Green Card Interview Questions & Preparation

July 17, 2020

You’re married! Congratulations! If you want to live in the U.S. with your new spouse, you’ll need to obtain a marriage green card. Getting a green card is generally a three-step process that involves preparation and answering Green Card interview questions. Here are the steps:

Establish your marriage: Form I-130, Petition for Alien Relative
Apply for the green card: Form I-485, Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status, or DS-260, Online Immigrant Visa Application. (In some cases, Forms I-130 and I-485 are filed together as a “one-step.”)
Attend the green card interview and wait for USCIS approval

As you go through the Green Card process, it is recommended that you consult with an experienced attorney. I have helped couples around the world and am ready to work with you. Call (617) 714-4375 or click here to get in touch.

Green card interview guidelines

Once you’ve made it to the green card interview, you should follow a few guidelines:

Don’t be late for your interview. Arrive at least 30 minutes early.
Dress conservatively, as if for a job interview. Don’t wear jeans and a t-shirt.
Listen to the USCIS officer and respond to the questions. Your interview time is limited, so be brief and to the point.
Don’t guess. If you don’t know the answer to a question, just say so.
Be prepared with your documentation. Carry a complete set of your documentation and an extra to give to the USCIS officer. You will need to provide specific documentation to show the validity of your marriage. You may need marriage and birth certificates, wedding or special occasion photos, wedding invitations, joint financial and bank account statements, and joint lease or mortgage documents.
Talk to your partner about the sample questions listed below and attached here. I have attended many interviews with clients, and many of these questions come up over and over.

Generally, the US citizen spouse will go into an interview room with the officer first, without the immigrant spouse. The officer will ask that spouse a number of questions about the relationship. Then, the officer will either bring the US citizen spouse back to the waiting room, or bring the immigrant spouse into join the US citizen. Sometimes the officer will bring both partners into the interview room together. Sometimes, the officer will separate them again if a problem arises with inconsistency between the spouses’ answers.

Sample interview questions

For your marriage green card interview, be prepared to answer specific types of questions about your early relationship:

How did you meet? When? Where?
Where was your first date?
What did you do?
How long before you spoke on the phone or texted?
When did you decide to get married?
Who proposed?
When did you meet your spouse’s family? Where?

You should expect questions about the day you were married:

How many people attended your wedding?
Where did you get married?
Did your family members attend? Who attended?
Who were your wedding attendants?
Where did you stay on your wedding night?
Where did you go on your honeymoon?

Be prepared for general questions about your spouse and your marriage:

Where do you live?
Who else lives at that address?
Do you live together or plan to live together?
What are your and your spouse’s cell phone numbers?
What is your spouse’s birthday?
Do you attend church?
Have you taken vacations together?
How do you spend your time together?
Do you plan to have children?
Do you have children from a previous marriage?
Where does your spouse work?
Do you visit each other’s families often? When was the last time?

As you can see, the questions USCIS will ask during your green card interview aren’t trick questions. They are straightforward questions about your relationship, your families, and your marriage. Most couples that have lived together for a while can answer the questions.

If you have concerns about your upcoming interview, it is a good idea to consult with an experienced immigration attorney. I’ve guided couples from around the world through the marriage green card process, and I’m happy to help you as well. To contact me, click here or call (617) 714-4375.