Are you getting ready for a marriage-based green card interview? Your interview is approaching, and you want to know everything that you can encounter there.
If your response is uncertain or discrepancies with your spouse’s, the officer can become suspicious or believe that your marriage might be a fraud.
If this happens, they can separate you and conduct individual interviews in the “Stokes” format.
An Overview of What a Marriage-Based Green Card Is
A marriage-based green card is an immigrant visa granted by U.S. Citizenship and immigration services (USCIS) that allows the spouse of a United States citizen or green card holder to live and work in the United States as a permanent resident.
Getting a marriage-based green card is one of the quickest ways to get a permanent residence and also one of the first steps towards U.S citizenship.
It is important to note that marriage alone is not enough to provide immigration status to a foreign country. But being married to a United States citizen or green card holder qualifies you to apply for immigration benefits like a green card.
Also, a marriage-based green card lasts for a period of time (stated by the USCIS) before it must be renewed.
What Should You Expect During the Marriage Green Card Interview?
The marriage green card interview is an important inspection and analyzing process. Therefore, you should expect to be thoroughly inspected and all documents carefully checked.
You should expect to submit various files, such as photographs, marriage certificates, airline tickets, etc. to help back up your claim.
This list of questions that the interviewing officer can ask is an insight into what you can expect. However, it is not exhausting, and it depends and adjusts to your specific situation.
Your Relationship
- Where and when did you two meet?
- When did your relationship turn romantic?
- What do you have in common?
- How long were you dating before you decided to get married?
- What do your parents think about your relationship? Do they approve of it?
The Wedding Day
- How guests attended your wedding?
- Were your parents present?
- When and where was it organized?
- What music there was and who chose it?
- What about the food you served?
- What are the names of the bridesmaids and groomsmen?
- What kind of liquor did you serve?
- Describe any uncommon event from that day, for example, if anyone gets drunk or otherwise embarrasses themselves at the reception?
- What about a honeymoon? Where were you? Who chose the place
Daily Routines
- What time do you get up? And what about your spouse?
- Who makes breakfast, and what do you usually eat?
- What is the morning routine of your spouse? Does he or she drink coffee?
- Where does your spouse work, and do you know the name of her or his boss? What is the location of that workplace?
- What is the monthly salary of your spouse?
- Who pays the bills?
- Do you have any pets? Who takes care of it?
- Do you attend regular religious services together? Where?
- What did you do before coming to the interview or this morning/yesterday/last weekend, etc.?
- Does your spouse take any regular medications?
The Cooking
- Who does most of the cooking, and who does the grocery shopping? Where do you buy food?
- How many times a week do you eat out?
- What is your spouse’s favorite restaurant? Do you have any particular place you visit on essential occasions?
- Do you eat any specific food every week?
- What is your spouse’s favorite and least favorite food?
- Do you have a barbecue grill? Do you use it?
- Do you have a gas stove or an electric?
Technology in Your Home
- How many telephones do you have at your house? Where are they placed?
- How many televisions are in your home? In which rooms are they? Name the last show or movie you watched together.
- Do you have a subscription to any streaming video service?
- What company provides your cable service and internet service?
- Does your spouse listen to the radio? What station?
The Bedroom
- What size is your bed?
- On what side of the bed do you sleep?
- When was the last time you had intimate relations?
- What kind of toothbrushes, toothpaste, shampoo, and soap does each of you use?
- What is your routine before going to bed? Do you watch TV or read?
- What color are the curtains in your bedroom?
- Do you have any carpets? Where? What color or patterns are they?
Celebrations
- What did you buy as a present for your spouse’s last birthday? What did you do that day?
- Do you celebrate any religious holidays? What? Describe those events.
- What did you do last New Year’s Eve?
This list of questions, however, is not exhaustive. It represents only guessing of what kind of questions the officer will bring up to you. Try to imagine if you were an interviewing officer, what answers would you like to get?
Nevertheless, the important thing is to sit together with your spouse a week before the interview and have fun remembering all the small details about each other and your relationship.
As long as you are relaxed and honest, the process will have the course you are looking for.
How to Know If You Are Prepared for Your Interview?
Preparing for an interview can be overwhelming. After going through the preparation process, you know you are prepared when you are confident that you have what it takes to answer the questions and ace the interview.
Notable Tips to Ace a Marriage-Based Green Card Interview
Although the interview does not take up to 1 hour, to many, the interview process can be stressful especially if they don’t know what they need to ace the interview.
As a result, here are some notable tips to help you ace your marriage-based green card interview
- Be at the interview venue on time, at least 30 minutes before scheduled interview
- Dress formally. This gives an impression that you are serious about the interview
- Be calm, cool, and collected. It also helps to have an organized demeanor because the USCIS officials look at the body language and emotions to sport red flags and indicate fraud. Looking nervous, anxious, or flustered will arouse their suspicion.
- Don’t make your answers sound rehearsed. This shows you memorized facts and are giving a kind of robotic-answers. This is a red flag to the officials.
- If you are unsure of an answer or don’t know, say it. The officials are aware that you may not be able to remember every tiny detail about your marriage. It is better to say you don’t know than to tell a lie.
- Don’t be too overly affectionate or uncomfortable. This is an authentic red flag. Therefore, the best thing to do is be yourselves and act normally.
- Ensure you bring every necessary paperwork that will be useful in proving your relationship
- Confide in your attorney
- Enjoy the process
Following these tips is one of the best ways to get ready and also ace the interview.
What Happens If You Get One of the Answers to the Questions Wrong?
If you or your spouse gives different answers to the same question, your marriage will be deemed as fraudulent and your case will most likely be denied.
What Happens After the Marriage Green Card Interview?
If the USCIS officers is able to determine that your marriage is bona-fide, that your immigration case is strong enough, or didn’t declare denial right at the visa interview, one of the following scenarios could occur
- Approval of the green card or immigrant visa application
- Invitation for a second interview
- Sending out the request for evidence
- Notifying you about additional review
However, if the USCIS officials were not convinced with your immigration case or discovered that your marriage may be a fraud, you will probably get a denial right at the interview.
Summary
The marriage-based green card interview is the big last step in the application process. As a result, it must be treated with extreme importance. You can ace your interview by being adequately prepared, getting together all relevant documents to help your case, and knowing the dos and don’ts of the interview.
Marriage Green Card Interview FAQs
- Do you have a good experience with immigrants?
This answer depends on the environment you get into. On a larger scale, you are bound to have a good experience with immigrants.
- Is marrying a US citizen the easiest way to get a green card?
Yes! Obtaining a green card through marriage to a United States citizen or a green card holder is one of the fastest and easiest ways to get a green card or a permanent residency status in the United States.
- What is the best way to pass my green card marriage interview?
There are several things that must be done to pass your marriage green card interview. Some of these include
- You and your spouse refreshing your memories
- Collecting and gathering your documents
- Preparing new evidences
- Dressing appropriately
- Being punctual
- Being honest
- Being yourself
For more information on how to pass your interview, speak to your attorney.
- Does USCIS check your phone records?
USCIS does not check your phone records or text messages before approving the marriage green card application. Due to the fact that they are a service agency, they only have the authority to assign immigration status and check if all paperwork and other information presented is viable and true.
- What questions do they ask in a spousal visa interview?
While there is not a fixed list of questions, you should expect to answer questions you should know about your spouse. These include
- Personal information questions
- Initial meeting questions
- Education and employment status questions
- Immigration questions
These questions are important in determining that you and your spouse have a bona fide marriage
