Citizenship Interview - 9 July 2025 (Spanish) SJ, CA

San Jose Field Office - 9 July 2025. My mom had her citizenship interview this morning and qualified for having it in her foreign language due to the 20/50 rule. Prior to the interview, we were told by someone who had their interview less than 2 months ago that they were able to have their interview in Spanish and their officer called an interpreter on the phone. Knowing this information, we thought we would be able to do the same but that wasn’t the case. When we got to the first front desk, my mom showed them her appointment letter, we told the officer that she needed a translator, the officer thought I was her translator but I told him our preference was for her to get an interpreter on the phone. They told us that the field officer would call the translation services and if they couldn’t get anyone on the phone, they would let my mom know what next steps would be. My mom went into her interview alone, as I was not able to accompany her unless I was her translator. The field officer who assisted her after she got through security check spoke Spanish fluently and my mom told the field officer that she needed a translator. The field officer told my mom that they no longer offer translation services through the phone and she told her that family members cannot be translators. My mom asked if the field officer could give her the interview in Spanish since she was speaking it so fluent and the field officer said they are no longer able allowed to do that, there needs to be a translator. The officer said that she will need to have her interview rescheduled and that for her rescheduled interview, she needs to bring a Spanish translator that is not a family member. We left the field office pretty disappointed but it seems as though all of this is pretty recent. I went back to confirm with the first front desk officers because I was confused with the different information we received. The officer at the front desk told me that it could be that it’s a very recent change that they aren’t aware of yet as they are at the front desk and aren’t aware of what goes on over there. We just got a call from a friend who knows someone who has their citizenship appointment next week in San Jose field office, their lawyer just let them know that USCIS no longer allows family members to be translators and that they no longer offer translation services so all people attending interviews need to bring their own non-family member interpreter. Not sure when exactly this information was released or where but based on my mom’s experience and the call, it seems to be very recent. Overall, my mom said everyone was very friendly especially the Spanish speaking field officer who was helping her last. My mom is now waiting to get her rescheduled interview. Does anyone know roughly how long it takes to get an appointment for a rescheduled interview? Additionally, does anyone recommend a certified Spanish translator in the Bay Area? during our experience today and the call we received, they did not specify it has to be a certified translator but we are hoping to find one just to be safe