Green Card Interview Questions for Spouses

Making ready on your marriage-based immigrant visa consular interview

The consular interview at a U.S. embassy or consulate is a crucial milestone in your software for an immigrant visa (inexperienced card). In any case, consular officers use their discretion based mostly on this interview to find out if they may approve your inexperienced card software. For marriage-based functions, the interview is very essential. Understanding what to anticipate and getting ready for doable inexperienced card interview questions will enable you to be prepared for the large day.

Inexperienced card interview questions for spouses are likely to dig slightly deeper than typical interviews. That’s as a result of marriage is without doubt one of the main ways in which fraudulent visas are requested. In different phrases, immigration officers wish to confirm that you’ve a bona fide marriage. That’s it. The officer will ask further questions to assist decide in case your marriage is the true deal.

This text addresses the inexperienced card interview questions at a U.S. embassy or consulate. In case you are making use of for a inexperienced card inside the USA (adjustment of standing), contemplate studying our article on the I-485 interview preparation.

When to Anticipate the Consular Interview for a Inexperienced Card

The wedding-based inexperienced card course of begins with the U.S. citizen or everlasting resident partner submitting an I-130 petition package deal with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Providers (USCIS). The I-130 processing time usually takes a minimal of six months.

After the approval of an I-130 petition, USCIS forwards the case to the Nationwide Visa Middle (NVC). The NVC does a lot of the bottom work earlier than the interview. Assuming an immigrant visa is obtainable, the NVC could have you full the next steps:

As soon as the NVC is happy that you’ve accurately submitted the required paperwork and have paid the charges, you’ll be capable of schedule an interview on the U.S. embassy or consulate. Moreover, all candidates should endure a medical examination carried out by a certified doctor and acquire sure vaccinations earlier than the interview.

Who Attends Consular Interview

The U.S. embassy or consulate doesn’t require the U.S. petitioner to attend the consular interview. Nonetheless, she or he could attend in some instances. Examine with the embassy or consulate conducting your interview. Any kids that can immigrate with the principal applicant will possible be required to attend the interview as properly.

Gadgets to Take to Interview

The appointment discover will embody a listing of things to take to your consular interview. You must count on to take the next objects:

• Interview appointment letter from the Nationwide Visa Middle (NVC).
• Unexpired passport legitimate for six months past your meant date of entry into the USA and a photocopy of the biographic web page (the place your identify and photograph are situated).
• Two colour passport pictures measuring 2 inches by 2 inches (5 cm by 5 cm) with a white background.
• Required civil paperwork (the unique model and a photocopy), even when you submitted a photocopy to NVC. It’s possible you’ll must get an up to date police certificates.
• Medical examination outcomes if the doctor offers you these outcomes. In that case, deliver them to your interview within the envelope sealed by the medical workplace. Don’t open this envelope.
• Affirmation web page from Kind DS-260, Immigrant Visa and Alien Registration Software, that you just submitted on ceac.state.gov.
• A signed Kind I-864 Affidavit of Help and supporting paperwork out of your petitioner and any further monetary sponsors who submitted a Kind I-864 on behalf of your visa software. Candidates could deliver photocopies and scanned variations of signed Varieties I-864 and related paperwork. (Please observe that the shape should nonetheless be signed; typed names and digital signatures won’t be accepted.)
• Proof of the U.S. petitioner’s standing and domicile in the USA (photocopy of a U.S. passport, naturalization certificates, or authorized everlasting resident card).
• Translations of any doc not written in both English or the official language of the nation wherein the interview will happen. Translations should be licensed by a reliable translator.

Moreover, you need to take the unique model plus one photocopy of any civil paperwork that you just used together with your software. For instance, when you beforehand submitted a photocopy of your start certificates, take the unique or licensed copy model to the interview.

Adjustments to your Software

The consular officer will possible ask you probably have any life modifications which will have an effect on your software for a inexperienced card. The officer is in search of something which will change a solution in your software or petition. Some examples embody the start a baby, new employer, or new tackle. In case your modifications embody an arrest or different immigration points, communicate to an immigration legal professional earlier than attending your inexperienced card interview.

RECOMMENDED: Acquiring Everlasting Residence by means of Marriage (Marriage-based Inexperienced Card)

Inexperienced Card Interview

The everyday consular interview could solely final about 20 to 25 minutes. After introductions and swearing in, that doesn’t go away a lot time for questioning. For probably the most half, the consular officer will ask you questions on your software and ask you to confirm or clarify sure solutions. Should you’ve in truth answered questions on the immigrant visa software (DS-260), there’s usually no purpose to be troubled. It’s additionally not essential to memorize solutions to any questions.

For candidates that utilized for an immigrant visa based mostly on spousal relationship, the questions will get barely extra private. USCIS desires affirmation that the wedding is bona fide. In different phrases, they may scrutinize the appliance extra to verify there’s no marriage fraud.

Pattern Inexperienced Card Interview Questions for Spouses

As talked about, inexperienced card interview questions for beneficiaries of a spouse-based petition dig deeper into your relationship with the petitioner. The U.S. authorities desires to verify that you’ve a real relationship and that you just’re not circumventing immigration legal guidelines to get a inexperienced card. Consequently, the questions might be private at occasions. Consular officers are skilled to search out inconsistencies and decide if candidates are being untruthful.

These are some pattern interview questions. As you may see, they’re quite simple questions. You don’t must memorize solutions. Assessment the checklist of questions so to take into consideration how you’ll reply.

Preliminary Assembly & Courting

• How, when and the place did you meet your partner?
• The place and with whom did your partner stay once you met your partner?
• How do you and your partner talk (i.e. phone, textual content, electronic mail, and so on.)?
• How a lot time have you ever and your partner spent collectively in individual?
• What’s your partner’s date of start?

Household

• Does your partner have any siblings? If that’s the case, what are their names and ages?
• Have you ever met your partner’s household? If that’s the case, describe the circumstances who you met.
• The place do your partner’s closest members of the family stay?

Employment & Residence

• What sort of labor does your partner do?
• What’s your partner’s wage?
• Have you ever visited your partner’s house? Describe it.

Wedding ceremony

• How lengthy did you and your partner date previous to getting married?
• When did you and your partner resolve to get married? Was there a proposal? Who proposed? When and the place did it happen?
• Did you and your partner stay collectively previous to your marriage? The place, when, and the way lengthy?
• When did you and your partner transfer in collectively?
• When did you get married?
• Should you had a celebration, what meals/drinks had been served?
• Did you and your partner go on a honeymoon? If sure, the place?
• What did your dad and mom take into consideration this marriage?

Future Plans

• When do you plan to maneuver to the USA?
• The place do you intend to stay?
• Do you intend to work or attend faculty in the USA?

It is a small sampling of inexperienced card interview questions. In follow, the consular officer can change up the questions based mostly on the circumstances.

After the Interview

On the finish of your immigrant visa interview on the U.S. embassy or consulate, the consular officer will usually inform you whether or not your visa software is permitted or denied. Your immigrant visa might be positioned on a web page in your passport. Assessment the printed info immediately to verify there are not any errors. If there are any spelling errors, contact the embassy or consulate promptly.

The U.S. embassy or consulate will even present a sealed packet containing paperwork that you have to current to U.S. Customs and Border Safety at a port-of-entry (like an airport or border crossing) upon your arrival in the USA. It’s essential to not open the sealed packet.

Lastly, you have to arrive and apply for admission in the USA no later than the visa expiration date printed in your visa. An immigrant visa is normally legitimate for as much as six months from the date of issuance except your medical examination expires sooner, which can make your visa legitimate for lower than six months.

About CitizenPath

CitizenPath gives easy, reasonably priced, step-by-step steerage by means of USCIS immigration functions. People, attorneys and non-profits use the service on desktop or cell machine to organize immigration kinds precisely, avoiding expensive delays. CitizenPath permits customers to strive the service without spending a dime and gives a 100% money-back assure that USCIS will approve the appliance or petition. We offer help for the Adjustment of Standing Software (Kind I-485), Petition to Assist a Relative Acquire a Inexperienced Card (Kind I-130), and a number of other different USCIS kinds.

Notice to Reader: This publish was initially revealed on February 25, 2020, and has been modified with enhancements.