The San Fernando Valley USCIS Field Office, also known as the Chatsworth office, is a major immigration center in California covering Ventura, Santa Barbara, and large parts of Los Angeles County. This office at 19809 Prairie St #100, Chatsworth, CA 91311 was created a little over a decade and a half ago when the downtown Los Angeles USCIS office was reaching capacity. Immigrants from across the valley, including Encino, Tarzana, Woodland Hills, Northridge, and Van Nuys, to the Conejo Valley in Thousand Oaks, Simi Valley, Oxnard, and further up, use this field office.
The office’s best features are its relaxed, casual tone and the free parking complex in front of it. JQK Law’s founding attorney, John Khosravi, frequently attends interviews at this USCIS office for his clients, as well as covering for other attorneys who could not attend for their clients. Here are some frequently asked questions about this office.
How do I know which USCIS field office will do my green card or citizenship interview?
The USCIS office where your interview will occur is typically based on the applicant’s residential ZIP code. You cannot game the system to get a different interview location. To confirm your office, put your ZIP code into the USCIS field office locator page (scroll to the bottom): https://www.uscis.gov/about-us/find-a-uscis-office/field-offices
JQK Law frequently attends interviews for family/marriage adjustment of status green cards, removal of conditions, and naturalization with clients here.
Can I do an infopass appointment at the San Fernando Valley Field Office?
Yes, you can schedule an appointment to speak with an officer by calling USCIS to set a time or using their online system. Drop-ins are no longer permitted. But sometimes they’ll make an exception.
What do I do when I go to the San Fernando Valley Field Office?
To start, free parking is available across from the office. Arrive early for your interviews. When you enter the building, you’ll go through airport-style security. Once that is complete, you’ll enter the main lobby area, where you’ll stand in line to speak with an initial officer. There, they’ll review your appointment notice, take your photo and fingerprints, and give you a number to be called in for your interview.
For info pass appointments, you should check in, but a separate system will be involved.
How long does it take for them to call you in for your interview at the San Fernando Valley Field Office?
For all field offices, timing varies day to day and by office. It depends on how busy the office is and whether other issues have come up at that location.
It also depends on how long the interviewing office takes to call you in. Some officers will call you in and review your application package with you, so you are called in sooner. Others will review your application package first and prepare before you enter the interview room. As a result, it may take longer to be called in, but the interview itself is often shorter.
What if I do not speak English? Can I bring an interpreter to the USCIS field office interview and Chatsworth?
Yes, translators are welcome. But they must complete and submit the Interpreter Declaration Form in front of the USCIS officer (https://www.uscis.gov/g-1256)
Can I bring my spouse and children with me to the Chatsworth field office?
They can most likely enter the building and wait with you in the lobby. But typically, only applicants related to the case can enter the interview room.
Happens if I change my address? Will my interview still be at the Chatsworth field office?
If you change your address, you have to notify USCIS. You typically do this through your my.uscis.gov account. This should automatically update the field office location. However, the USCIS system sometimes doesn’t update correctly. In those cases, contact USCIS to notify them of the issue. In most cases, if you do not receive notice of interview cancellation in time, it is best to attend the interview to avoid being denied for not showing up. Note that if you have moved to another jurisdiction outside the geographic area that this field office can handle, some interviewing officers may terminate the interview due to lack of jurisdiction.
Should I have a local lawyer at my immigration interview in Chatsworth?
Having a local attorney familiar with the procedures and officers at the San Fernando Valley Field Office will be very helpful. First and foremost, the psychological component of this experience cannot be understated. Clients are nervous, and having a confident person with them helps ease their nerves and helps them answer questions much better. Moreover, the USCIS officer knows that the client has a supporter on their side and a witness at the interview. This helps to smooth the interview as much as possible. A good attorney will also have a preparation session before the interview to organize what information and documents need to be prepared to avoid delays or other issues when possible.
Download our free Ultimate Marriage Green Card Guide at MarriageImmigrationLaw.com, join Attorney John Khosravi, Esq. live every Tuesday at 4 PM PT / 7 PM ET on YouTube, LinkedIn, Instagram, and TikTok for a free Q&A, or book a one-on-one consultation to talk through your specific situation. Schedule a consultation at JQKLaw.com/contact
