The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) is inviting individuals with experience in the family-based adjustment of status process to participate in a research study. The initiative aims to gather insights from applicants and sponsors to improve the process of obtaining lawful permanent residency under the immediate relative or family preference categories.
According to USCIS, they want to hear from people who have “petitioned to have their family members live in the United States (Form I-130, Petition for Alien Relative); who have applied for a Green Card in the United States (Form I-485, Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status); who have filed an affidavit of support as a joint sponsor (Form I-864, Affidavit of Support Under Section 213A of the INA); or who are currently filing or planning to in the next year.”
To be eligible for participation, individuals must be at least 18 years old, physically present in the U.S., and proficient in English. Participants must also have access to a tablet, laptop, or desktop computer with an internet connection, as the study will be conducted online. USCIS specifies that participants should have filed within the last two years or be preparing to file an adjustment of status or an affidavit of support as a joint sponsor.
Selected participants will take part in a one-hour virtual session conducted via Microsoft Teams, where they will share their experiences with the USCIS research team. USCIS assures that “participation is voluntary and will not affect the outcome of any pending or future case you may have.” While participants are encouraged to turn on their webcams, the agency clarifies that “sharing webcam video is not required to participate.” Additionally, personal details such as name, phone number, and email address will be removed before feedback is shared internally.
Those interested in participating should send an email to myuscisfeedback@uscis.dhs.gov with the subject line “Adjustment of Status Online Experience.” The email should confirm that the sender meets the eligibility criteria and is willing to participate. USCIS will be holding sessions in February and will coordinate with selected participants to schedule them.
By engaging in this study, family-based Green Card applicants and sponsors have a unique opportunity to share their experiences and contribute to potential improvements in the immigration process.