When your family member files a Green Card application on your behalf, you’ll often be called in for an interview. The interview is held at the end of the application process, so you may be thinking about the interview for a long time. The interview is even something we discuss with clients in our initial consultation since it may be on your mind.
If you’re feeling nervous about your interview, in this article we will go through what to expect. It’s a great idea to prepare and do your homework. At Decker, Pex, Levi, Rosenberg, we help our clients prepare all the documentation they need. This means that when you go for your interview, missing documents won’t cause delays. Additionally, we hold an interview preparation meeting with every client. This allows you to go through potential questions and make sure you know how to answer the questions effectively.
A typical Green Card interview will normally include questions on the following topics:
Immigration history
The officer may ask about your history with visits to the US and previous visa or Green Card applications. It’s worth sitting down before your interview and going through anything that may be flagged by the officer. The type of things that may be brought up involved illegal work, overstay in the US and previous Green Card applications. If you had any period of time where you didn’t keep to the immigration laws, it is worthwhile to speak to a US immigration lawyer about your case. They can prepare you for your interview and help submit waiver application if you are barred from the US.
Relationship
The officer may question your family relationship. If this is a case where the US citizen is your child, parent or sibling, no questions are likely unless documentation of your relationship isn’t available, such as not having a birth certificate.
When the US citizen who requested the Green Card is your spouse, you should expect questioning when going for your interview. Normally, the longer you have been together, the less intense the questioning. There is an especially stark difference for couples with children. Once the couple has children together, USCIS usually believes you that this is a genuine relationship.
It’s important to prepare for the questions the officer may ask you. Questions can be quite general, such as the profession of your spouse or how long you have been together. When the interview is held at a USCIS office, questioning can get a lot more personal and they may separate a couple to question them individually. Examples of questions can be “what side of the bed does your spouse sleep on? What type of car do they drive? What color toothbrush do they use?”
Plans to Move
If your interview is at the US Embassy, you will need to prove that you plan to move to the US. The officer will generally ask about your plans for relocation. They may ask about where you will work, where you will live and plans of other immediate family members such as your children.
You’ll also want to take with you documents to the interview to prove that you are moving to the US. This may be proof of leaving Israel such as flight tickets, leaving your job, selling possessions. It can also be proof of taking steps to go to the US such as a signed rental agreement, emails with realtors, interviewing for jobs, a job offer and searching for schools for minor children. You can be creative and use all different types of evidence to prove that you are really moving to the US at the end of the process.
Financial Situation
As part of a Green Card application, the US citizen needs to prove that they can financially support their family and the family members they are applying for. This is generally proven by the US citizen working in the US. If they are not working in the US, you can instead show savings you have or other assets. Sometimes, the US citizen isn’t able to show a sufficient amount in savings and assets therefore they can have a co-sponsor. A co-sponsor is a US citizen who agrees to act as a guarantor. The co-sponsor shows that they have ongoing US based income or assets and signs on the relevant forms.
It’s important to plan for your Green Card interview and make sure you have all the correct documents. At Decker, Pex, Levi, we prepare our clients extensively for their interviews and see it as an integral part of our service. This minimizes chances of denials and helps you feel at ease at your interview.
Decker, Pex, Levi, Rosenberg can handle your full Green Card process from start to finish. We take care of your case from the moment you sign your case until your Green Card is approved. Our services mean that you are not alone trying to understand the requirements at each stage. We know exactly how to complete the forms, where to submit them and what to expect. We also know how to handle delays that can happen throughout the process. Give us a call for your initial consultation and to find out more about your eligibility for a Green Card at 058-689-0569.
