Shihab Burke LLC Immigration Lawyers prepares couples for the marriage green card interview. Our Columbus marriage green card interview lawyers review the file, organize the evidence, explain what to expect, and represent couples at the interview. From our offices in Columbus and Dublin, Ohio, we serve couples in the Columbus area, throughout Ohio, and across the United States, including spouses who live abroad.
Highlights
- Most marriage green card cases have an interview.
- Couples who live in the Columbus area and apply from inside the United States are usually interviewed at the USCIS Columbus Field Office. Our attorneys represent clients at USCIS offices across the United States.
- The officer asks about the relationship and daily life and reviews the evidence of a real marriage.
- Some officers interview the spouses separately and compare their answers.
- Answers must be true. Saying “I don’t remember” is better than guessing.
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What Is a Marriage Green Card Interview?
A marriage green card interview is a meeting with a government officer. The officer decides whether the marriage is real and whether the foreign spouse qualifies for a green card. Most marriage-based green card cases now have an interview.
A spouse applying inside the United States is interviewed at a U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) field office, usually with the U.S. spouse. A spouse applying from abroad is interviewed at a U.S. embassy or consulate. Learn more on our consular processing page.
Our Approach
Before the interview, we review your entire file and meet with you to prepare, so you can walk in ready and confident.
“They guided us through every step with professionalism and prompt communication, making the experience smooth and stress-free.”
— Google review
Talk with a Columbus marriage interview lawyer: 866-665-0001.
Marriage Green Card Interviews in Columbus
Couples who live in the Columbus area and apply from inside the United States are usually interviewed at the USCIS Columbus Field Office. USCIS assigns the office based on where the couple lives.
USCIS has many field offices across the United States. Our attorneys represent clients at USCIS interviews at any USCIS office in the United States.
What Happens at a Marriage Green Card Interview?
- Both spouses check in and pass through security.
- The officer places both spouses under oath. This is a promise to tell the truth.
- The officer reviews the forms and asks about any changes, such as a new address or job.
- The officer asks questions about the relationship and reviews the evidence.
- The officer may recommend approving the case, ask for more documents, schedule a second interview, or later send a Notice of Intent to Deny.
Officers now more often interview the spouses separately and compare their answers. This separate interview is sometimes called a “Stokes interview.”
What Questions Are Asked at a Marriage Green Card Interview?
Questions at a marriage green card interview usually cover the couple’s history and daily life. Common topics include:
- How and when the couple met, and when they decided to marry
- The wedding and who attended
- Where the couple lives and who pays the rent or mortgage
- Each spouse’s work schedule and daily routine
- Recent weekends, holidays, and trips together
- Family members on both sides
- Plans for the future
Answers should be truthful and in each person’s own words. A person who does not know or does not remember an answer should say so instead of guessing.
What Should We Bring to a Marriage Green Card Interview?
Couples should bring every item listed on the interview notice. Common items include:
- The interview notice
- Passports, government photo IDs, and the foreign spouse’s entry record (Form I-94)
- Original birth certificates, the marriage certificate, and divorce decrees
- Recent tax returns and proof of the sponsor’s income
- Recent evidence of a shared life, such as a lease, joint bank statements, insurance, and photos
- Certified court records for any arrest or conviction
- Work permit and travel permission documents, if issued
How Should We Prepare for the Interview?
Couples prepare by reviewing their forms together, organizing original documents, and gathering recent evidence of a shared life. Each spouse should know what the forms say and be ready to explain any changes since filing.
A person with past immigration problems, such as an overstay, an arrest, or an earlier removal order, should talk to a lawyer before the interview. We hold a preparation meeting with each couple before the interview.
What Happens After the Marriage Green Card Interview?
After the interview, USCIS may approve the case or ask for more evidence. USCIS may also schedule a second interview, send a Notice of Intent to Deny, or deny the case. A Notice of Intent to Deny (NOID) is a written warning that USCIS plans to deny the case.
If USCIS approves the case and the marriage is less than two years old on the approval date, the spouse receives a two-year conditional green card. Learn more about marriage green card RFEs, responding to a marriage NOID, and removing conditions with Form I-751.
How Our Columbus Marriage Interview Lawyers Help
Our attorneys prepare couples for each step of the interview. We:
- Review the forms and evidence before the interview and fix gaps
- Hold a preparation meeting with the couple
- Review any past immigration or criminal issues that may come up
- Represent the couple at the USCIS interview, when the couple chooses
- Respond to Requests for Evidence and Notices of Intent to Deny after the interview, at your request
Careful preparation is at the center of our work. Before the interview, we review your entire file. This includes, for example, comparing the forms with your documents, looking for dates or facts that do not match, and reviewing any past immigration or criminal issues. We also hold a preparation meeting with both spouses. Because USCIS now reviews marriage cases more closely, preparation matters more than ever. Our goal is for you to walk into the interview prepared, so you can focus on your future together.
Every family case is different. At the consultation, we review your situation, explain what our representation will cover, and quote a fee. Most cases are handled for a flat fee.
What Our Clients Say
“…took the time to answer all of our questions and doubts with total patience and clarity. What truly set them apart was how thoroughly they prepared us for our immigration interview…”
— Google review
Frequently Asked Questions About the Marriage Green Card Interview
How long is a marriage green card interview?
A marriage green card interview often lasts 20 minutes to an hour. Interviews with separate questioning of each spouse can take longer.
Do both spouses attend the marriage green card interview?
Usually, yes. USCIS normally requires both spouses to attend a marriage green card interview inside the United States. At an embassy abroad, the foreign spouse attends.
What if we give different answers at the interview?
Small differences are common and do not always cause a problem. Larger differences can lead to a second interview or a Notice of Intent to Deny. A lawyer can help explain differences in a written response.
Can a lawyer attend the marriage green card interview?
Yes. A lawyer may attend a USCIS marriage green card interview with the couple. Our attorneys represent clients at USCIS interviews at any USCIS office in the United States.
Can I bring an interpreter to the marriage green card interview?
A person who is not comfortable in English should check the interview notice for the current USCIS interpreter rules and plan in advance.
Can USCIS approve a marriage green card without an interview?
Rarely. Most marriage cases now have an interview, so couples should prepare as if one will be scheduled.
What should we wear to a marriage green card interview?
Neat, comfortable clothes, such as business casual clothes, are a good choice for a marriage green card interview. There is no dress code, and clothing does not decide the case. A neat appearance shows respect for the officer and the process.
Related Videos and Articles
- What Happens at a USCIS Green Card Interview? (video)
- 10 Questions to Expect During Green Card Interview (video)
- Why Is Honesty So Important in Green Card Interviews? (video)
- 5 USCIS Interview Tips (video)
- Trump’s Immigration Shift: More Green Card Interviews & Scrutiny (article)
Talk With a Columbus Marriage Green Card Interview Lawyer
Our Columbus office is at 4449 Easton Way #200, Columbus, OH 43219. Our Dublin, Ohio office is at 565 Metro Pl S #100, Dublin, OH 43017. Both offices are open by appointment only, Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Contact our Columbus or Dublin, Ohio office, or call 866-665-0001, to schedule a consultation in person, by phone, or by video conference.
