If you are applying for a marriage-based green card, your spouse and you will both face an interview with a USCIS officer. The interview can be conducted at a USCIS office or at the U.S. Consulate abroad, depending on the type of case you have. During the interview, officers will ask questions about your relationship to see whether or not you and your spouse are in a bona fide marriage.
Generally, immigration officers will ask only a few questions during the interview. However, if the officer becomes suspicious that you are attempting to use your marriage for fraudulent purposes, you can expect more in-depth questions. In addition, the officer may decide to conduct separate interviews with you and your spouse to check for consistency in answers.
There is no set list of questions that the officer will ask; instead, they will usually tailor their questions to your particular situation. However, there are some questions that are common to all cases:
How did your relationship begin and develop?
The USCIS officer marriage green card interview questions will want to know how you and your spouse met and fell in love, and what your lives were like together before you got married. This is an important question because it shows that you and your spouse established a genuine, long-term relationship and love before you decided to get married.
How do you spend your time as a couple?
The officer will want to know what activities you and your spouse enjoy doing as a couple. For example, they may ask about hobbies, favorite pastimes – individual and shared – holidays celebrated together, shopping habits, specific rituals you follow, and more. The officer will also want to know how you and your spouse communicate with each other, including when you both wake up in the morning, who makes breakfast, where you sleep at night, how you go grocery shopping, and more.
Do you have any children?
The officer will likely want to know if you and your spouse have any children. They will also want to know if you plan on having any children in the future. The officer will want to make sure that you and your spouse are both committed to your relationship, and that you will not abandon or neglect each other during the immigration process.
If the officer firmly believes that your marriage is not a genuine, legal one, they will probably deny your application on the spot. Before they do this, however, they will usually give you an opportunity to submit more evidence or clarify any noticed issues.
A successful interview is essential for obtaining your marriage-based green card. To prepare for your interview, review the above immigration marriage interview questions and discuss them with a Houston immigration attorney. Then, be ready to answer any questions the officers might have. For the best results, be honest and confident, and avoid any unnecessary embellishments or exaggerations. You should also be prepared to provide copies of your wedding photos and any other relevant documentation to support your claim.