Preparing for your green card interview after filing Form I-485

Before the interview

Read your interview notice carefully. It lists the office, time, who must attend and the documents to bring. In marriage cases, both spouses are usually required. Reread your I-130, I-485 and I-864 and note anything that has changed since filing, such as a new job, a new address, a trip abroad or a new arrest or citation.

Gather updated evidence. If months have passed since filing, the officer may want current tax returns, pay stubs and proof that you still live together. If you need an interpreter, check the notice and the USCIS website for the current rules on who may interpret and whether you must bring one.

• Interview notice, government photo ID and all passports, including expired ones
• Original birth, marriage and divorce certificates, with certified translations
• Your I-94 record, visas and any advance parole or work permit cards
• Certified court dispositions for any arrest, citation or charge
• Updated joint financial and residence evidence in marriage cases

What officers ask

The officer will go through the eligibility questions on the I-485, including the long list of yes-or-no questions about criminal history, immigration violations and security. Answer only the question asked, answer truthfully and say so if you do not understand or do not remember.

In marriage cases, the officer looks for evidence that the marriage is real. Expect questions about how you met, daily routines and family events. If the officer has concerns, spouses may be interviewed separately and their answers compared. Small differences in memory are normal; inventing an answer is not a good idea.

Possible outcomes

The officer may approve the case at the interview or shortly after, ask for more evidence with a written request, or continue the case for further review. You may be told that a decision will be mailed. If you receive a request for evidence, respond completely and before the deadline. A denial usually explains the reason, and some applicants can renew the application before an immigration judge if they are placed in proceedings.

Keep your address current with USCIS so that the green card and any notices reach you. If you married less than two years before approval, you will receive a two-year conditional card and must file to remove conditions in the 90 days before it expires.