What Can I Expect at My Green Card Interview?

The purpose of the interview is to determine whether your marriage is genuine and not just entered into for the purpose of being sponsored for a green card.  You goal is to convince the immigration officer interviewing you and your spouse that your marriage is truly genuine.

At the initial Green Card interview you will be expected to give the original and a copy of all documents to the immigration officer.  Among the documents that you are required to provide are the following:  

• Birth certificate for both you and your spouse
• Any judgments of divorce for you and your spouse
• Your current marriage certificate
• Bank Statements, which should be in both names
• Utility bills, which should be in both names
• Lease for your apartment or deed to your home, which should be in both names
• Joint tax returns

In addition you will be required to provide photographs of you and your spouse along with family and friends.  The immigration officer will ask you and your spouse questions.  Among the questions you will be asked are the following:

• Where did you and your spouse meet?
• Where did you and your spouse live before you got married?
• Where did the two of you move after you got married?
• You will be asked to describe the contents of your home.  For example what is the color of your living room carpet?  What is the color of your spouse’s toothbrush?  You may be asked which side of the bed do you sleep on?
• You may  also be asked questions about your spouse’s family.  For example how many brothers and sisters does your spouse have?

If the immigration officer is not convinced that the marriage is genuine a second more detailed interview may be scheduled.  This second  interview is called a Stokes interview.  At this interview you and your spouse will be questioned separately.  Both of your answers will then be compared to see if they match.