It's not uncommon for a United States citizen to begin and continue a relationship with an individual that doesn't have permanent residence in the U.S. In order for your immigrant spouse to live and work in the U.S. he or she must obtain a marriage based green card. Our complete guide covers tips, marriage based green card interview questions, and other useful information for both you and your spouse.

1. Marriage Based
Green Card
Interview Questions

2.  As a green card holder, a foreign national is
granted permanent residency in the United
States as well as other immigration benefits.

3. Live in the country
Gain employment
Travel in and out the U.S.
Obtain a drivers license
Apply for social security

4. Speak
with
attorney!
Submit
application
forms and
supporting
documents to
USCIS
Biometrics
appointment
Marriage
based green
card
interview
Wait for
approval of
green card
or denial

5. If the spouse is a U.S. citizen IN the country:
 File Form I-130, Petition for Alien Relative
 Form I-485, Application to Register Permanent
Residence or Adjust status
If you are a citizen OUTSIDE the U.S.:
 File Form I-130, Petition for Alien Relative

6. Biographic Information Form G-325A
Affidavit of Support Form I-864
Permission for Work
Authorization
Form I-765
Medical Examination Results Form I-693
Request for Travel Documents Form I-131

7. Wedding, family, and/or
vacation photos
Joint bank account
statements
Joint health insurance
cards
Rental or mortgage
agreements
Joint federal and state
tax returns
Birth certificate of
mutual children
Supporting documents can include:

8. During the appointment…
 The immigrant spouse’s fingerprints and
facial scan will be taken to be analyzed and
put on file.
Purpose?
 It serves as a criminal background check of
the immigrant spouse

9. The main purpose of this entire process is for
immigration officials to verify and confirm
that the marriage isn't a sham to elude U.S.
immigration laws and gain immigration
benefits.

10.  The interview will take place about 3-4
months after filing your petition
 It will be held at an office of USCIS by an
immigration official
 The couple will be interviewed together
 You will be accompanied by your immigration
attorney
 Interview will last about 15-20 minutes

11. 1. Be punctual for your scheduled interview
2. Wear professional clothing
3. Be prepared to answer all types of questions
4. Come with a calm and organized demeanor
5. No need to memorize facts
6. Don’t act overly affectionate or uncomfortable.
7. Don’t panic if you are separated.
8. Remember to bring the necessary paperwork
9. Confide in your attorney
10. Review additional resources

12. What Immigration
Officials Want to
Know…

13.  How you met: How your relationship was
established and progressed.
 Wedding: How the couple accounts for the
details of their special day.
 Relationship: The experiences of the married
couple and how well you both know one
another.

14.  Friends and family: Has the couple
established a relationship with each other’s
loved ones?
 Education: How well do you know each
other’s educational background.
 Employment: How well do you know each
other’s employment background.

15. It’s important to note that the
following questions are just
some of the several possible
questions that immigration
officials can ask.

16. Where did you
meet?
What did the two of
you have in
common?
Where was your first
date?
When did your
relationship turn
romantic?
How long was it
before you decided
to get married?
Who proposed to
whom?
Why did you decide
to have a long or
short engagement?
When did you meet
each other’s
parents?

17. How many people attended your wedding?
Did each of your parents attend?
Where was the wedding held?
Who were the bridesmaids/groomsmen?
Where did you go for the honeymoon?

18. Who takes care of
the finances?
When is your
spouse’s birthday?
Have you ever
been on vacation
together?
When is your
anniversary?
Do you have or
plan on having
children?
Do you live
together or plan
on living together?

19. Have you met each other’s families?
How do you typically celebrate holidays?
How many brothers and sisters does your
spouse have?
Does your spouse have any nieces or nephews?
Do you have mutual friends?

20. Where did your
spouse go to
school?
Did your spouse
attend college?
What did your
spouse major
in?
What did your
spouse earn a
degree in?

21. Who is your spouse’s employer?
How long has your spouse been
working there?
What is your spouse's position?
Where did your spouse work prior?

22.  There isn't a defined period of time for green
card approvals. It may take up to a few weeks
or longer if your file is undergoing additional
security review.
 You can check the status of the petition at
USCIS.gov

23. What?
 It’s a stokes (marriage fraud) interview.
Why?
 The couple may have raised some suspicion
during the first interview.
How?
 Suspicion could have been raised by hesitating to
answer questions, having different answers,
and/or simply not knowing the answer.

24.  The couple will be interviewed separately and
asked the same questions.
 Your answers will be compared to confirm
that they match up.
 If they don’t match up, your marriage can be
deemed as fraudulent .
Result of fraud?
 The couple can face criminal prosecution.
 The immigrant spouse can be deported.

25.  Conditional Marriage Based Green Card
OR
 Marriage Based Green Card

26. Green card is valid
for two years
Must file to get
conditions
removed 90 days
prior to expiration
File Form I-751,
Petition to Remove
the Conditions of
Residence.
The green card is conditional if the
couple has been married for less than
two years.

27. We offer a free green card filing consultation
Call us today to explore your options
SGM Law Group
www.immi-usa.com |(877) 811-3541

28. H-1B, E, L, O, P, H-3, J, K and U Visas, as well as
I-130 and I-140 Immigrant Petitions with
Accompanying Adjustment of Status (I-485)
EB-1 Extraordinary Ability Petition
PERM Labor Certification with the Department of
Labor
EB-2 and EB-3 Employment based Green Cards
Investment Based and Treaty Trader Visas
and EB-5 Green Card
Contact us today:
www.immi-usa.com
(877) 811-3541

29.  The information provided in this presentation
is of a general nature and may not apply to
any particular set of facts or under all
circumstances. It should not be construed as
legal advice and does not constitute an
engagement of the SGM Law Group or
establish an attorney-client relationship.