How to Prepare for a Marriage Green Card Interview

If you've applied to become a lawful permanent resident of the United States through marriage to a US citizen, at some point you will have to attend a marriage green card interview. This usually takes place from 6 to 12 months after your application. It's important to properly prepare for your marriage green card interview, or you could experience a delay in the approval of your case. Worse yet, your application could be denied if you don't present the proper information at your interview.

Here's how to prepare for a marriage green card interview:

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Instructions

1. Gather up documentation of bona fide marriage, even if you submitted it with your initial AOS application. Items like cards, notes, letters, emails, photos, and other mementos are helpful. Also include any bills or assets in joint names, like utility or telephone bills, bank account statements, tax returns, property deeds, and titles to automobiles. This isn't an exhaustive list of all of the possible items that can be used to prove bona fide marriage for your green card interview; in addition to these items, bring whatever else you think clearly demonstrates that you are in a true marriage.

2. Be prepared to present updated financial information. The immigration service will want to see that the US citizen spouse and immigrant spouse have a combined income of at least 125% of the federal poverty level. If not, you'll need to get a co-sponsor to meet this requirement. It can sometimes be hard to prove that you meet this requirement, especially for students, or if one or both spouses has started a new job or is earning significantly more or less than the previous year. It's a good idea to bring at least three years' worth of tax returns, as well as a few months of paystubs, and a current employer letter stating rate of pay, hours worked, and that prospects for continued employment are good.

3. Bring your passport with non-immigrant visa, all I-94s, and employment authorization card to your marriage green card interview. The officer will want to review these, and if your case is approved, you'll receive a stamp in your passport that will serve as temporary evidence of your status as a permanent or conditional U.S. resident. Also bring your original birth certificates, marriage certificate, and any documents you used to enter the U.S., as well as any documents issued by the immigration service (Advance Parole documents, for example).

4. Prior to your marriage green card interview, review all of the forms and documents you filed to refresh your memory, since you may be asked about your responses to the questions on these forms. If your circumstances have changed since you filed the application, be prepared to explain. Also be prepared to update the information. For example, if you have had a child together since the application was filed, bring the child's birth certificate and let the officer know.

5. On the day of the interview, arrive 15 minutes early, and be sure to dress neatly and conservatively. You don't have to dress very formally, but wear something that is clean, presentable, and business casual. The officer's subjective impression of you at your marriage green card interview can make a difference in whether or not you are approved. Avoid wearing anything with writing or slogans, especially politically or nationally oriented ones.

6. If you have already been married to your spouse for two years, remind the interviewing officer that you should receive a stamp for permanent residence, and not conditional residency. The officer may simply assume that you haven't been married long enough to meet the requirement. If you've been married for less than two years, the immigrant spouse will receive conditional U.S. residence for a period of two years, and you'll have to apply 90 days before the end of the conditional period to have these conditions removed.

7. Answer questions honestly at your green card marriage interview. If you don't remember, say so. It's better to say you don't know instead of trying to make something up.

Tips & Warnings

• It's a good idea to consult with an immigration lawyer before your marriage green card interview. The lawyer can advise you about any potential pitfalls specific to your case, and can provide additional tips to prepare you for the interview.
• If the officer suspects that your marriage is not bona fide, you will be referred to the fraud unit. You will be interviewed separately, and your responses will be compared to see if they are consistent. If there are large differences between the spouses in age, lifestyle, language barriers, or simply very little evidence of a shared life, your chances of being referred to the fraud unit are much higher.

[desiree082005]

on 8/13/2009 To: Jakeduncan111
Why "never co-sing a credit card with spouse" and "avoid mixing finances together"?
Isn't the INS wants to see that the couple has co-mingled assets & liabilities?
pls explain. thx.

[jakeduncan111]

on 7/11/2009 Watch out for marriage fraud!

-Be careful if you are thinking about marrying somone that is an illegal immigrant. It can be very difficult to know if they are marrying you for love or for the green card.
-Never co-sign a credit card with a lover or spouse.
-Avoid mixing any finances or legal issues together with a lover.

Consider yourself warned & be careful!