Do's and Don'ts of USCIS Marriage Interviews
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If you applied for adjustment of status to that of a permanent resident of the United States based on your marriage to a U.S. citizen, you and your spouse will be called to an interview at a local United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (“USCIS”) office. During that interview, an immigration officer will review your submission and question you regarding your relationship. The interview can either be with both of you together or you may be questioned individually. Your goal is to show to the interviewer that you are a real couple and your marriage is genuine. It can be a really stressful process, but you can avoid a lot of stress and uncertainty by following the suggestions below.
DO review all your documents and forms prior to the interview to refresh your memory. You do not have to memorize everything in the forms, but it would be good if you remembered your spouse’s biographical information, like the date and place of birth, names of parents and siblings, place of work, etc. It would show that you actually know your spouse well.
DO look through a list of sample questions and practice before the interview with your spouse. At the interview you might be asked a few personal questions, so do not get flustered.
DO bring all the original documents you submitted with your Form I-485 application and a complete set of duplicates. Have it well-organized and tabbed. This is needed in case your file is missing or incomplete or the officer needs to consult a document but cannot find it.
DO prepare recent documents evidencing the validity of your marriage, including, but not limited to:
Recent photos of you together and with your family and friends
Joint financial information (bank accounts, credit cards, insurance, etc.)
Joint lease/house deed/property
Joint utility bills
Joint income tax returns
Recent affidavits from your friends who can attest to the validity of your marriage
Will listing either spouse as a beneficiary
Correspondence between you and your spouse or addressed to you as a couple.
The USCIS letter informing you of the interview will have a complete list of documents that they will need. Please consult it and use it as a checklist. Arrange and tab the new documents and make a copy for the interviewer. These documents are important because they will show that your relationship is real and ongoing. The more documents, the better.
DO arrive at least 30 minutes before your appointment. Allow time for traffic and finding the USCIS office. You do not want to miss your appointment because in that case you risk having your case denied.
DO dress as if you are attending a job interview. Business casual style is great and would leave a good impression with the interviewer.
DO listen to the interviewer’s questions carefully. If you do not understand the question, ask for a clarification. Answer the questions directly and to the point.
DO NOT guess the answers. If you do not know the answer to a question, say either that you do not remember or you do not know. It is understandable if you forget something, but it would be really bad if you guess the answer incorrectly and either your submission or your spouse provide conflicting information. Inconsistencies would raise red flags and would indicate to the interviewer that there might be fraud.
DO NOT talk too much. Be aware how much information you are providing at the interview. Not only does the immigration officer have limited time and patience, but being too talkative and divulging unrelated information could raise the interviewer’s suspicions that you are not being truthful.
DO NOT be nervous. It’s easier said than done, but there are certain techniques that you can use to minimize your stress levels. First, proper preparation will make the process easier and eliminate surprises. Second, indulge in a short meditation session immediately prior to the interview to slow down your heartbeat. Third, go with an attorney who knows your case and would be able to give you confidence at the interview.
Good luck!