Do USCIS Officers Check Your Phone During Interviews in 2025?

Here’s a clear, practical guide to help you handle your phone during a USCIS interview and feel calm on the day. The short answer: USCIS officers do not routinely check or search your phone during interviews, and if they ask, you have the right to refuse. Requests happen only in rare, case‑specific situations, usually when the officer needs to verify something already at issue in your file.

This guide explains when a request might come up, how to respond, and how this differs from what happens with CBP at the border.

Who this guide is for and what it covers

• Applicants attending a USCIS interview for adjustment of status or other immigration benefits, including marriage‑based cases.
• Readers who want to avoid problems, protect privacy, and keep the focus on eligibility evidence rather than phone content.

Eligibility basics: when a phone request might appear

• USCIS does not have a policy that requires phone checks during an interview.
• Officers may ask to see a phone only if there’s a specific reason connected to the case, such as confirming relationship evidence in a marriage file.
• An immigration attorney reported seeing only one such request in more than 100 interviews, showing how uncommon it is.
• You may say no. Refusing to show your phone does not automatically lead to denial, though the officer may ask follow‑up questions based on the file.

Step‑by‑step: how to handle your phone before, during, and after the interview

1) Before the interview

• Put your phone on silent or turn it off. USCIS facilities expect phones to be silenced or off to keep the interview focused and private.
• Prepare to rely on documents you have already submitted and other paper evidence, not phone data. Bring those materials in organized form so you can point to them if asked.
• If you’re worried about a possible request, talk with your attorney before the appointment about how you’ll respond.

2) When you arrive at the field office

• Follow posted rules about phones in waiting areas and interview rooms.
• Keep the device out of the way and silent.

3) During the interview

• Expect the officer to focus on eligibility questions and the evidence in your file.
• If the officer asks to see your phone, you have options:
  1. Politely decline and say you prefer to rely on the documents in your file.
  2. Ask whether another form of evidence would meet the need.
  3. If you agree to show something, limit it to the specific item requested.
• Keep your tone calm and respectful. A simple, steady answer is usually enough.

4) After the interview

• If you felt pressured or uncertain about a phone request, write down what happened while it’s fresh and consult a licensed immigration attorney.
• If the officer asked for more evidence, focus on providing it in the format requested—not on phone screenshots—unless the officer specifically asked for those.

Key rights and limits to keep in mind

• You are not required by law to unlock or hand over your phone during a USCIS interview.
• A refusal, by itself, does not equal a denial. The officer may look for other proof already in the record or ask for it later.
• Phone searches at USCIS are rare and not standard practice.

Important: If an officer asks to see your phone, remain calm and consider your options. Refusal is your right, and it’s usually better to rely on the documentary evidence in your file.

How this differs from CBP at the border or airport

• CBP has broader authority at ports of entry. Agents there can inspect electronic devices without a warrant under the border search rules.
• CBP may use advanced forensic tools and, in some cases, may hold a device temporarily with supervisory approval and reasonable suspicion.
• These checks are more common at the border, even for visa holders, green card holders, and U.S. citizens, than anything you’ll see in a USCIS interview room.
• These powers come from border search rules, not from USCIS interview practices inside domestic field offices nationwide.

Timelines and costs

• USCIS has made no 2025 policy change making phone checks routine in interviews, and it does not publish any timeline or fee for device review because such checks are not standard.
• CBP inspections at the border can cause delays if a device is held for review; plan extra time when traveling internationally if this is a concern.

Polite scripts you can use if asked to show your phone

• “Officer, I prefer to rely on the documents in my file rather than my phone.”
• “I’m not comfortable sharing my phone. I’m happy to answer questions and provide other records.”

Common pitfalls to avoid

• Letting your phone ring or vibrate during the interview.
• Offering to show your phone when it wasn’t requested, which can distract from the main evidence.
• Mixing up USCIS interview rules with CBP border rules. They are not the same.

If you’re in a marriage‑based case

• A request to see phone content can happen if the officer is trying to confirm parts of the relationship record.
• This is still unusual. One attorney reported only a single request across more than 100 interviews, matching broader reports that such asks are rare.
• If it happens, rely on your right to decline and point to the documents you brought.

Where to read the official rules

• You can review interview and facility conduct guidance in the USCIS Policy Manual here: https://www.uscis.gov/policy-manual. This is the agency’s official, public guide.

What analysts and reporters say

• According to analysis by VisaVerge.com, there have been no official announcements in 2025 making phone inspections a routine part of USCIS interviews.
• The site’s reporting mirrors what many applicants and lawyers see: interviews center on eligibility, not on scrolling through a device.

Next steps if you’re worried

• Review your case file and bring paper evidence that backs up key points.
• Decide in advance how you will respond if a phone request comes up.
• If unsure, get advice from a licensed immigration attorney or accredited representative.