Introduction
So, you have an approved I-130, I-140, or other basis to adjust your status to that of a lawful permanent resident (LPR), and now it has come time for the green card interview. This momentous interview can be seen as an obstacle on the path to becoming an LPR or it can be viewed as an opportunity to clear up any mistakes and prove to the U.S. government that you are eligible and ready. For applicants in family-based or employment-based preference categories, you must also ensure your priority date is current per the U.S. Department of State’s Visa Bulletin before the interview. Here we explain the nuts and bolts of what happens at green card interviews, the officer’s role, and your responsibilities as an applicant. By following the four steps below before your interview, you can best position yourself for an easy and seamless experience, and one that is an opportunity rather than an obstacle. While this article focuses on green card interviews conducted inside the U.S. for Adjustment of Status (Form I-485), similar principles apply to immigrant visa interviews in consular processing abroad, although procedures may differ slightly as they are conducted by Department of State consular officers. The four steps to prepare yourself are:
- Compile Your Documents;
- Organize and Review Your Documents;
- Prepare for Eligibility Questions; and
- Familiarize Yourself with the Interview Structure.
Compile Your Documents
Despite our digital age, U.S. immigration processes still involve a lot of physical documents, many of which need to be originals, rather than copies. Here is a non-exhaustive list of documents that you are responsible for gathering and bringing to your interview, where applicable.
Medical exam results
A completed medical examination and vaccination record, Form I-693, is required for most Form I-485 Adjustment of Status filings. The medical exam must be conducted by a USCIS-designated civil surgeon in the U.S. To avoid delays, it’s recommended to submit Form I-693 with your I-485 application, although you may bring it to the interview in a sealed envelope if not previously submitted. The results are valid for two years from the civil surgeon’s signature, provided the form was submitted to USCIS within 60 days of signing. If the results have expired by the time of your interview, bring updated records in a sealed envelope.
Copies of previously submitted forms and evidence
Locate and compile copies of your approved underlying immigrant visa petition, usually the Form I-130 or Form I-140, or other basis for your eligibility to adjust status. Also gather a copy of your Form I-485 adjustment of status application as it was originally filed.
For most immediate relative and family-based immigrants, include the affidavit of support (Form I-864, I-864A, or I-864EZ) to demonstrate adequate financial support from the petitioner, ensuring you are unlikely to become a public charge. Employment-based applicants are typically exempt from this requirement unless the petitioner is a relative.
Original civil documents
Compile birth certificates, marriage certificates, passports, and adoption and divorce decrees for the applicant, petitioner (if it is a family-based adjustment of status), and any derivatives, where applicable. These documents are essential to establish the applicant’s citizenship and identity, as well as to prove the validity of relationships (e.g. spousal, parental).
Applicants who have been arrested anywhere in the world are required to submit original or court-certified copies of the arrest records, court dispositions or both. The documents must clearly show the final disposition of all arrests, detentions, or convictions, regardless of where in the world the arrest occurred. USCIS runs fingerprint checks to verify your criminal history.
Each foreign language document must include a certified English translation.
Department of Homeland Security- and Department of State-issued documents
To the interview, applicants should bring their appointment letter to evidence their appointment at the established date, place, and time. In addition, applicants should gather a copy of the Form I-797 Approval Notice for the underlying immigrant visa petition, such as the approval notice for the Form I-130 or Form I-140.
Green card applicants are required to show how they were inspected and admitted or paroled into the U.S. To prove lawful admission or parole into the U.S., provide documents like the Form I-94 Arrival/Departure Record, visa stamps, advance parole documents, or other evidence of authorized entry. Employment authorization documents (EADs) alone are not sufficient for this purpose. Check your I-94 record online via the CBP website to ensure accuracy. Failing to maintain nonimmigrant status, working without authorization, or otherwise violating the terms of nonimmigrant status may result in being barred from obtaining a green card. The burden of proof is on you, the applicant, to provide sufficient evidence to establish your eligibility. Ensure that documents like passports and medical exams are valid at the time of the interview, as expired documents may complicate identity verification or eligibility.
Organize and Review Your Documents
Once you have compiled all of your documents, read through the documents to familiarize yourself with the content and location of certain pieces of information. As you review each document, use tabs or page markers on the pages or areas of the documents where you know of any errors, inaccuracies, or issues that may require further clarification and explanation.
Next, find a filing system that works for you, whether it be an accordion folder or a binder with dividers. You will want to organize your documents in the categories listed above for neat and quick access. Label the documents as necessary to avoid sorting delays at the interview.
Consider bringing duplicate copies of critical documents in case the officer would like to retain them. It helps to be aware that the USCIS officers conducting green card interviews are under extreme pressure and the more efficient you can be with providing them the documents and evidence they request, the better the interview will go.
Preparing for Eligibility Questions
Prepare yourself for the interview ahead of time by knowing what kinds of eligibility-based questions the officer will ask.
For marriage-based adjustments, be prepared to share the details of when and how you met, your marriage and any previous divorce dates, and specific day-to-day relationship details. In most instances, if your marriage is legitimate, the questions will not be difficult. The officer will be looking for evidence of your shared life together, so you can bring up details about how you have comingled your finances, entered into a lease or mortgage together, listed each other as spouses on tax documents, and know each other’s extended family members. More important than photos or any specific document, however, is your ability to speak credibly about your relationship. Answer authentically without rehearsed responses, as credibility matters more than specific documents. In cases where fraud is suspected, officers may interview couples separately to compare responses.
For employment-based adjustments, be prepared to provide a status update on your investment (EB-5 applicants), details about your employer, and specific examples of what you do on a day-to-day basis as an employee. The officer may want to know about the hierarchy or structure of your employer or business, who your supervisors and managers are, as well as the number of people you supervise. Again, if your employment is legitimate, the questions the officer asks will not be hard for you to answer and you will have some freedom to clarify your answers if you misspeak.
At the Interview: What to Expect
After using your appointment letter to enter the building, pass through security, which may involve metal detectors. Plan extra time in case there is a line and avoid prohibited items like sharp objects. After security you will sit in a waiting room until a USCIS officer calls you and leads you to their office. For family-based cases, the petitioner and derivative children may need to attend, although children’s attendance depends on the case and field office policy. The officer will place you under oath and verify your identity. Be prepared to show your biographical documentation, such as a passport.
Reviewing the forms
Next, the officer will review various documents and lead you through each question on the Form I-485 application in order to update and verify the accuracy of the information. This is your chance to speak up about any errors or inaccuracies or to share any new information, such as a new address or phone number, recent births or deaths of relevant family members, new employment details, or a new representative of record. You do not need to tell the officer all the errors or changes at once, but can raise them one-by-one as they arise on the form. The most common errors are typographical errors like the misspellings of names or incorrect digits in phone numbers, addresses, A-numbers, and entry dates. The officer is likely to use a red pen to cross out the incorrect information and fill in the corrected or new information. You may need to initial each change or addition.
Errors and credibility
At the end of reviewing your forms, if you know of an error that was not covered in the review but still needs to be corrected, let the officer know as soon as possible and before you sign your name to any forms. Your proactive attention to errors and disclosing even minor ones will signal to the officer that you are a credible applicant. While honest mistakes are generally forgivable, intentional misrepresentations or omissions can lead to a finding of fraud or inadmissibility.
It is common for applicants to feel nervous during this process because it might feel as though you are in trouble for any errors. While the officer may question you about why certain errors occurred, this is not for the purpose of assigning blame, but rather to ensure that the source of the information is reliable. Errors do not automatically raise concern, and the officer understands that some arise from a language barrier, misinterpretations of the questions asked, or when others prepare the forms on your behalf. However, you as the applicant, are responsible for the contents of your application even if others made errors. If you are unwilling to provide an explanation or appear to hide the error, the officer will take this into account when assessing your credibility as an applicant.
The Final Question: Why Do You Want to Immigrate?
Although the question of why you want to immigrate to the U.S. may seem profound and loaded, it need not be long or elaborate. The officer is simply requesting information about your intention and motivation to become a permanent resident and why you selected the U.S. as your destination. If the officer asks you this question, you can explain what opportunities you want to take advantage of and how that fits into your family- or employment-related goals. Perhaps your motivations are out of necessity, such as in humanitarian-based immigration circumstances, or perhaps they are about advancing research or education, starting a business, or earning more money. There is no single right answer to this question.
Other Important Interview Matters
Interpreters
If you’re not fluent in English, you may bring an interpreter who meets USCIS guidelines (available on their website). The interpreter must be at least 18, fluent in English and your language, and cannot be the petitioner or a relative.
Representatives
If you have legal counsel or other representatives and you would like them to accompany you to the green card interview, be sure they bring government-issued identity documents for themselves and a valid, signed Form G-28.
No cell phones
Many USCIS field offices prohibit phones in interview rooms or restrict their use during the interview. This is important to keep in mind, as many applicants believe they can simply show the officer evidence on their phone, such as electronic documents, or proof of relationship/employment status. You must ensure that you have hard copies of relevant documents and evidence, as you will not be allowed to access your phone during the interview.
Dress code
There is no set dress code for a green card interview, but the applicant is expected to be clean and tidy in their appearance. Business casual attire is recommended to convey respect. The officer conducting the interview will be dressed in their regular work attire. Applicants may want to avoid large and dangly jewelry, as this may interfere with security screening or create distractions during the interview. In addition, applicants should refrain from using heavy perfumes, oils, or colognes. Often interviews are conducted in small offices which can easily be overwhelmed by scents.
Conclusion
By following the steps outlined above, you will be as prepared as possible for your green card interview. In all cases, being honest and respectful during the interview will set you on the right path to success. Don’t be discouraged by delays or requests for evidence (RFEs)—an RFE indicates your case is potentially approvable but needs additional documentation. Respond to RFEs promptly and thoroughly to maintain eligibility. If an officer is ready to deny your application, they will not spend the time requesting more information or otherwise delaying the denial. Rather, a request for more evidence demonstrates that the case appears to be approvable but may lack a specific document. If your specific case is more complex, such as in circumstances where documents are lost or unavailable, the interview may take more time. In such cases, retaining experienced counsel before the interview will greatly increase positive outcomes. Be prepared for the officer to request additional evidence during the interview, which you may need to submit later if not readily available. After the interview, you’ll typically receive a decision, an RFE, or, in rare cases, a Notice of Intent to Deny.
