How USCIS usually treats it
If an applicant does not appear for a scheduled adjustment interview, USCIS may consider the application abandoned and deny it. Some offices will reschedule if you contact them promptly and explain a good reason; others issue a denial first. A denial for abandonment generally cannot be appealed, and the routes to reopen it are narrow, often focused on whether the notice was properly sent or whether you had asked to reschedule beforehand. If the petitioning relative also missed the interview, that can affect the underlying petition. Losing the pending application can also affect work or travel permission that depended on it.
Proof that helps
Gather the interview notice, if you ever received it, and any evidence of where USCIS was sending your mail. If you filed a change of address, find the confirmation. If an emergency kept you away, collect records showing what happened and when. If a lawyer or accredited representative was on the case, ask whether the notice went to that office. Check your online USCIS account for notices you may not have seen. Keep a log of every contact with USCIS after the missed date, including call reference numbers.
Choosing the next step
If no decision has issued yet, the usual step is a prompt request to reschedule with an explanation. If a denial has already been issued, we look at whether a motion is available and realistic, or whether a new filing is the more practical route. Whether a new filing is possible depends on your current status and eligibility, which may have changed since the first application. A new filing generally means new fees and a new wait. If you are no longer in valid status, we talk about the risk of a referral to immigration court and how to prepare for it. Our aim is that you leave knowing which step comes first and by when it must be taken.
