How Can I Prepare for the Marriage Interview?

Immigration interviews for marriage can be difficult. The interview is intended to ascertain whether the marriage was entered into in good faith and for a genuine desire for a marital relationship or was done solely to gain immigration benefits. It is your task as a couple to convince the interviewer that the marriage is genuine. In order to do so, always tell the truth. Lying in a marriage interview could result in a conviction for perjury.

The United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) will be looking for evidence that reflects a typical married couple. The documentation provided should support the history of the relationship and your current life together, such as photo albums, joint bank statements, bills, and so forth. Shihab & Associates Co., LPA, can help you prepare for the interview by ensuring that you have all the necessary documents to prove to the immigration officials that you have lived together and are in a genuine marital relationship. For example, you could even use letters from your friends and family that would serve as testimonials about your relationship.

At the interview, be prepared to answer a wide range of many personal and detailed questions. The examiner will typically be judging the couples demeanor and interaction with one another throughout the interview. If uncertainties remain, the examiner may interview the couple separately so that they can later see if the answers match up. For instance you may be asked how you met and what your relationship was like before marriage. You may be asked personal information about your spouse. Specific details about the wedding, where you lived after the wedding and even seemingly trivial questions such as what you did before the interview that morning may be asked. Whatever you do, do not lie or make up an answer if you do not know. To calm your nerves, it may be helpful to conduct mock interviews to prepare you for the actual one. This may improve your ability to be comfortable during the real interview.

The USCIS takes a very traditional view of marriage. If you believe that your marital relationship may be viewed differently due to personal, medical or other reasons, you should share the specifics with your attorney prior to the interview so such issues are brought in an appropriate fashion to the USCIS. For example if you live in a different city than your spouse due to educational or professional circumstances, additional burden will be imposed on you to prove that your relationship is bona fide. Some individuals may perform poorly in such interviews due to language, educational or cultural barriers. It is the role of your attorney to point out such concerns as they prepare you for the family based interview.

Keep in mind that in the event of any prior marriages, it must be demonstrated that they were validly terminated. If any fraud was involved in an earlier marriage for which there was an intent to gain immigration benefit, be aware that there is a permanent bar against gaining a green card in a later marriage. Also remember, that if you have been arrested for any reason prior to this interview, it would be in your best interest to have an attorney present at the interview. The USCIS will have complete criminal record on file. Whatever the concerns may be, Shihab & Associates has the expertise to closely analyze your case and prepare you for such interviews.