It is important to prepare for a green card interview well ahead of your scheduled date to ensure you have everything you need and are able to answer all of the questions accurately. Preparing for your green card interview is also a great way to deal with any anxiety or uncertainty you have before the interview. This review discusses what you can expect during the green card interview and offers useful tips to help you prepare.
What Is A Green Card Interview?
A green card interview is required for most marriage-related green cards. An interview may also be required for other types of green cards as well. The purpose of the green card interview is to ensure the reason you are seeking a green card is legitimate. For marriage-based green cards, they are ensuring you and your significant other are really a couple and are getting married to be together, rather than as a means for you to enter the country. Of course, there may be other purposes for the interview as well.
Green Card Interview Preparation
A green card interview can be intimidating, but you can deal with any nerves you have by properly preparing in advance. This should include learning the questions that will most likely be asked, collecting all documents and ensuring the documents are organized. By doing so, you give yourself the best possible chance to get through the interview process without any concerns.
Understand The Green Card Interview Questions
There are no set questions you can expect to receive during your green card interview. However, there are common topics that people report, which include:
- Relationship history
- Wedding
- Daily routine
- Important dates
- Kids (if applicable)
By understanding these topics in advance, you can head into your green card interview with confidence. Simply reviewing your relationship history (i.e., how you met, where you went on your first date, etc.), how your wedding went and what your life is like post-marriage, you can be ready on the day of the interview.
Double-Check And Collect All Documents
The officer conducting the interview may request certain relevant documents, such as your marriage license. The United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) should notify you ahead of time about all the documents you will need. Before the day of the interview, be sure to double-check all of the documents that the USCIS has requested. Be sure to give yourself plenty of time to collect the documents, as some may take time to receive. Once you have all of the requested documents, ensure they are organized and easy for you to access once you are in the green card interview.
Bring Copies Of Any New Documents Filled Out
If there are any newly requested documents that you had to fill out before the green card interview, be sure to bring those documents with you to the interview. If you have questions about how to fill out the new documents, be sure to consult with an immigration lawyer. They can answer your questions and ensure you do not improperly fill out any essential documents. Also, be sure to make several copies of any new documents. This ensures both you and the officer have a copy, and printing extra in case anything happens to one or more of them is always helpful as well.
Be Honest And Open With Your Interviewer
Your interviewer will be assessing you to see if you are being honest with your answers. They are professionals who are trained to sense when someone may not be telling the truth. The best way to avoid this is by simply being honest with every answer. Be open and provide detailed responses to all of the questions. If you do not know an answer to a question or part of a question, then do not attempt to fill in the missing gaps or make details up. Instead, simply explain what you do know or remember and be honest about details you may have forgotten.
Most notably, remain calm and have faith in your preparation before the green card interview. If you have spent time practicing and are receiving the green card for genuine reasons, then you have no reason to be nervous. While nerves may exist, keep reminding yourself of how prepared you are.
Reach Out To An Experienced Immigration Attorney
Are you interested in a green card or would like more assistance with preparing for a green card interview? If so, then contact us today by phone or by sending us a message. We are glad to answer your questions, and we have a genuine appreciation for making the green card process easier for our clients. So, why wait? Get in touch today to get the green card process started and learn more useful information.
