Tips for Your Immigration Marriage Interview
Since the country’s founding, people from all over the world have been eager to call the United States home. And, if you're lucky enough to have found true love with a U.S. citizen who you wish to marry, this is one of the most direct routes to citizenship. However, there are several steps you’ll have to take first, and one of the most stressful steps for (mainly) newlyweds is the immigration marriage interview.
We’ll break down what you can expect from this interview and give you tips for preparing for a marriage interview with immigration. For more help with this or any aspect of immigration law, contact us at The Torres Law Firm in Corpus Christi, Texas. From our offices, we can help those in the Dallas and Fort Worth areas as well.
What to Expect at Your Immigration Marriage Interview
Your immigration interview is an opportunity for U.S. immigration officials to speak with one or both spouses to verify their paperwork, inspect legal documents, and ask a series of questions to determine whether your relationship is real and not fraud.
Unfortunately, many people try to fake a relationship with a U.S. citizen and only marry them to gain citizenship. This is illegal, and the main purpose of the interview is to evaluate your marriage to see whether it’s genuine. The questions aren’t meant to throw you off, and anyone who is in a legitimate romantic and committed relationship should be able to answer them easily, but this can still be a stressful experience that you should prepare for.
Tips for Success
Prepare evidence: You’ll be asked to bring along many documents that prove the relationship between you and your spouse is real. Bring anything you think can be helpful as supporting evidence like photos, bank statements, children’s birth certificates, letters to one another, phone bills, statements from friends and family that attest to your relationship, or rental agreements for shared housing.
Provide as much evidence as possible: It’s always better to have more evidence than you think you need rather than come without enough. Your goal is to convince them that it is a legitimate relationship, and your interviewers are used to seeing a lot of fraud. Make their job easier and your interview go smoother by gathering as much information as you can.
Be prepared: Actually practice answering questions about one another and make sure you and your spouse have discussed important topics such as the relationship, wedding, kids, daily routines, jobs, and goals.
Be honest: The immigration officials who conduct these interviews are professionals and very good at spotting people who are lying or faking. If you have concerns about this, always discuss it with your attorney before the interview so you understand the best way to address it. Your attorney can help you prepare honest answers that accurately reflect your relationship.
Be calm and natural: Understandably, you will likely be nervous before and during the interview but try to remain as calm and natural as possible. If you aren't answering confidently, this could make an immigration official think you’re lying. Again, the best way to combat this is to prepare ahead of time and practice as much as possible. Your attorney can advise you on the types of questions you can expect.
Immigration Guidance You Can Trust
If you’ve recently married a U.S. citizen, or if you’re a U.S. citizen who’s wondering, “How can I obtain a green card for my spouse?”, call us today at The Torres Law Firm. From our offices in Corpus Christi, Texas, you’ll be able to speak with an experienced immigration attorney who can help you prepare for a successful interview.