As part of your visa or green card application process, you will likely be required to attend an immigration interview. This process can be nerve-wracking, especially when you do not know what to expect. Here is some guidance and information to help you prepare for a successful interview.
What to Expect
Your interview will most likely be a brief conversation with a representative from the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). The specifics of the interview will depend on what type of petition or application you submitted. Green card applications spurred by marriage will prompt questions relevant to the relationship, and both you and your spouse are required to attend the interview.
The Law Office of Jason A. Dennis can help you better understand what to expect based on the type of petition you filed.
Documents and Questions
The USCIS requires that you bring certain documents with you to your immigration interview. You must bring:
- Your appointment letter
- A qualifying passport
- Two copies of a color photograph of yourself
- Confirmation page from your DS-260, Immigrant Visa Application
- Certified or original copies of any necessary civil documents
Aside from obtaining and bringing all the required documents, you should also be prepared for the questions the USCIS will ask. There is no way to know exactly what will and will not be asked, but the questions usually surround personal details, like your name and birthdate, family information, and background information.
Most of the questions will be fairly straightforward and should be easy to answer. However, petitions filed based on marriage could prompt more personal questions. You and your spouse may be expected to answer inquiries like:
- How did you meet?
- When did the proposal happen?
- What medications does your spouse take?
The interviewer will be looking for inconsistencies in your and your spouse’s answers, as well as trying to determine the validity of your relationship based on how well you know each other.
Background information is also important in an immigration interview. Any criminal history will be considered carefully, but a criminal background does not always automatically disqualify you.
A qualified immigration attorney like Jason A. Dennis is an invaluable resource when preparing for an immigration interview. Not only will he help you prior to the interview, but attorneys are often allowed to attend interviews on your behalf. If you have an upcoming interview or are preparing to file for a visa or green card, contact us to schedule a consultation. We can be reached online through our website or at (347) 868-6100.
