Sample U.S. Embassy Interview Questions

United States Embassy Interview Questions

The United States embassy interview is the most crucial stage of the green card process. During the interview, the consular officer will question your foreign spouse in detail; this is to determine the legitimacy of your marriage. If the consular officer concludes that you and your foreign spouse have a legitimate marriage, then the immigrant visa will be approved, given that all other paperwork is completed correctly.

The officer’s determination is based largely upon your foreign spouse’s responses to questions. Review the sample questions below. These questions are intended as a basic guide only. Each consular officer will ask different questions as the circumstances dictate.

Initial Meeting

1. How did you meet your spouse? Describe the circumstances.
2. When did you first meet your spouse in person? Describe the circumstances.
3. How long have you known your spouse?
4. Please state the date and place you last saw your spouse, in person, prior to this interview.
5. How much time have you and your spouse spent together in person?
6. How do you and your spouse communicate (i.e. telephone, text, email, letters)?
7. How often do you and your spouse communicate? Describe the circumstances.

Biographic Information

1. What is your spouse’s birthday?
2. What is your spouse’s place of birth?

Residence

1. Where does your spouse live?
2. Where do your spouse’s parents live?
3. If your spouse has siblings, where do they live?

Education and Employment Status

1. What does your spouse do for a living?
2. Where does your spouse work?
3. What is your spouse’s educational background?

Cultural Background

1. What is your spouse’s religious background?
2. What is your religious background?
3. Does your spouse speak and understand your language?
4. Do you speak and understand your spouse’s language?

Common Interests

1. What do you like about your spouse?
2. What are your spouse’s hobbies and interests?
3. What are your hobbies and interests?

Prior Marital Status

1. Has your spouse been divorced?
2. If yes, when did your spouse get a divorce?
3. If yes, why did your spouse’s prior marriage end in divorce?

Family

1. Have you met your spouse’s family? If yes, describe the circumstances and who you met.
2. Does your spouse have any siblings? If yes, state their names and ages.

Children

1. Does your spouse have any children? If yes, state their names and ages.
2. If yes, do the children live with your spouse?
3. If yes, are you willing to take care of your spouse’s children if they live with you?
4. Do you plan to have children with your spouse?

Wedding

1. What did your parents think about this marriage? Did they approve of it?
2. What did your spouse’s parents think about this marriage? Did they approve of it?
3. What type of wedding did you have? Describe the circumstances.
4. How did other members of your families feel about your marriage?

Travel to the United States

Travel to the United States (this is an H3)
1. When do you intend to leave for the United States?
2. Have you ever been to the United States? If yes, what type of visa did you use to travel to the United States?
3. If yes, how long did you stay in the United States?
4. If yes, when did you return from the United States?

Future Plans

1. At what address will you reside in the United States?
2. Do you plan to get a job in the United States?
3. Do you plan to attend school in the United States?

Criminal History

1. Has your spouse told you about his/her prior criminal convictions? If yes, what was s/he convicted of and what were the circumstances?

Talk to our experienced Florida Immigration Attorney.

When do you need an Immigration Lawyer?

At the beginning of the process of applying for a visa, you’re going to ask yourself, “Do I need a lawyer?” If your case is very simple and straightforward, then you may not need a lawyer. If you are obviously eligible and have a clean background check, you may be able to get a visa or green card without a lawyer. Regardless of your situation, an immigration lawyer can give you peace of mind as they help you navigate the path of immigrating to the US. Adolphe Law Group is here to help with your various immigration law needs.

United States immigration law is incredibly complicated; it has been extensively developed, often without judicial oversight. If you are out of the country, lawyers are unable to attend your consular interviews. They can, however, prepare the paperwork and follow up with consulates. In many situations, lawyers can save you time in the lengthy process. 

Finding your Best Option

There are multiple options for each person who is immigrating. For example, if you’re a skilled worker, you may qualify for multiple visas or green cards. It can be difficult to pick which one will be best for you. Florida immigration attorney can help you decide which option will work best for you.

Another common option is a family-based visa. If you’re wanting to become a US citizen, it may be easier for you to get married to an American citizen than to enter the U.S. on an immigrant visa. Another option is a K-1 fiance visa. An immigration attorney will be able to tell you which option will most benefit you and your family.

Employers Looking to Hire

Because of the lucrative job market, as well as the education system, many people want to move to the United States to work or go to school. When planning such a large move, you may not have time to dedicate to understanding immigration law. Immigrating to the US for work may require an Employment Authorization Document (EAD), proving you are legally allowed to work on US soil, usually up to one year. The next step after an EAD is a PERM visa, which is for those people who are looking to become a permanent resident. Studying at an American university will require an F-1 or M-1 visa. Each of these applications require detailed applications to be accurately completed. Immigration attorneys specialize in understanding these forms and successfully getting them approved. It would work to your advantage to have an expert in this situation.

If You Are in Immigration Court Proceedings

Another reason to hire an immigration lawyer is to help you in immigration court proceedings. If your proceedings are ongoing or on appeal, your fate belongs to the court and the same procedures you were following will no longer work. Always seek legal counsel in this case, even if your case has been denied, because they give you the best chance of a positive outcome. 

Inadmissible

If you feel the United States government has wrongly deemed you inadmissible as an immigrant, seeking legal counsel to determine your next steps is advisable. An immigration lawyer will provide you with the necessary steps to take and help you complete appropriate waivers to ask for legal forgiveness or to clear up any misunderstandings. 

If You Are Overwhelmed by the Paperwork

Every U.S. immigration application involves paperwork. You’ll have to gather documents proving your eligibility; unfortunately, mistakes will certainly cause a delay or rejection of your visa. Immigration lawyers have successfully completed this process numerous times. Immigration lawyers save time and money by reviewing documents before they are sent to the immigration authorities.

Delays in the Process

As in most government processes, delays are to be expected. It’s important to set appropriate expectations, remain patient and hopeful, and continue to dream. If you have questions or want help with the process, hiring an immigration attorney from Adolphe Law Group is the next step. They are available to help you make feel supported in your journey to living in the United States.