5 Top Questions Asked During Marriage Green Card Interview

A popular way to gain lawful permanent resident status in the United States is to obtain your green card through marriage. Accordingly in this article, we are going to discuss the top five questions that are asked during your marriage green card interview. 

If you have any questions, we invite you to call or text us at +1-818-741-1117 or you may request a free consultation by clicking this link.

The Adjustment of Status Interview

When you apply for a green card based on marriage to a United States citizen or lawful permanent resident from within the United States, the process is generally referred to as an “adjustment of status.”  Part of that adjustment of status process requires that you attend an interview with an immigration officer.  During your interview, the immigration officer will ask you various questions to figure out whether all the aspects of your case check out.  In other words, the officer will look to see whether everything looks good, and whether you are eligible for a marriage-based green card. 

In order to make that determination, immigration officers generally have various types of questions that they can ask you.  There are, however, certain questions that are asked more frequently than others, and those are the ones that we will focus on today.  Let’s go through them right now.

The Five Most Common Questions

1. How’d You Two Meet?

The first commonly asked question during an adjustment of status interview is “how did you and your spouse meet?”  It is a pretty straightforward question.  So, be sure that you have thought about a response beforehand.  You want to make sure the immigration officer does not have any room to think there is something fishy going on.

2. When Did You “Tie the Knot?”

The second commonly asked question is “when did you and your spouse get married?”  So, the date of your marriage is very relevant, is something that a bona fide married couple would know off of the top of their heads, and is something for which you should have a ready response. 

3. How Did You or Your Spouse Propose?

The third commonly asked question is “how did you propose to your spouse?” or “how did your spouse propose to you?”  We all know that the manner of a proposal is a big deal, and usually a memorable experience.  In fact, the one doing the proposing typically makes a plan to ensure that the proposal is perfect, and memorable.  Immigration officers know that, and it is their way to probe into the legitimacy of your union.

4. What Are Your In-Law’s Names?

It may seem a bit strange, but the fourth commonly asked question is “what are the names of your spouse’s immediate family members?”  This question often may include your spouse’s parents and siblings.  Of course, with a legitimate marriage, a person would have likely spent time with his or her spouse’s immediate family.  So, be prepared to know the “in-laws'” names at the interview. 

5. What Did You Have For Breakfast?

While you wouldn’t think an immigration officer would care about your breakfast routine, that is just the type of mundane information that married couples would typically know.  So, the fifth commonly asked question is something like “what did you have for breakfast this morning?” or “how did you get to the interview today?”

Why They Ask These Types of Questions at Adjustment of Status Interviews

One of the main reasons why there’s an interview requirement for a marriage-based adjustment of status is because the immigration officer wants to make sure you have what is called a “bona fide” marriage.  A bona fide marriage means that, at the time you entered into the marriage with your spouse, you were truly intending on building a life together. The immigration officer is looking to confirm that you are not in a fraudulent marriage that was just intended to get immigration benefits.

Generally speaking, you should know the details to the types of questions discussed above as it is just basic information that helps the officer determine whether the marriage is, in fact, a bona fide one. 

Remember, however, the above questions do not by any means cover a comprehensive list of all the questions that you’re going to be asked during the marriage-based green card interview.  There are several different types of potential questions that the immigration officer might ask you.  Accordingly, you should make sure to prepare for the interview.

There are several resources available for free online that will give you sample questions that have been asked in previous interviews or potential questions that could be asked of you.  You can go through those questions to familiarize yourself with the types of questions that may be asked.  Indeed, the more prepared you are, the calmer you will be during your marriage-based green card interview, which may contribute to a better outcome with your case.

Conclusion

Being interviewed by an immigration officer for a marriage-based green card is always a bit nerve wracking.  So, be sure to have answers to the above questions prepared ahead of time, and do your research to get a sense of the kinds of questions you may be asked in the interview room.  The more prepared you are, the more likely you will have a successful outcome. 

My name is Michael Ashoori and I’m a U.S. immigration lawyer and the founder of Ashoori Law. As an immigration lawyer, I help families, professionals, investors, and entrepreneurs get visas, green cards, and citizenship to the United States.  If you have any questions, feel free to call or text us at +1-818-741-1117 or you may request a free consultation by clicking this link.