United States Marriage Interview

The Application Procedure

When preparing the application packet to be sent to CIS, make sure that you answer each and every one of the questions on each of the forms. If a specific question does not apply to you, simply write “not applicable” or “none”. For additional guidance on what information is being asked of you, review the instructions for the application, which are generally attached to the beginning of the form.

Next, include with the applications, the appropriate photos and copies, and copies only, of the required documents including: marriage certificate, divorce judgment(s), birth certificate, passport, proof of legal entry into the United States, and proof that you spouse is a citizen of the United States. Also, do not forget to include check or money order for the filing fees.

Now, before you send the packet to CIS, make a copy for your records of everything you are sending, from the forms to the photos, to the check or money order, and the documents. Finally, send the application packet by certified mail with return receipt requested.

After sending the application packet to CIS, you will have to wait to be scheduled for your marriage interview. The waiting period will vary depending on where you live. You should take this time to begin to collect documents to present to the Officer at the time of your interview.

Generally speaking, you and your spouse should have the following: taxes filed jointly, a joint bank account, joint health insurance, lease or deed with both of your names, rent or mortgage payment receipts with both of your names, utility bills in both of your names, and a big photo album with photos of the two of you together with friends and family, throughout the year.

You will also need to have your original documents on hand, copies of which you had sent to CIS with the applications. It is very important to have original proof of your legal entry into the United States, no matter how long ago that was, and a passport valid for at least six (6) months on the day of the marriage interview.

When CIS sends you the appointment date, you should also receive a packet of additional documents including a medical examination form and an affidavit of support to have ready before the interview. When you received the appointment date, collect all of your original documents and make one copy of each and every document.

The US Marriage Interview

On the day of your interview you should begin the day by eating a good breakfast, for you may end up spending the rest of the day sitting at CIS waiting to be called. You might be nervous on that day, but you should not be hungry too.

Dress nicely for the interview. As the saying goes, you do not get a second chance to make a good first impression. Arrive on time for the interview, or even better, arrive a few minutes before your scheduled appointment time. Bring with you the photo album, all your original documents, and the copies. The Officer might want to see the originals, but if they want to keep any documents, they should keep the copies.

The United States marriage interview at this stage should last less than half an hour. Unlike it is portrayed on television or the movies, you and your spouse will not be interviewed separately. Instead, you will be sitting side by side in front of one District Adjudications Officer. The Officer will first administer an oath, where he will ask the two of you to swear or affirm that you will tell nothing but the truth. From that moment on, it will be very important that the Officer hears a clear answer to all of the questions. The Officer will ask questions of both of you, but you must remember not to answer the questions that are asked of your spouse. If the question is not directed at you, do not answer the question. The Officer is merely trying to determine if you and your spouse know each other and if you are living together as husband and wife.

While each Officer is a unique individual with a unique way of handing the interview, they all generally ask you a set of similar questions about each other and request to see the same type of documents. In general, they will ask one of you for the other’s complete name, date of birth, place of birth, date and place of marriage, number of times married, number of children, and place of employment. The officers generally ask for details on how you met, where you were living when you met, who you were living with at that time, where you were working, who came to your wedding, have you met each other’s relatives and what are their names. The Officers rarely ask questions on your lives beyond the ones mentioned above, such as the color of your spouse’s toothbrush or window treatments at home.

The officer will also ask to review the documents you brought to the interview and will want to keep your medical, affidavit of support, job letters, bank letters and copies of earning statements, bank statements, lease or deed, rent or mortgage receipts, utility bills, credit cards bills, health insurance cards, etc. The Officer might even request to keep a photo or two from your photo-album.

Finally, the officer will ask you several questions to verify that you should be entitled to your Lawful Permanent Resident Card, including information on criminal activities and immigration law violations. Of course, remember that the Officer knows more about your life in the United States than you can imagine, so make sure you understand the question before you answer it. If you are not sure what the Officer is asking, it is your responsibility to ask the Officer to clarify the question.

If all goes well, the officer will approve your case and issue you temporary proof of Lawful Permanent Resident status and instructions on received the Lawful Permanent Resident Card, filing additional forms, or filing citizenship of the United States. However, if the Officer doubts that you are truly husband and wife, more likely than not he will schedule the two of you for a second marriage interview about a year later. It is at that second marriage interview where you and your spouse will be questioned separately and asked very detail questions of your life together. It is at that interview that you better know more than just your spouse’s sign.