Preparing Clients for Employment-Based Adjustment of Status Interviews in an Era of Heightened Enforcement
In an era of intensified scrutiny and shifting immigration policies, employment-based adjustment of status (AOS) interviews have become progressively more complex and high-stakes. It is increasingly important to: (a) carefully review clients’ backgrounds for potential pitfalls, ensuring the applicant is thoroughly disclosing all relevant information; and (b) prepare clients for interviews under evolving standards, including enhanced vetting, law enforcement risks, and new interpretations of when applicants without formal status may be susceptible to detention. Panelists will discuss recent trends in AOS interviews and offer practical strategies for mitigating vulnerabilities as policies continue to evolve.
Featured Topics
- How employment-based AOS interviews have changed under the current administration
- Enhanced vetting and scrutiny of “affiliations,” and what constitutes an affiliation?
- Red flags for detention risks at interview, including prior law enforcement encounters, problematic political activity and/or undisclosed affiliations with political organizations, and complications with advance parole status
- USCIS’ expanded policing authority: How is it affecting the interview process?
- Who is subject to detention when an I-485 is deemed not approvable? Current ICE and DHS interpretations
- Attorney ethical and due diligence responsibilities: assembling AOS applications and preparing clients for the interview
AILA Membership Benefit – Access to Free Seminar Recordings (CLE Credit Available for $35)
Enjoy access to free seminar recordings as an AILA Member. AILA encourages live attendance for those wishing to ask the speaker questions. CLE credit is included with purchase for live participants.
Recordings will be available approximately two weeks after the live event date. AILA members can access these seminars, with no CLE credit, for free. Recordings are CLE eligible in most jurisdictions and a $35 administration fee is required to obtain CLE credit.
Contact us at cle@aila.org or visit AILA’s Web Seminar Recordings page for more information about receiving CLE credit for a web seminar recording.
| Product Details | |
| Event Date | February 24, 2026 |
| Format | Web Seminar |
| Length | 90 minutes |
| CLE Eligible | Yes. Live attendance must be recorded in My CLE by Thursday, March 5, 2026. This deadline does not apply to the OnDemand format. |
| Digital Library | Digital goods (MP3, PDF, ZIP, etc.) are available for download for two years after purchase. |
Eligible participants can receive up to 1.8 CLE credit hours. AILA will administer CLE credit only to individuals who register and log into the web seminar. AILA cannot verify your attendance and participation in this program unless you register directly for the web seminar and use your name to log in to participate in the program. Therefore, persons who log in or listen in on the web seminar as part of a group will not be able to obtain CLE credit.
Please note that your jurisdiction may limit the amount of distance learning credit you can earn. To view details on your jurisdiction's credit restrictions and CLE requirements, visit the CLE Center.
AILA has filed for CLE and specialized credit in all jurisdictions with mandatory CLE requirements. For details about specific approvals, contact us at cle@aila.org.
- AILA applies for accreditation upon attorneys’ request after participation for the following states: AR, DE, IA, ID, KS, KY, LA, ME, MN, MS, OR, TN and WY. Programs are typically approved.
- Florida and Rhode Island - Attorneys must apply on their own for approval of seminars in FL and RI. Programs are typically approved.
- The OnDemand Recording format does not qualify for CLE credit in the following jurisdictions: MO and PR. Please note that your jurisdiction may limit OnDemand credit based on the date of the original presentation. View the OnDemand Downloadable Expiration Chart for more details.
To receive CLE credit for the live event, attorneys must record web seminar attendance and the CLE code provided by March 5, 2026 via My CLE.
Contact us at cle@aila.org or visit AILA’s Web Seminar Recordings page for more information about receiving CLE credit for a seminar recording.
Mark Ellis (DL), Santa Clara, CA
*Juan C. Flamand, AILA Business Section Steering Committee, Phoenix, AZ
*Jay Gairson, Seattle, WA
*Joy A. Haynes, Washington, D.C.
