Were you recently married? Are either you or your spouse a resident of a foreign country? Are you planning on making your new home together in the United States? If so, you may be in the process of applying for a green card, which allows an immediate family member of an American citizen, like a spouse, apply for legal residency in the United States. There are a number of steps in the green card application process. You'll need to submit a significant amount of paperwork along with biometric information like fingerprints and photographs.
One of the final and most important steps is the marriage interview. This is a brief appointment in which an immigration official asks both spouses basic questions about their relationship, marriage, and plans for the future. The purpose of the interview is to identify couples who are faking marriages and relationships in order to get a green card. Of course, even if you're not faking your relationship, you may be nervous about the interview. Below are a few tips to help you pass this portion of the process.
Review, but don't rehearse. Much of the interview is a discussion of simple questions about your relationship. The official may ask questions about when and how you met, your first date, and how the proposal took place. He or she could ask questions about your wedding, like where it was and how many guests were there. It's important that you both have similar answers to these questions. However, you don't need to rehearse or memorize information. The official is looking for natural, authentic answers. If it seems like you've memorized a script or a list of information, the official may suspect something is off. Review key points in your relationship, but don't rehearse scripted answers.
Be authentic. Many couples believe they need to be overly affectionate with each other in the interview so the official will believe they're in love. However, the opposite tends to be true. Fake affection is one of the biggest red flags that immigration officials look for. Just be yourselves. If you don't usually display affection in public, there's no reason to do it in the interview. Remember that this is a professional setting as well, so overt affection may not be appropriate.
Meet with a professional. You may want to meet with an immigration attorney before your green card interview. They can help you prepare for the interview and give you a glimpse of what to expect. Some attorneys will even conduct a practice interview so you can get comfortable with the process. They can also help you identify materials that support your relationship history, such as pictures together on dates, wedding invitations, and other documentation. If you're concerned about the interview, an immigration attorney could be a helpful resource.
Ready to get started on your green card application. Contact immigration attorneys like Tesoroni & Leroy. They can serve as your guide as you navigate the green card process.
Share24 October 2018
Although I am far from perfect, I have focused on abiding by the local laws for the vast majority of my life. Unfortunately, about five years ago, I realized that I was being accused of a crime that I didn't commit. I thought about letting the trial run its course, but then I realized that fighting would be important to ensure my future. I teamed up with a great lawyer, and things became much easier overnight. My legal counsel told me what to do and what to avoid, and he was able to prove the facts in a court of law. This blog is all about choosing to fight charges.