Assuming you've already checked your eligibility for a marriage-based green card and have been accepted for interview, this is what will happen next.
The interview officer will ask identical or similar questions, and then he/she will compare the results of both interviews.
An interviewing officer may express curiosity about how long you dated before you decided to tie the knot.
Don't expect to sit the interview together. Each spouse is questioned separately.
If you're applying for a marriage-based green card, you'll be invited for interview by the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).
The interview can take place in the United States or abroad. Either way, the purpose is to determine whether your marriage is authentic rather than a fraudulent union.
The questions asked by an immigration official during the marriage interview fall into four main categories.
These categories are: i - spouse's background and basic information about the spouse; ii - information regarding your relationship with your spouse; iii - information regarding your marital household; and iv - spouse's personal information.
While you can never be certain about the kind of questions an interviewing officer will ask during the interview, here are some of the more typical queries that couples encounter.
You could be asked to provide information about where some of your first dates took place.
And detailing the story about how the marriage proposal came about is something else you could well be asked to impart.
Questions surrounding your wedding will most likely be asked, things like what was the day like?
The interviewing officer will probably ask you about the wedding guests: who attended, and how many, for example.
A related question often asked is where exactly did you spend your honeymoon?
You may well be probed about your homelife. For example, the routines you and your spouse follow around the house.
In this digital age of social media, you can expect to be questioned along the lines of how often do you talk or text on the phone when apart.
Another domestic-centric question that may crop up in the interview is which of you likes to cook?
If you have kids, expect a range of questions surrounding their care and well-being. For example, how do they get to school?
The interviewing officer may ask about their friends, who they hang out with, and where.
A more simple question like what's their favorite food may be thrown into the mix.
And be prepared to field questions about your child's favorite sport or activity.
Expanding the theme, it may be that you're asked about the type of pajamas your spouse wears.
And from a different standpoint, the interviewer may ask whether your spouse is on any medication.
Furthermore, you could be quizzed about how you both celebrated a specific birthday.
What did you get each other as gifts is another question likely to be asked.
In the initial part of the interview, expect some basic but important questions such as what is your spouse's full name, where were they born, how did they arrive in the United States, and what was the point of entry?
It's important to be honest and open when applying for a green card, equally so if its a marriage-based green card you're after. The interview is a stressful process, but by practicing answering questions beforehand you'll be prepared for even the most personal of inquiries.
Sources: (USCIS) (Boundless) (Ashoori Law)
A green card, or permanent residency card, is an identity document that shows that a person has permanent residency in the United States. A marriage-based green card lets a US citizen or green card holder's spouse live and work anywhere in the United States. Those choosing to apply for residency down this route are obliged to sit an interview to prove that the marriage is authentic rather than one of convenience (i.e. arranged in order to fast-track the green card application process). The marriage interview is therefore rigorous and probing. Anyone preparing to sit such an interview will be asked a series of pertinent questions, the answers of which will be cross-referenced against those given by the other member of the union.
Intrigued? Referencing US immigration specialist Boundless, click through this sample list of questions that are typically asked by interview officers.
You'll be quizzed on your relationship history. Typically, how did you meet?
You may be called upon to recall your spouse's birthday—date, time, and place, even.
Be prepared for the questioning to become a little more personal. You may be asked what side of the bed you sleep on.
How does the other start the day is a question sometimes leveled towards a spouse.
Questions that are asked during the marriage green card interview
This is what a spouse needs to know in order to obtain permanent residency in the United States
LIFESTYLE Society
A green card, or permanent residency card, is an identity document that shows that a person has permanent residency in the United States. A marriage-based green card lets a US citizen or green card holder's spouse live and work anywhere in the United States. Those choosing to apply for residency down this route are obliged to sit an interview to prove that the marriage is authentic rather than one of convenience (i.e. arranged in order to fast-track the green card application process). The marriage interview is therefore rigorous and probing. Anyone preparing to sit such an interview will be asked a series of pertinent questions, the answers of which will be cross-referenced against those given by the other member of the union.
Intrigued? Referencing US immigration specialist Boundless, click through this sample list of questions that are typically asked by interview officers.