes, you should claim it for your best interest.

Conclusion

The interviews generally last an hour or so, but you should keep 2 hours as a safe time frame. You’ll be taking an oath promising to speak nothing but the truth. And depending on how complex your case is, more or fewer questions will be asked to you. The length of the interview will also depend on how speedily the interpreter is able to work.

If you’re not able to attend the interview for some reason, you’re requested to reschedule it by informing the USCIS either via mail, fax, or email. The entire asylum-seeking process is complex. Therefore, you must proceed with caution after consulting with your attorney.

Frank Gogol

I’m a firm believer that information is the key to financial freedom. On the Stilt Blog, I write about the complex topics — like finance, immigration, and technology — to help immigrants make the most of their lives in the U.S. Our content and brand have been featured in Forbes, TechCrunch, VentureBeat, and more.

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