Adjustment of Status Interview Guide

Are you moving to the U.S.? Do you need some help with your adjustment of status? Do you know what is required of Green Card applicants?

One of the most important steps you need to cover is your adjustment of status interview. Here are some tips you can use to help you with your immigration attempts.

Who Attends an Adjustment of Status Interview?

An immigrant can become a U.S. Lawful Permanent Residents (LPR). Many types of visas can lead to a Green Card. Employment-based visas, marriage-based visas, and many more. But many of the people who apply for LPR status must first attend an adjustment of status interview.

There are four possible parties at an adjustment of status interview:

1. Applicant (beneficiary)
2. Visa sponsor (especially in marriage-based applications)
3. U.S. consular officer
4. Applicant’s legal counsel.

You are allowed to have your immigration attorney with you at your adjustment of status interview. Make use of one who can help improve your application for a Green Card. It may also increase the likelihood of a successful application as they can help you avoid unnecessary mistakes. Some applicants also have visa sponsors. In certain cases, their sponsor may also attend the interview with them. An applicant filing for a marriage-based Green Card typically has their spouse (their visa sponsor) attend the interview with them.

In rare cases, you may also be allowed to have an interpreter at your interview. The interpreter must be over the age of 18, fluent in both your language and English and must be a U.S. citizen or LPR. This can be tricky if you apply at a U.S. consulate abroad. The USCIS won’t supply the interpreter and you can’t request a USCIS officer to be your interpreter. So ask the U.S. consulate near you how you can still get an approved interpreter. Take note your spouse may not be your interpreter if you apply for a marriage-based Green Card. This will obstruct the verification process used to determine the validity of your marriage.

Also, remember some applicants don’t have to attend an adjustment of status interview. They can get their Green Card approved without the need for an interview in certain immigration cases. If this happens to you, you need to get a stamp in your passport confirming your LPR status. This is simply an administrative step. The stamp does not determine the validity of your LPR status on the USCIS records, but you will need a stamp to prove your status if you ever wish to travel beyond U.S. borders before you have received your actual Green Card.

What the Adjustment Interview Will Cover

Each type of visa grants the Green Card applicant an LPR status based on different eligibility criteria. This is why it would be a good idea to get the help of an immigration attorney. They’ll be able to inform you about the more intricate details regarding your specific immigration route.

Nonetheless, some basic things need to be covered in every adjustment of status interview. The interview helps to prove that all required documentation is correct. If you made any mistakes you may have an opportunity to correct it, but don’t count on it. Make sure about the correctness of your documentation before you enter the interview. Also, see to it that all official documents display your current address as well as your correct personal details.

Be ready to explain any incoherencies in your documentation. Perhaps you had your name changed during your stay in the U.S. or you have had minor incidents that perhaps show up on your record. Be ready to explain to the consular officer what happened. Be honest, respectful, and remain calm during your interview as you work with U.S. immigration officials to get a Green Card.

Dress professionally, neatly, and rather err to the conservative side. You don’t want to make a false or negative impression on the interviewers. Don’t overdo your outfit. Refrain from wearing U.S. branded clothing. You don’t need to prove your patriotism through your clothing. Be yourself during the interview and don’t try to impress the interviewer with unnecessary comments.

What to Bring to the Interview

The interview may seem like a daunting task. Don’t worry, you can get help from an immigration lawyer. They’ll give you the best advice about the required documentation needed at your adjustment of status interview.

Here are some of the more general documents required at an adjustment of status interview.

• A complete copy of your adjustment of status application
• A valid passport
• Identification documents
• Any previous U.S. tax filings
• All your arrival/departure records (Form I-94)
• All previous visas
• Any work-related immigration documents like an EAD (Employment Authorization Document).

These are just a few of the documents you’ll need. Your unique situation will determine the rest of the documents required. Consult an immigration specialist on the exact documentation you’ll need. As far as possible bring the original documentation along to the interview. Make copies and store it in a safe place, but take the originals to your interview.

People who apply for marriage-based Green Cards must include more documentation proving their marriage. Those who seek employment-based Green Cards need to take more employment-related documentation to the interview. The type of Green Card you apply for determines the documentation you need to provide at the interview.

Adjustment of Status Interview Length

The USCIS offices are extremely busy. Millions of people apply to immigrate to the U.S. annually. You might spend some time in the waiting room, but the interview itself typically lasts about 20 minutes. Many immigration facilities don’t allow any food items inside. So, enjoy a good meal before you arrive.

Adjustment of Status Interview Questions

The questions you will get at the interview are also determined by the type of Green Card you apply for. Some basic questions could apply to every category, but expect questions to coincide with the type of documentation required for your category of Green Card. Marriage-based applications will have more marriage-related questions and so it will be the same with employment-based applications.

Here are a few questions you must be prepared to answer if you apply for a marriage-based Green Card, for example:

• Explain how and where you met your spouse?
• Where did your spouse live at the time you met?
• What is your spouse’s date of birth?
• What job did your spouse hold when you met?
• What is your spouse’s current salary?
• When and where did the marriage proposal take place?
• What food was served at your wedding?

The questions may even get more personal than that regardless of the category you apply through. The point of the interview is to scrutinize the validity of your relationships and accompanying information. Be as truthful as possible and don’t guess an answer if you are unsure. Rather confess your lack of knowledge and work with the interviewer to still verify your eligibility for a Green Card.

After the Interview

The interviewer makes a decision when the interview concludes. The issue your passport with an I-551 stamp if they approve your Green Card. This stamp helps prove your LPR status until you receive the official documentation proving your status.

In some cases, applicants are asked to return home whilst the USCIS makes a decision. You will then receive the decision via mail. Don’t be dismayed if this happens. It’s not unusual. The USCIS can also require additional evidence which will then also postpone their decision. Work with them and provide all the required information as fast as possible to decrease your waiting time.

Ask the USCIS about the progress of your adjustment of status application if you have waited for more than 90 days without any response.

Conclusion

The U.S. holds many opportunities and millions of people try to immigrate here annually. Use the information provided here to aid your immigration attempts and make sure you are ready for your adjustment of status interview.

Frank Gogol

I’m a firm believer that information is the key to financial freedom. On the Stilt Blog, I write about the complex topics — like finance, immigration, and technology — to help immigrants make the most of their lives in the U.S. Our content and brand have been featured in Forbes, TechCrunch, VentureBeat, and more.

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