What is Marriage Immigration?
Have you ever heard the word “marriage immigration” and found yourself clueless about what it may be? Marriage immigration basically means that your spouse or vice versa who lives in the United States as a permanent resident, citizen or as a green card holder can apply for their spouse to be granted green card as well. This is done from the reference of the spouse which allows them to have permanent residency in the United States. Green card-based marriage immigrations allow the individuals to get a social security number, a driving license and a permission to travel in and out of the United States.
Applying for immigration for USA can be an intimidating task to some. It usually requires a lot of paperwork and the anxiety of accidentally making a mistake on the paperwork is real. However, it is not that difficult of a task it just takes some time to complete. For marriage-based immigrations, the process is mostly the same except for the interviews. That is because the immigration officers may inquire you about your spouse and vice versa. The interviews can be conducted separately or collectively, it all depends on the immigration officer conducting the interview. The spouses are inquired about each other to make sure that they are a genuine couple and not just posing as one to attain immigration.
Before you go into the interview make sure that you have accurate information about each other. The officers conducting the interview can puzzle you with their questions. False answers can lead to a rejection during the interview phase. The officers usually conduct a background search on each individual before they are called for interview. This means they already know a lot of information about you. Lying on purpose or accidentally during the interview can make things end very bad for you. Whatever the interviewer asks, respond with confidence and accurate information to the best of your knowledge.
Steps to take before the Interview
Once you get a visa schedule appointment, there are a few things you need to do before you go for the interview:
-
Medical examination
It is a requirement for each visa applicant to schedule a medical appointment with a US-embassy approved physician to conduct a medical examination. Examinations conducted by physicians who are not embassy approved will not be accepted. Apart from the medical examinations, you also need to get any vaccinations required. A list of vaccinations will be shared to you by the embassy via email. This is to not that this step is to be completed before going in for the interview. The results of the examinations are either posted to the embassy by the physician or given to you in a sealed envelope. Do not open the envelop as it must be handed over to the interviewer as is.
-
Gather all the required documents
When going in for the interview make sure you have all the documents that are required. Items such as photographs and other documents are submitted to the interviewer. Failure to bring complete documents will result in a delay in your visa and may pose a cause for additional interviews.
Apart from these, make sure that you are not late for the interview. Arrive at the time scheduled for you by the embassy. Such things can cause delay in your visa approval as the embassy is not liable to entertain you on missed schedules.
Possible Interview Questions that can be asked
While conducting the interview, the interviewers like to gather some information about your spouse, marriage and what led to marriage. This is a common practice to make sure that the couple is authentic and not just in a marriage to get green card. During the interview, you may find the interviewers asking questions about:
- How did you meet?
- Where did you meet?
- When did you decide to get married?
- Why did you decide to get married?
- How long were you together before you got married?
- How old were you at the time of marriage?
- How old was your spouse at the time of marriage?
These are some of the questions they might ask you about your marriage. However, an interview is not limited to these questions. It includes other questions as well such as questions about your spouse. For example:
- What is the full name of your spouse?
- What is his/her religion?
- What is his/her ethnicity?
- What city do they belong from?
- What is the mother tongue of your spouse?
- Does your spouse have any medical conditions?
- What is the favorite color of your spouse?
This may seem odd however, the interview is a long procedure where the interviewees are asked a lot of questions. It need not be about your marriage or your spouse. It can be about other things related to or unrelated to your marriage. Some common questions asked during the interview also include information regarding the family of your spouse and vice versa. For example:
- How many siblings does your spouse have?
- What are the names of your spouse’s parents?
- What are the names of your spouse’s siblings?
- Where do your spouse’s parents live?
- Where do your spouse’s siblings live?
- Do they have any pets? Etc.
Questions asked during the interviews can also be about the house you lived in with your spouse. You can expect the following questions during the interview process:
- Where is your home located?
- Do you own your home or is it rented?
- How many rooms does you house have?
- What color walls does your bedroom have?
- How big is your house?
- How many people live in your house?
- Do you live with your parents? etc.
Sometimes, the interviewers ask you double questions just to confuse you and see how you respond. The questions can be structured in a way that can make you say something that you didn’t mean to say. This usually happens when a person is not listening to the questions attentively. A good example of such questions can be:
Have you ever been arrested? What crime were you arrested for?
This is a great example of how interviewers can ask you double questions and confuse you to see if you are a genuine married couple and a responsible citizen. Apart from these questions, the interviews include questions about your daily routine, religion, work etc. Just make sure that you remember important dates such as birthdays, anniversary date, etc. When going in an interview make sure that you dress decently.
Since your appearance and the way, you behave during the interview is noted, it is best to keep calm and enjoy the process. If you feel overwhelmed or uncomfortable, let the interviewer know. Bringing such things in the interviewer’s knowledge is helpful as they can play a part in making you feel comfortable before proceeding with the interview.
To ace the interview, double check all the important dates, make sure you have the accurate information about your spouse, remain calm and confident. Interviews consist of detailed questions just to verify your authenticity and to get some more detail about you. You may find yourself in a long and detailed interview. Just sit back, relax and answer all the questions honestly.
You may or may not have your legal representative present in the room during the interview which is perfectly okay. For record keeping purposes, the interview may or may not be videotaped. This is also perfectly normal and is a part of standard procedure. If you have any questions, you can ask the interviewer, however it would be best if you share your questions with your attorney.
Role of Attorneys in the Immigration process
Attorneys play an important role in making sure all the important paperwork is in order and filled out in the proper way. Since, they have an experience in this area, they know about the ins and outs of the procedure and can help you not only in the paperwork but also for the interview. When applying for immigration, having an immigration lawyer by your side can help make things move swiftly. Since, you’re new to the procedure small mistakes can cause a delay. It can be something as simple as forgetting your documents when going for the interview.
Immigration lawyers make sure everything is up to the mark and having one by your side ensures that you are given all your rights. If you feel like you have been deprived of any rights during the interview process or do not feel comfortable with the way the interviewer conducted the interview, feel free to bring it up with your attorney.
Attorneys like Richard S. Kolomejec have an experience that make them the perfect attorney for you. Specializing in this specific area of law, Richard and his firm have helped many people get immigration for the United States. Now, you don’t need to worry about a large sum of fees to get started. Get a free consultation and enjoy the services. So, what are you waiting for? Book an appointment today and get your immigration process completed.
