Can USCIS come to your house?
Asked by: Mossie Gutmann | Last update: January 28, 2026Score: 4.3/5 (73 votes)
Yes, USCIS can come to your house, usually unannounced, primarily for marriage-based green card cases or H-1B fraud investigations, to verify if you genuinely live as a couple or work as claimed, often involving surprise visits to check shared belongings, living arrangements, and interactions to confirm the legitimacy of the application and detect fraud.
Can immigration show up at your house?
Your rights
You do not have to let police or immigration agents into your home unless they have certain kinds of warrants. If police have an arrest warrant, they are legally allowed to enter the home of the person on the warrant if they believe that person is inside.
Can immigration come onto private property?
Most immigration arrests are carried out by internal documents called administrative warrants, which authorize the arrest of a specific person but don't let officers enter private homes or spaces without consent. Only criminal warrants signed by judges allow that.
Can immigration go through your door to get me?
Immigration officers (ICE) generally cannot enter your home without your permission unless they have a judicial warrant signed by a judge, which is different from an administrative warrant (ICE Form). You do not have to open the door unless they present a valid judicial warrant; you can ask them to slide it under the door or show it through a window to verify it's from a court and lists your address and name. They can enter with a judicial warrant, but without one, you can refuse entry and say, "You are not allowed to enter," though they can enter without permission for emergencies like public safety threats.
How does the USCIS investigate?
USCIS conducts an investigation of the applicant upon his or her filing for naturalization. The investigation consists of certain criminal background and security checks. The background and security checks include collecting fingerprints and requesting a “name check” from the Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI).
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Does USCIS visit your house?
If it chooses to, the agency can interview the applicants' employers, parents, ex-spouses, and other family, and friends, visit or schedule interviews at their homes, and so forth. It would usually take such steps only in cases where fraud is suspected.
Can immigration enter a home without a warrant?
3) They cannot enter a home without a judicial warrant. ICE must have a federal judge-signed warrant to enter a private residence without permission. An administrative warrant (ICE's internal paperwork) does not give legal authority to force entry into a home.
What not to say to an immigration officer?
To an immigration officer, avoid lying, making jokes about serious crimes (terrorism, drugs), criticizing the U.S., volunteering unnecessary details, making negative comments about family, or saying you have no ties to your home country; instead, be calm, honest, concise, and stick to the facts, using your right to remain silent if unsure, and only answering what's asked.
Can immigration see your text messages?
immigration authorities can and do monitor public social media posts, they generally cannot access private chats like those on Facebook, WhatsApp, or Instagram without a warrant or your consent.
Will immigration knock on your door?
Sometimes immigration (ICE) officers knock on a door and say they have a warrant. An immigration warrant is not a police warrant and does not give them permission to enter your home.
Does USCIS check address history?
Applicant's Information
All of the information you provided to the USCIS will be accessible to the agency, including: Personal Details: Name, date of birth, family relationships, and address history. Immigration History: Petitions, visa applications, entries into the U.S., and the availed immigration services.
Does immigration look at your Facebook?
With recent changes in United States immigration policies, the government is looking more closely at social media use when making immigration decisions. That means things you post on Facebook, Instagram and X (formerly Twitter) could be used against you when you apply for immigration benefits.
Does USCIS do surprise visits?
Under both programs, FDNS immigration officers make unannounced site visits to collect information as part of a compliance review. Officers will request to speak with individuals who may have knowledge of the petition, and, in certain circumstances, may issue administrative subpoenas to obtain documents or testimony.
What to say if immigration comes to your house?
✅ You have the right to remain silent – You do not have to answer any questions, including where you were born or how you entered the U.S. ✅ You can ask, “Am I free to go?” – If ICE says yes, you can walk away. If they say no, invoke your right to remain silent and ask to speak with a lawyer.
Who is at risk for deportation?
Priority categories for deportation include: People without legal status who entered without inspection or overstayed visas. The administration expanded expedited removal to apply anywhere in the United States to anyone who cannot prove they have been in the country for at least two years.
What is the 7 year rule for immigrants?
The "7-year rule" in U.S. immigration refers to proposed legislation, particularly the Dignity Act and registry bill updates (like H.R. 1511/S. 4974), that would create a pathway to a green card for long-term residents who have lived in the U.S. continuously for at least seven years and meet other requirements like good moral character, updating the current outdated registry cutoff date (currently 1972). While not currently law, these bills aim to provide legal status for millions, including Dreamers and essential workers, by establishing a rolling eligibility date for permanent residency.
What is a red flag in a U.S. visa?
A "red flag" in a US visa application is any inconsistency, suspicious activity, or past issue that raises concerns for immigration officers, signaling potential fraud or ineligibility, and prompting further investigation (like an RFE or secondary interview), though it doesn't guarantee denial, but requires more preparation to explain. Common red flags include inconsistent statements, criminal records, immigration violations (like overstaying), questionable relationship documentation (for marriage visas), or connections to security concerns.
Can USCIS go to your house?
The only time USCIS sends the fraud unit to people's homes is to check whether the marriage is legitimate. After the visit, they'll review the immigration officer's report to see if there are fraudulent activities or violations that require further investigation.
Can you refuse to speak to ICE?
Yes, you can refuse to talk to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents by clearly stating, "I wish to remain silent and ask for a lawyer," and you have the right to refuse to answer questions about your immigration status or birthplace, even if you are a citizen or legal resident, but you must not lie or show fake documents. You can also refuse entry to your home without a judicial warrant and don't need to sign documents without a lawyer present, though ICE can still take you into custody.
What states have a no-chase law?
What States Have a No-Chase Law? California, Massachusetts, Oregon, and Washington all have a No Chase Law for motorcycle pursuits if the conditions of the chase were deemed too damaging and dangerous to the general public and to fellow law enforcement.
Can USCIS check my WhatsApp?
Private messages are generally not accessible without legal authorization, but posts visible to friends or public audiences are subject to review.
Can USCIS see text messages?
While private messages require a warrant for access, public posts—even those later deleted—can still be reviewed by USCIS.
What should you not do during an USCIS interview?
DO NOT try to make jokes with the USCIS official. Jokes about drugs, diseases, terrorism, smuggling, or bigamy are especially inappropriate. DO NOT speak over your spouse or any other family member during the interview. You should also never argue with your spouse in front of the official.