How to Pass your Marriage-Based Green Card Interview
The permanent resident card or green card is issued to foreign nationals authorizing them to live in the US as permanent residents. When you apply for a green card, you will be notified by USCIS to appear for an interview. Only on successful completion of the interview will you be issued a green card. It is therefore important to prepare well for the interview.
Steps to Pass your Marriage-Based Green Card Interview
1. Be on time for your immigration interview. It is recommended to arrive at least 45 minutes before your scheduled interview time.
2. Do not carry items that are prohibited including cell phones with cameras, matches, lighters, any liquids, sharp objects and pepper spray.
3. Dress professionally and conservatively. The way you are dressed is the first thing that the USCIS officer will see and it makes an immediate impact.
4. Be prepared with the proper documents. Carry a set of original documents and a complete set of duplicate copies that you can give to the USCIS officer if requested. Documents could include tax returns, affidavit of support, bank statements, photocopies of birth certificates and passport pages, proof of marriage relationship, wedding invitations, wedding photographs, birth certificates of children, photographs of special occasions spent together, joint bank account statements, and other financial documents.
5. Be well organized, listen and respond appropriately. The USCIS officer is only given a short amount of time to conduct a green card interview and so they are highly appreciative when you come to the interview properly organized. You should keep your answers short and to the point. If the officer needs more information, they will ask you another question.
6. Never guess on anything. If you dont know the answer to a question, simply be honest and say “I do not know” or “I don’t remember” rather than guess an answer. Wrong answers could get you a rejection.
7. Reflect on the history of your relationship. In a marriage-based green card interview, you will be asked several questions on your relationship. Be prepared to answer them. Some sample questions are:
- When did you first meet?
- When was your first date?
- What did you eat on your first date?
8. Be prepared to be interviewed separately from your spouse.The USCIS officer may do this if there is any suspicion that the marriage is not real. So be prepared with all information regarding your spouse and prepare yourselves to remain consistent.
9. Maintain a comfortable body language that conveys to the officer that you are being truthful.
