The interview is the last and the most significant step of the process of applying for a green card marriage. Thus, it can be quite stressful, which is why you should prepare yourself before you sit in the interview.
Knowing things beforehand gives you a greater advantage. It will let you know what to expect and what kind of questions you will be expected to answer. To help you out, below is everything you need to know about a marriage-based green card interview.
How to get ready for the interview
Below are some things which can help you get prepared for the interview:
- Go over all the necessary details and revise them so that you don’t fail to answer any questions at the interview.
- Collect all the original copies of the documents you sent to the government during the application process. Keep them organized in a folder.
- It is recommended that you keep other documents that will help you prove the authenticity of your marriage. You can carry documents such as recent photos together, birth certificates of any children born to the two of you, joint income tax returns, recent joint bank account statements, etc. If you live in different countries, you can go for travel itineraries for vacations you took together
- Make sure you keep all the documents organized in chronological order.
Types of questions will you have to answers
Family-based immigration interviews usually consist of personal questions. Therefore, you will be asked about the details of your marriage, your day-to-day life as a couple and the plans you both have. Most people try to answer every question; however, you should focus on answering questions honestly rather than just answering them.
Below are some of the questions that you can expect:
- What is the story of your marriage proposal?
- What was your wedding like?
- Who attended your wedding?
- How do you start your day?
- How often do you text or talk on the phone when you’re apart?
- What’s the most important holiday of the year in your household?
Separate interview
Many times couples expect to get interviewed together at the same time. However, it is not so. Sometimes the interview is conducted separately, either by the same officer or different ones. Then the officer assesses if your answers match or not. This type of interview is known as “Stokes.”
Below are some reasons why a couple would be put under extra scrutiny during a stokes interview:
- Any signs of red flags that indicate a fraudulent marriage can lead to a stokes interview or extra scrutiny. These red flags often include a large age gap between the spouses, a very short marriage, very different cultural backgrounds, or different addresses showing up for the spouses online.
- The other reason may be that the officer found a new topic that he wants to research more about. Thus, he decides to take the interview separately.
What follows afterward?
Below are the five possible outcomes of the interview you’ve given:
- The officer will inform you that you’ve been approved.
- You can be requested for evidence.
- You can also be required for an additional review.
- There may be a situation where you’ll have to go for a second interview.
- If not all of the above, you’ll be denied.
