About the Adjustment of Status Interview
When applying for a green card, the last step of the “adjustment of status” process is to be called in for an interview by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). You may be feeling nervous, but with proper preparation, these interviews are nothing to be worried about. In this blog, we share a few things to expect during your adjustment of the status interview.
What Happens at the Adjustment of Status Interview?
Before the interview begins, the USCIS officer who calls you in will first swear you in and check your photo IDs. If your application is employment-based, it’s likely that you’ll be asked about your job, qualifications, and employer. If your application is family-based, however, you will be asked about your relationship with your sponsor. The officer wants to ensure that the relationship you share with your sponsor is valid and genuine.
What Should I Bring?
The interview notice sent by the USCIS will have a list of what you should bring. Any documents that verify your eligibility to obtain a green card should be brought along. If there have been any changes in your life since you started the adjustment of status application, be sure to bring the proper documentation to confirm these changes.
In addition to the list provided by USCIS you should also bring the following items:
- A copy of your visa petition
- A copy of your adjustment of status application
- Your passport
- Originals of documents you submitted to USCIS, such as birth and marriage certificates
- Up-to-date letter from your employer, if applying based on employment. This letter should address your continued employment and salary.
- If applying based on marriage, bring documents that show the shared life you have with your spouse. These documents can include a joint bank account or children’s birth certificates.
Questions Asked at Adjustment of Status Interview
Thankfully, the interview is very quick. It takes about 20 to 25 minutes and the goal of the USCIS officer is to verify or get an explanation for the answers you provided in your I-485 application. If your application is based on a relationship with your spouse, the questions will become more personal because the officer will confirm that your marriage is bona fide and that you are not committing marriage fraud.
Below are some examples of questions they may ask during an adjustment of status interview:
- When was your spouse born?
- When did you meet your spouse and how did you meet them?
- Where did your spouse live when you met your spouse? Did they live with anyone?
- Did you have a job when you met your spouse? If so, where?
- Does your spouse have a job and what is their work schedule?
- When were you married? Did you have a party -- what was served?
- Did you have a honeymoon? If so, where?
What Happens After the Interview?
If everything goes as expected, you will be approved for permanent residence. If for whatever reason the officer cannot approve your case that day, you’ll be asked to provide additional paperwork that can fix the problem keeping you from being approved. After you submit the paperwork, you will be sent the decision by mail.
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During adjustment of status interviews, attorneys are permitted to join you. At Berry Appleman & Leiden LLP, our Louisiana immigration attorneys can help you during yours. Call (337) 214-0670 or contact us online to learn more!