In one of our latest blogs, we discussed all the documents you or your spouse will need to apply for a marriage green card. After you have gathered all these essential documents and filled out all the appropriate forms, the last step involved in the marriage green card process is the interview.
Even if your interview doesn’t take place for many months, knowing what to expect when the day comes can ease your stress and help you feel better prepared for what you will be asked.
What To Expect in Your Interview
Your interview will be scheduled by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) if the spouse seeking a green card lives in the U.S. or by the National Visa Center (NVC) if they live abroad.
The primary goal of the green card marriage interview is to determine whether your marriage is authentic. In other words, they want to make sure that your marriage is primarily based on a genuine wish to be married, rather than a means for one spouse to obtain a green card.
To do this, they will ask you and your spouse multiple questions about various aspects of your relationship, such as those related to:
- Your Relationship History
- Your Wedding
- Your Daily Routines
- Your Family and Friends
- Your Kids (If Any)
- Your Personal Habits and Needs
- Education and Employment
- Birthdays, Big Events and Celebrations
Remember These Tips
Even if you know your spouse completely, we understand that the interview process can be stressful. Here are a few things to keep in mind during yours to help you:
- Be punctual for your scheduled interview. Arrive about 30 minutes early to the location of your interview.
- Wear professional/conservative clothing. While you want to be yourself, you also want to make a good impression and look like you are taking the interview seriously.
- Be honest and open. Interviewers are trained to look for certain red flags that indicate deception or fraud. Try to leave your nerves outside of the interview and focus on being honest with your answers and talking about what you know.
- Practice so that you remain calm. You can go through the list of questions we listed above so that you are prepared, but don’t try to memorize a script. Sounding rehearsed can be a red flag for interviewers.
- Have fun and act normally. Lastly, just be yourselves! Don’t try to be over-affectionate with your spouse, which can come across as forced and disingenuous. Tell your story and talk about your spouse in a way that you would do so with someone you know.
Please remember that you don’t have to go through this process alone. Ultimately, the best way to prepare yourself and your spouse for a marriage green card interview is to have a reliable and knowledgable attorney on your side throughout the entire process. This person can guide you through what to avoid and how to best ensure that your marriage is deemed valid so your green card is granted.
Helping You Feel Prepared
For over 40 years, the legal team at Maney Gordon Zeller has been a go-to legal resource for those in pursuit of their American Dream. Our full-service immigration firm is here to answer all your questions along the way and give you tailored legal advice for nailing your marriage green card interview. Please don’t hesitate to reach out to our firm at your earliest convenience!
Contact our firm at (800) 708-4399 to get started with a free case review. We have nine nationwide offices located in various cities including Tampa, Orlando, Philadelphia, Albuquerque, and El Paso.
