who has had the "marriage" immigration interview

[asiatica]

NY

What types of questions can you expect?
Are they very personal, intimate..
does it take long?
What are they fishing for?

There is a lot of talk going on about the "interview".. Who can shed some light on this topic?

[Amy101]

As long as your marriage is legitimate you have nothing to worry about.

[asiatica]

thanks for your reply but it doesn't answer my question(s).. what's with the taboe on it??

[Amy101]

I don't think there's anything taboo. They just want to make sure that the marriage is bonifide. They don't exactly have set questions. The type of questions (and amount) depend on whether they believe in the validity of the marriage. I wouldn't worry about them asking anything too personal though. The INS just wants to make sure you know eachother. They will also ask for things such as joint bank account information and credit card statements (etc.) as well as pictures of the couple together. They will ask how you met eachother and why you decided to get married.

[20yearoldstud]

hmmm, i hope you don't mind if i disagree. It really depends on who is the agent you get. My father got re-married in 1994 and applied for permanent residence status. They made his wife very uncomfortable asking her questions like: "how do you prevent pregnancy", "What color underwear did he wear yesterday", and other more intimate questions. This was in the newark office in NJ. My father recently celebrated his 8th anniversary with his wife and now has his permanent residence. Of course he had to get it thru my brother who is a US citizen.

They found out that the building had traces of asbestos so it was shut down for about 8 months(!). And then the next agent they got asked them the questions above, in separate rooms.

Shame on the ins.

[Felis Lynx]

20

you right about "It really depends on who is the agent you get" because I applied for my green card in the mid eighties at the Newark NJ office. and no one at the INS asked me to go to any interviews

[Any Hope]

Asiatica - I don't know what the interview is like when you are already married, but I had to have and interview before obtaining my fiancee visa, and it was NOTHING like I expected. I waited forever at the office then they checked all my paperwork, asked me a couple of basic questions like: "how did you meet?", "why doesn't he move?" It wasn't like an interview at all, more like going to the bank and chatting with the teller!

[MSWCCC]

My ex-best-friend's fiance was from Holland. She told me the questions were very personal. They ranged from favorite TV show types, to frequency of sex. The INS is trying to make sure you are not marrying to get someone a greencard. You must prove the marriage is legit and that you are not marrying with the intent to divorce after a specified amount of time just to gain someone status. Carrie and ****** were marrying for him to be legal as a favor to her real fiance, Sean. Sean and ****** were best friends for years and ****** wanted to move here. So Carrie and Sean decided she would marry, then divorce, ******. The questions were so drastically different that the INS declined ****** a card because the noticed the patterns of simple things being different. Of course! They were just marrying for the citizenship. My fiance and I can tell you the other's favorite coffee cream, TV show, shoe size, etc., and Carrie and ****** had different answers to: Did ****** like meat? She said yes, but he's a vegetarian. A couple who know each other would know that.
So sorry, you'll have to bear the questions, however personal they may be.

[Amy101]

Anyone who is serious about wanting to marry and move to the states shouldn't mind going through a thorough interview process. No one is forced to move to this country. Any citizen (especially these days) would want there to be a complete check on anyone getting a green card. I for one am grateful.

[20yearoldstud]

Well if it was up to the ins they would put collars on the immigrants in this country. But i guess we shouldn't mind. And the legitimacy of a marriage doesn't include or exclude a crimina. so it it beyond pointless if security is the suposed concern.

[asiatica]

I´m afraid I have to agree with stud here.
You could legitimately marry, but still have bad intentions...
whereas maybe you are just looking to build a honest living for yourself in the so-called promised land..
so what is a legitimate marriage?? People who aren´t truly in love still marry all the time...even though they don´t need papers..

[SteveWN]

As a law student and citizen of the US, I believe that everything should be done to protect the citizens and prospective residents of the United States. If anything, the laws and criteria to enter the US aren't strict enough. Thankfully changes seem to be occuring in the system to better regulate the immigration process.

[20yearoldstud]

and what does remembering my wife's office number have to do with protecting citizens?

if i say i don't want to have kids and my wife says she does at the interview, (couples go thru this at some point or another) and i'm rejected for a residency, do you feel safer? but if we agree on our answers that lets them know that i CANNOT POSSIBLY be a terrorist right?

i shouldn't pay for the govt's endless neglect. especially when i'm paying taxes. They want your money but not your presence.

[asiatica]

EXACTLY my point Stud!

But i agree with you too steve, I think a lot of changes have to be made but changes that are useful instead of pointless ones.

Honest people are denied a chance while Terrorists are given visas??? I can imagine why you feel so unsafe.. !! but it´s not fair as Stud says to make honest people pay for govt´s neglect.. a thorough research should be conducted but we have to be reasonable too. We´re dealing with real live people but to the govt. it´s all just about numbers..

Ironic that if you´re willing to invest $1 million in the US economy you are granted residency without question!! And we know that all millionairs are the most honest, sweet people with only good intentions right?

[alv73]

LOCATION: Jacksonville, FL

I just had my inteview Monday, Nov. 17, 2003 and I can tell you that there is nothing to worry about. The interview lasted about 10 minutes and the INS Agent asked us very basic questions. My husband and I were interviewed in the same room. We were asked how we met, how long have we been married, if we have children, birthdays and the officer will ask you some of the questions you have answered on the form like if you have been arrested, and things like that. Then we provided copies of our Mortgage papers and bank statements.

After about 10 minutes, the INS Agent stamped my passport and he said that I should get my green card through the mail in about 3 months.

Like everyone has said, if you're marriage is bonafide/legitimate, and you did not marry just to get a green card, you should not have to worry about the interview because whatever question they ask you and your spouse, be it personal or basic, you will be able to answer it. I really think that the Agents can tell if the couple is really a couple or not.

Good luck to everyone scheduled to have their INS interview.