Tips for Immigration Marriage Interview 

Suppose you’re a U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident (LPR) with a green card and you’ve married a foreign national. You have filed all the necessary paperwork for your spouse, and the two of you have been called in for an interview by the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).  

The purpose of the interview is to determine if your marriage is legitimate or whether it is just a tactic to get someone LPR status—in other words, the goal is to determine whether the relationship is real or a fraud. 

Preparing for the interview is essential. The foreign national spouse could face removal (deportation) if the interview reveals that the marriage is a sham aimed at getting someone a green card. There is not any standardized set of questions that the USCIS official will use, but from the experiences of those who have gone through the interviews, examples have been assembled. 

If you and your foreign national spouse are scheduled for an interview to verify your marriage in or around Woburn, Massachusetts, contact the immigration attorneys at Corbaci Law, P.C. We ourselves have been through the immigration system in different countries, including the United States, and we can advise you on how best to navigate the system. We proudly serve clients throughout Massachusetts, including Boston, Marlborough, Framingham, and neighboring communities in the state. 

What To Expect at the Immigration Marriage Interview

Your interview may be held jointly with both spouses or, if fraud is suspected, it may be held separately to compare answers that the spouses give to the same questions. In either situation, you should have nothing to worry about so long as you are both legitimately married and sharing your lives together.  

Nonetheless, there are some tips for preparation and success that you should follow: 

Bring supporting documents: To show that you two are legitimately a married couple, bring along documents that show this. A lease or rental agreement in both of your names can prove essential. You should also bring in any income information such as a W-2 or series of paystubs to show that neither of you will become what is known as a “public charge.” Of course, a marriage certificate is also vital. 

Provide as much evidence as possible to show your relationship is real: Photos from your wedding, photos from trips together, photos of where you live—all these can support your application and show your relationship is real. 

Prepare in advance and practice answers: Go through possible questions and rehearse your answers in advance. Though you can never be sure which questions will be asked, you can be sure they will be focused on your life together: “Where did you two meet?” “Who gets up first?” “Who makes breakfast?” “What’s the color of the curtains in your bedroom?” The interviewer is free to make up questions, so prepare for a wide range of personal inquiries. 

Be honest: If you are concerned about any particular facts of the relationship, discuss it with your attorney prior to the interview in order to understand the best way to address it. When being interviewed, be prepared, but also be honest. 

Be as calm and natural as possible: If you appear nervous or unsure in answering questions at your interview, that can raise a red flag and may impede, delay, or even end the process. Just be yourself. 

After the Interview

If your marriage is less than two years old, the foreign national spouse will be given conditional rather than permanent resident status. The conditional status is good for two years. Within 90 days before the two years are up, the foreign-born and U.S. spouse must submit USCIS Form I-751 to show that your marriage has continued throughout the period to obtain permanent resident status. 

Take Steps to Succeed in the Interview 

If you are married to a foreign national and want to help that person attain permanent resident, or green card, status, contact us in advance. We will help you submit the proper forms and support documents and help you prepare for the interview. Reach out to us at Corbaci Law, P.C. with all your immigration questions and concerns in or around Woburn and Boston, Massachusetts.