Automatic Rescheduling After Shutdown: Check Your Interview Date

U.S. immigration offices have begun automatic rescheduling of naturalization, green card, and asylum interviews that were canceled during the recent government shutdown, with applicants advised to watch for new USCIS notices by mail and online. The move affects people whose appointments were missed because local field offices closed during the funding lapse. Officials say most applicants don’t need to take any steps right now beyond checking their mail and their online case portals, and they should wait for a new date to be assigned.

How USCIS is handling rescheduling

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has emphasized in messages to stakeholders and on public guidance pages that the agency typically handles rescheduling internally when closures interrupt planned interviews. That means people should not file a fresh request or rebook on their own unless they receive instructions telling them to do so.

• USCIS will issue updated interview letters once calendars are reset; those letters remain the official record.
• The agency has long relied on written notices to confirm interview time, location, and required documents.
• Applicants can also review their myUSCIS accounts for updates—the most direct online pathway is the portal at my.uscis.gov, where rescheduled dates appear once assigned.

Official interview letters are the legal confirmation of time and place. Wait for the updated letter before taking other actions.

What applicants should do now

• Check your mail regularly for the new letter.
• Log in to your myUSCIS account at my.uscis.gov to look for appointment updates.
• Do not call or file for a new appointment immediately—USCIS asks for patience while staff rebuild daily calendars.

If a replacement notice does not arrive after a reasonable period, applicants can contact the USCIS Contact Center at 1-800-375-5283 to ask about next steps.

Protections and practical advice

The rescheduling system is designed to reduce stress for people who already waited months for interviews. Under the current approach:

• Canceled interview slots will be reset by USCIS without penalty to the applicant.
• The agency uses internal queues to bring files forward and then prints and mails new letters.

Practical tips from attorneys and advocates:

• Keep your mailing address current with USCIS.
• Store every envelope received from the Department of Homeland Security and take photos of new notices.
• Bring the physical interview letter to the appointment; it’s often required for entry and for the oath ceremony in naturalization cases.
• If the new date conflicts with a medical procedure or unavoidable trip, follow the notice instructions to request a reschedule and provide the required evidence.

Special considerations: asylum and strict-deadline cases

For cases with strict deadlines—such as some asylum matters—advocates note:

• USCIS will send fresh USCIS notices with clear dates.
• Applicants retain the right to ask for accommodation if they face irreconcilable conflicts.
• For asylum interviews, gather identity papers, updates to claims, and interpreter arrangements in advance.

Online updates vs. paper mail

Online access has become the fastest way to see movement:

• People with a myUSCIS account can log in and look for an updated appointment entry once the field office inputs a new date.
• USCIS also maintains a public case status tool tied to receipt numbers; this can show recent actions and reprints of notices for many case types (though not all).
• During the shutdown recovery, systems are updated in batches: some applicants will see changes online before letters arrive, while others receive the paper letter first.

Remember: neither online display nor a paper printout alone is definitive—the official interview notice governs.

Scope and limits of automatic rescheduling

The automatic rescheduling covers interviews canceled because:

• The office itself was closed, or
• The shutdown forced a halt to that day’s appointments.

It does not cover interviews missed for personal reasons. If an applicant missed an otherwise unaffected appointment, the usual rules apply and the person may need to request a new date following standard procedures.

• USCIS has not released a nationwide total of canceled interviews.
• Field offices in large metro areas handle dozens or more interviews daily; the backlog ripple can last several weeks.
• Rescheduled times may fall earlier than expected as offices compress calendars—review new letters closely if you had travel plans.

Common pitfalls and recommended behaviors

VisaVerge.com reports common applicant worries and mistakes:

• Silence does not usually mean a case is lost—historically, a fresh interview letter arrives and online case histories show a new “interview scheduled” entry.
• A common misstep is discarding an envelope that seems generic; open every item appearing to come from the Department of Homeland Security.
• Applicants represented by attorneys should know lawyers typically receive copies as well, which helps prevent missed mail problems.

Officials and legal aid groups strongly caution:

• Do not show up at a field office without a valid letter for the new date—security will not admit applicants without a scheduled appointment.
• Act quickly if you cannot attend a rescheduled interview; missing it without advance notice can lead to delays or, in some categories, denials for failure to appear.

Address accuracy and when to contact USCIS

Because USCIS notices are central to the record, maintain accurate contact information:

• If you moved during the shutdown, confirm USCIS has your current address.
• Those with online accounts can update certain contact details there; others may need to submit a change of address using the standard process.
• Mail forwarding can help but is not always reliable with government letters—direct updates to USCIS are safer.

If more than a few weeks pass after offices reopen and no letter arrives, calling the Contact Center is appropriate to confirm status and request a reprint if needed.

What to expect as offices reopen

• Recovery and processing will vary by field office depending on staffing and volume.
• Applicants should keep expectations realistic during the first month after reopening.
• The core message from USCIS remains: most people do not need to file anything new. Rely on the updated USCIS notices, check the myUSCIS portal at my.uscis.gov, and reach out only if silence extends beyond a few weeks.