Your family visa interview: What to expect and how to prepare

Your family visa interview: What to expect and how to prepare

 

The interview is one of the final steps in the family visa petition process. It’s also the step that frequently generates the most anxiety for the beneficiaries.

Previous steps of the family petition process require extensive documentation and detailed information, but you can ensure they are prepared correctly with time and professional help.

The officer in charge may consider not just your answers but also your overall disposition, body language, and other communication cues that may generate doubt.

However, if your application and evidence are clear and complete, it could be a chance for you and your family to demonstrate your genuine relationship to an immigration officer.

Here is some useful information to help you prepare for your interview, manage your expectations, and hopefully give you some peace of mind.

 

 

What will I be asked at a Green Card interview?

 

Not all interviews are alike, which is why we will not provide a specific set of questions in this article (the list would be endless!). The questions at your interview will depend on:

• The type of visa you are applying for. The type of questions to approve a marriage visa may be very different from those for other types of family relationships.
• Where the interview is held (in the US for an Adjustment of Status, or in your home country for Consular Processing).
• Your previous immigration history.
• The consistency of your application and the evidence submitted with it.
• Any reasons for suspicion from immigration authorities.

All these factors will affect the questions that are asked, and the evidence that is reviewed and confirmed during the interview.

Questions can be related to your residential history, family history, immigration history, legal issues, educational history, medical history, work history, and of course, about the relationship with your qualifying family member.

Just as any immigration case is unique, every interview is unique and the officer in charge can change or add questions as they see fit to verify the information and clarify any doubts about your eligibility, intentions or credibility.

 

 

Reasons for denial

 

Some reasons they may find to deny your request for a green card could include:

• False information.
• Inconsistency between the application and your answers.
• Incomplete or contradictory evidence or information.
• Changes in your life that affect eligibility for the requested visa.
• Admissibility issues (related to immigration history, criminal history, health, or other factors).

 

 

 

General recommendations

 

Here are some general tips that will help you with your green card interview:

• Arrive early. This is an appointment you don’t want to miss! Plan your day and your route ahead to avoid delays.
• Choose your outfit. Look for something formal enough to show your respect but comfortable enough not to add extra stress to the occasion.
• Be prepared. Carry all necessary documents and evidence. Review all the documents in the days leading up to the interview and make sure you remember important details. Practice with your family and/or your lawyer. If you need an interpreter, make sure they’re suitable and authorized in advance. If you have a lawyer, arrange for them to accompany you. Being prepared will help you feel confident and stay calm.
• Be respectful. Respect the officer’s time, use appropriate language, and maintain good body language and general behavior. Avoid confrontation.
• Be honest. If you don’t remember something clearly, it’s better to say so than to guess. Guessing can get you into trouble if you end up lying, even unintentionally.
• Don’t overshare. Answer questions clearly but avoid lengthy explanations or oversharing. The officer wants to confirm and clarify facts but has limited time and may not be interested in your complete life history. Oversharing can lead to additional questions or concerns that were not originally raised.
• Keep calm and try to stay positive. Trust your lawyer.

 

 

Does everybody go through an interview before getting a Green Card approved?

 

Skipping an interview is a rare exception and is granted only when there are no doubts on the USCIS side about any requirements, documents, or evidence.

Our last (but most important) piece of advice?

 

Remember, the best guidance for your specific immigration case will come from an expert immigration lawyer who is familiar with all the details of your case. No recommendation will beat that of an immigration lawyer who is aware of the most recent changes in immigration law and all the regulations and exemptions that may apply to your specific situation.

Do you want professional help? We’ll be glad to assist you from start to finish with your family visa process.

At Armstrong Legal, we would love to hear about your personal immigration story, guide you through the process and accompany you on the way.

Our office is in Dallas, Texas, but we also offer telephone and virtual consultations. Call us at (469) 844-0020 and schedule a consultation.