How to Prepare for your Marriage Green Card Interview

Your marriage green card interview should not be something you do on a whim. Rather, it should be something you adequately prepare for. It takes about 9 months after your USCIS filing to be called for the interview. You can use this time period to make sure you are ready for the interview.

You could be denied the marriage green card if you supply the wrong information during your interview, and it will be sad to see all your hard work in the previous nine months go to waste.

If you are interested in avoiding this ugly scenario, here are some tips you can apply to prepare for your marriage green card interview.

Be punctual and dress conservatively for your marriage green card interview

Coming late for your marriage green card interview is surely going to leave the wrong impression. In worse situations, you might just be passed over, and that is the end for you. Ensure you are the venue at least 30 minutes before the interview. You should also dress conservatively to the interview. In essence, treat it like you would treat a job interview.

Do not guess on any question at your marriage green card interview

A lot of people feel they need to show knowledge for every question asked at the interview. Well, you could fail the interview if you keep on guessing and seem very unsure. For one, it could affect your composure throughout the remainder of the interview. So, if you do not know the answer to a question, just say so.

There’s no need to memorize and end up sounding like a robot at your marriage green card interview

You’re meant to act natural during your marriage green card interview. There are really no questions you need memorized answers for. If the USCIS officer asks you for the last date of your arrival into the US, you can look at your form I-485, Page 1, Date of Last Arrival.

Reeling off the answer like a robot can lead to suspicion that the marriage is a fake one. If the USCIS officer suspects this, he could separate you two and ask questions that will expose the marriage as fake.

Have the documents required for the marriage green card interview

You should make sure you come for your marriage green card interview with all the necessary documents. Make sure you go along with the originals and copies you can submit to the USCIS when asked.

Documents you can use take along include wedding invitations, birth certificates of children you had together, joint bank account statements, wedding pictures, photographs of occasions you spent together, and other joint financial statements.

Sample Interview Questions

Relationship

Where did you meet?

What did the two of you have in common?

Where did you go for dates?

When did your relationship turn romantic?

How long was it before you decided to get married?

Who proposed to whom?

Why did you decide to have a [long, short] engagement?

Did your parents approve of the match? Why or why not?

The Wedding

How many people attended your wedding?

Where was the wedding held?

Who were the bridesmaids/groomsmen?

Did you go on a honeymoon? When did you leave? How did you get there? What airlines?

Regular Routines

Who gets up first? At what time?

How many alarm clocks do you set in the morning?

Who makes breakfast?

What do each of you eat for breakfast?

Does your spouse drink coffee in the morning?

Who is your spouse’s employer? What is the location of your spouse’s workplace? What is the name of your spouse’s boss?

How much does your spouse earn every month or year? How often is your spouse paid?

The House

Do you live in a home or apartment? Who pays the mortgage or rent? How much is it?

Do you have a garage? Who parks in it? Do you use a garage door opener?

Is there a carpet in your front hallway? What color?Is your sofa a regular one or does it have a pull-out bed?

Have you ever had houseguests sleep there?

What type of curtains or window coverings are in your living room? What color?

How many staircases are in your house?

How many sinks, toilets, and showers are there in your house or apartment in total?

Do you leave any lights on when you go to sleep at night?

Friends and Family

Have you met each other’s families?

How often do you see each other’s families?

When was the last time you saw them?

How do you typically celebrate holidays? For example, do you spend Thanksgiving with one family and Christmas with another?

How many brothers and sisters does your spouse have? What are their names?

Does your spouse have any nieces or nephews?

Do you have mutual friends?

What’s your spouse’s best friends name?

Employment

Who is your spouse’s employer?

How long has your spouse been working there?

What is your spouse’s position?

Where did your spouse work prior?

Get expert help

There are numerous other things you need to prepare well for your marriage green card interview. With advice from the right immigration lawyer, you should easily scale through.