USCIS Interviews: Why Proper Identification and Documentation Matter
In my last round of USCIS Interviews that I attended with clients, there were a few issues that came up during the course of the Interviews that I wanted to cover in a blog post. In short, these issues were all related to individuals who were not able to produce the identification and documentation that was requested by the Interviewing Officer. The end result of not being able to produce proper documentation at the Interview is usually going to be that your case will be delayed and it may get stuck due to USCIS’s need to conduct background checks and sort through discrepancies that may appear in the record. In most cases, these deficiencies can be addressed in advance of the Interview and proper documentation can be obtained in order to avoid the possibility of having the application delayed and held for further review. With this in mind, here are four points worth noting:
1. Bring a Current Government-Issued Photo ID
Always bring a current government-issued photo ID (driver’s license, state ID, or passport) that reflects your current legal name and current residential address. The address is especially important in marriage-based “green card” cases where the Immigrant is being sponsored by a US Citizen spouse and the parties are expected to be sharing a life and living together. A valid ID ensures that USCIS can verify both the identity and residence of the applicant (and petitioner), which is crucial for establishing eligibility and maintaining accurate records.
2. Make Sure Your Documents Reflect Your Current Legal Name
If you have changed your name—through marriage or by court order—it’s critical that all of your identification and supporting documents match your current legal name. For example, if you got married in the United States and you legally adopted your spouse’s surname, you should update your driver’s license, Social Security record, and any other identification before the interview. If your documents still show your previous name, USCIS may encounter problems verifying your identity or running your background and security checks, which can delay or even suspend processing of your case.
3. Lost Your Green Card? Get a Replacement or ADIT Stamp
For naturalization applicants (Form N-400) or any other interview requiring proof of lawful permanent residence, losing or misplacing your green card can create major complications. If your card is lost, you should file Form I-90 to apply for a replacement green card, or obtain an ADIT (I-94) stamp in your passport from USCIS (InfoPass), which serves as temporary evidence of your LPR status. Without proper proof of permanent residence, USCIS cannot complete your background check or finalize your application. Showing up at an interview without valid identification or proof of status is one of the most common—and avoidable—causes of long processing delays.
4. U.S. Citizen Sponsors should produce originals of ALL documents relating to their status (not just a Birth Certificate or U.S. Passport).
Lately, I have noticed that USCIS officers are requesting U.S. Citizen sponsors to produce all of the documentation relating to their status as U.S. Citizens. Thus:
- Native-born U.S. citizens should produce a certified copy of their Birth Certificate AND U.S. Passport, if they have one;
- Naturalized U.S. Citizens should produce the original N-550 Certificate of Naturalization AND a valid U.S. Passport, if they have one;
- U.S. Citizens who acquired their U.S. citizenship by birth abroad to a U.S. Citizen parent or parents should be prepared to produce their Birth Certificate, their Department of State Form FS-240 (Report of Birth Abroad of a Citizen of the United States) AND a U.S. Passport, if they have one; and
- U.S. Citizens who derived Citizenship (from a parent) should also produce a certified copy of their Birth Certificate, their Certificate of U.S. Citizenship (Form N-560) AND a valid U.S. Passport, if they have one.
This latest requirement, in my estimation, is not only done in an effort to verify identity but also to review and screen the Immigration history (and origin story) of all U.S. Citizens who are not native-born citizens (i.e. born in the USA). My thinking is that, consistent with existing USCIS policy, the secondary objective behind this inquiry is to try and find U.S. Citizens who may have acquired their status by fraud or through USCIS error or oversight – meaning that they should not have been granted U.S. citizenship in the first place! This can obviously have serious consequences for the U.S. Citizen sponsor, and ultimately the immigrant. Thus, it is critical that U.S. Citizens, especially those who are not native-born, be prepared to prove up and explain their status and produce originals of all of the above documents at the Interview.
5. Bring IRS Transcripts of your U.S. Income Tax Returns, not just copies of the Tax Returns that you filed with the IRS.
As of this writing, the official USCIS Instructions for Form I-864 state (on page 11): “For Item Numbers 15. – 19. Federal Income Tax Return Information. You must provide either an Internal Revenue Service (IRS) transcript or a photocopy from your own records of your Federal individual income tax return for the most recent tax year, counting from the date of signing Form I-864. If you believe additional returns may help you to establish your ability to maintain sufficient income, you may submit transcripts or photocopies of your Federal individual income tax returns for the three most recent years.” Clearly, these instructions give the Immigration Sponsor (signing the I-864) the option of producing TRANSCRIPTS or a PHOTOCOPY of their most recently filed Federal Income Tax Return.
However, despite these clear instructions, I am finding that many USCIS Officers are now asking for IRS TRANSCRIPTS, not just copies. You can obtain IRS Transcripts online, directly from the IRS: https://www.irs.gov/individuals/get-transcript. According to one USCIS officer that I spoke to, he is asking for IRS Transcripts because he had several recent experiences with applicants who produced COPIES of tax returns which ultimately did NOT match up with the actual tax returns that were filed, once TRANSCRIPTS were provided. Without a doubt, the IRS Transcripts are the best evidence of what an applicant reported to the IRS on their Tax Return. As such, as least with this one officer in particular, they carry more evidentiary weight and value than copies.
Thus, even though the USCIS Instructions clearly allow applicants to provide copies of their Income Tax Returns, I am now advising my clients to obtain IRS Transcripts of their returns, rather than providing copies, both at the filing stage (when the initial applications are filed with USCIS) and/or to bring to the Interview. And since the filing of US Income Tax Returns is also an issue in every N-400 Application for Naturalization, I am also advising my Naturalization Applicants to obtain IRS Transcripts and file them with the N-400 and to bring them to the Naturalization Interview. Providing IRS Transcripts instead of Copies of Tax Returns could help to avoid the delay associated with responding to a Request for Evidence – which asks for the IRS Transcripts!
November 21, 2025 UPDATE: Recently, one of my clients received a Request for Evidence in connection with a pending application in which USCIS has requested that she produce Certified UNMASKED IRS Tax Account Transcripts for the past 5 years. In order to understand what an unmasked transcript is, you probably should understand what a “masked” transcript is first. A masked transcript redacts certain sensitive data and thus only shows part of the requesting party’s Name, Social Security Number (shows only last 4 digits), Address, Dependents, Bank Account information, etc. Thus, an unmasked transcript will contain the full identifying information, without redaction. Notably, unmasked transcripts can NOT be obtained online, the way that you would normally be able to obtain unmasked transcripts – referred to above. Instead, they can be obtained by: (1) by making a written request, with an explantion (i.e. USCIS has sent me the attached RFE asking for unmasked transcripts; (2) a Tax Professional, such as a CPA; or (3) Court Order or subpoena. This is yet another example of how USCIS is taking these cases to the next level and making applicants jump through successive and higher hoops in order to prove eligibility and entitlement to U.S. Immigration benefits. On the bright side, I am happy to report (as of this writing) that the “good” cases are still getting approved; they just take longer and require alot more work and determination to bring them across the finish line.
Final Thoughts
Proper identification and documentation are more than just formalities—they are essential tools for verifying your identity, legal status, and eligibility for immigration benefits. Ensuring that your documents are current, accurate, and consistent will help USCIS process your application efficiently and prevent avoidable delays. If you have questions about which documents to bring to your interview, or if you’ve lost your green card and need help obtaining an ADIT stamp or replacement, it’s best to consult an experienced immigration attorney.
About the Author
Sean D. Hummel is a Florida U.S. Immigration Lawyer based in Deerfield Beach. His law practice focuses on family-based immigration, adjustment of status, naturalization, waivers, and humanitarian relief. He represents clients throughout South Florida and across the United States.
