.2305051330550.jpg)
While nearly every immigration process includes an interview with United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), marriage green card interviews can be particularly stressful, as they require you to defend the legitimacy of your relationship. Fortunately, Maney | Gordon | Zeller, P.A. is here to guide you through this process. Below, we will discuss some of the questions commonly asked in these interviews, and how having an experienced attorney can help you prepare for your case.
Understanding the Marriage Interview Process
The marriage visa interview process with USCIS is likely to be an intimidating experience for any couple applying for a green card. However, being well-prepared is the best way to strengthen your case and put you more at ease. During the interview, USCIS officers will ask a series of questions to determine the legitimacy of the marriage.
Common questions include:
How did you meet?
Where and when did your first date occur?
Where has your spouse lived in the past five years?
Do you or your spouse have any previous marriages or children?
Do you have joint financial accounts or assets (and if so, can you provide details?)
Are there photos of you together before and after the wedding, during family events, or on vacations?
What are your spouse's hobbies, interests, and favorite foods?
What is your spouse’s family like?
By reviewing these common questions ahead of time and preparing a thorough response with your attorney, you'll feel more confident in the interview and be able to demonstrate the genuine nature of your marriage. With authenticity and honesty, as well as help from an experienced immigration lawyer, the marriage visa process does not have to be stressful or intimidating.
Documentation Needed for the Marriage Interview
To prepare for a marriage visa interview with USCIS, you will need to gather important documents that prove the legitimacy of your marriage. This includes things like joint bank statements or utility bills showing both spouses' names and the same address, photos together from special occasions like holidays or vacations, affidavits from family and friends attesting to this being a genuine relationship, as well as information about assets or insurance policies listing each other as beneficiaries. Having an immigration attorney help compile and review these materials can ensure nothing is missed and give couples confidence that they have a strong case for approval.
The Importance of Having a Skilled Immigration Lawyer During Your Marriage Interview
As anxiety-inducing as waiting for a decision following a marriage green card interview may be, it's important to be patient. Checking on the status too frequently can be seen as excessive or even harassing, and will not expedite the process. When a decision is made, applicants will receive a notice in the mail approving or denying the petition. An approval means the process is nearly complete, while a denial may allow for an appeal or request to reopen and reconsider the decision.
Having a skilled immigration attorney like one of our team members at Maney | Gordon | Zeller, P.A. by your side during your marriage visa interview is invaluable. Our seasoned family immigration professionals will not only add an air of legitimacy to your case; we’ll thoroughly prepare you and your spouse for the types of personal questions that may arise, on top of working to ensure that your application is complete and accurate. Our goal is to help you present yourselves and your relationship in an authentic, loving way. USCIS officers are often skeptical that some of the marriages they handle are fraudulent in obtaining a green card, so demonstrating the legitimacy of your relationship is critical. With so much on the line, this is not the time to try to navigate this process alone. Call Maney | Gordon | Zeller, P.A. today, and let us help you take the first steps towards a bright future with your spouse and other loved ones.
Call (800) 708-4399 now or request a consultation online. Habla español.
