Walking into a U.S. immigration interview can feel intimidating. Being nervous about what will happen is expected, whether you’re applying for a green card or U.S. citizenship. The good news is that these interviews are a routine part of the process.
Knowing what to expect, and preparing well, can help you approach your interview calmly and confidently. This guide by Bailey & Galyen will explain what happens during an immigration interview, how to prepare, what questions might be asked, and what steps to take afterward. We’ll also share some tips to help you feel more at ease and discuss how a immigration lawyer in Fort Worth, TX can support you through this important day.
The USCIS Interview Process: What To Expect and Why It’s Done
What is an immigration interview?
It’s a meeting with a U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) officer to verify your information and determine your eligibility for the immigration benefit you applied for (Chapter 5 – Interview Guidelines | USCIS). For example, suppose you’re applying for a family-based green card. In that case, the interview lets USCIS confirm that your relationship is genuine and that all the details in your application are accurate.
Almost all applicants for adjustment of status (green cards within the U.S.) and naturalization (citizenship) must attend an interview, unless USCIS grants a rare waiver. The interview is usually one of the final steps in the process, often taking place many months after you file your initial paperwork.
Where do interviews happen?
If you’re in the United States, your interview will be at a local USCIS field office. Texas has several USCIS offices (for instance, in Houston, Dallas, San Antonio, and other cities), and your appointment notice will tell you which office to go to. If you applied from outside the U.S. through consular processing, your interview will be at a U.S. embassy or consulate abroad, but our focus here is domestic USCIS interviews since most Texas-based applicants have their interview in the U.S.
Who attends the interview?
The primary applicant must attend, and if your case is family-based, the petitioner (the U.S. citizen or resident sponsoring you) will usually have to come as well.
For example, in a marriage-based green card case, you and your spouse will be interviewed together, sometimes separately. (We’ll discuss that more below.) If you’re interviewing for citizenship (naturalization), you’ll typically go alone, although you can bring an interpreter (as discussed later). Attorneys are allowed, too, so if you have an immigration lawyer, they can accompany you to observe, provide support, and ensure your rights are protected.
Why does USCIS interview people?
It’s an opportunity for the government to verify the information on your application and evaluate anything that might not be clear from the paperwork. The officer may check your identification, review your documents, and ask questions to ensure your story is consistent and truthful.
It’s also your chance to address any government concerns – for instance, to prove the legitimacy of a marriage or explain aspects of your background. Think of it as a fact-checking meeting: By the end, the officer should have a clear, verified picture of your case so they can make a decision.
Remember, an immigration interview is a normal part of the process. The officers are generally professional and fair. It’s not meant to trip you up – it’s intended to get the information needed to approve your case.
Preparing for Your Immigration Interview (Documents and Planning)
Proper preparation can make a huge difference in your interview experience. Start preparing as soon as you receive your interview appointment notice. Here are the key steps to take before the interview day:
Gather Required Documents
Your appointment notice will list items to bring, so use that as a checklist. At a minimum, make sure you have the following:
- Government-issued ID. This includes your passport (even if expired) or driver’s license/state ID. USCIS needs to confirm your identity at the door.
- Interview Appointment Notice. The original interview notice (Form I-797C) that USCIS sent you confirms the date and time. You’ll usually need to show this to enter the building and check in.
- Original Civil Documents. Bring originals of any supporting documents you submitted with your application, including birth certificates, marriage certificates, divorce decrees, adoption papers, and any other civil documents relevant to your case. For example, if you submitted a copy of your marriage or child’s birth certificate, bring the original to the interview.
- Your Passport and Travel Documents. Green card applicants bring their passports (and old passports if they contain visas or entry stamps). If you have a travel permit (Advance Parole) or an employment authorization card, bring those as well. For naturalization (citizenship) interviews, get your Permanent Resident Card (green card) and all passports (valid or expired) you’ve used since becoming a permanent resident. USCIS will want to review stamps to see your travel history.
On the Day: What Happens During the Interview
Arriving at USCIS
On the day of your interview, arrive at the USCIS field office at the time instructed (usually 15-30 minutes before your appointment). You’ll go through a security screening at the entrance – much like at an airport. Security will check your ID and appointment notice, scan any bags, and ensure you’re not carrying prohibited items.
Tip: Don’t bring pocket knives or recording devices – leave those at home or in your car.
After security, you’ll check in with the receptionist or officer at the front desk. Please show them your interview notice and ID. They will likely give you a ticket number or ask you to sit in the waiting area.
Waiting
USCIS interviews are scheduled throughout the day and might run behind sometimes. Be patient in the waiting room. This is a good time to turn off your cell phone or put it on silent. (You don’t want it ringing during your interview.) While waiting, you might see other families and attorneys around. Try to stay calm – perhaps take a few deep breaths. When your name or number is called, you’ll be greeted by a USCIS officer who will conduct your interview.
Meeting the Officer
The officer will typically lead you (and your petitioner or interpreter, if applicable) to a private office or cubicle. They might start with small talk or get straight to business. The first thing the officer will do is place you under oath. You will be asked to stand, raise your right hand, and swear (or affirm) that you will tell the truth in the interview.
For example, the officer may ask, Do you promise to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth? Once you affirm, everything you say is under penalty of perjury – meaning you must be truthful, as lying could have serious consequences.
If you have an interpreter, the officer will also swear them in, affirming they will translate accurately. If you bring an attorney, the officer will ask the attorney to confirm their representation (and that they filed the proper form G-28). The attorney typically observes quietly but can intervene to clarify questions, correct misunderstandings, or address procedural and legal issues.
During the Interview – Questions and Verification
Now comes the core of the interview. The USCIS officer will review your case file and ask you questions. These questions will primarily be based on your application and the supporting documents you have submitted. Officers typically have a list of your form answers and will review them to confirm everything is correct.
The officer will likely start by confirming basic biographical info. Expect questions like your full name, date of birth, address, and other personal details to ensure they match the application. They might ask to see your ID or passport to verify your identity and compare it with the file photo. If you brought original documents (birth certificate, marriage certificate, etc.), the officer may ask to examine them.
Reviewing the Application
For a green card (I-485) interview, the officer often reviews your application form page by page. They might say, I see you answered ‘no’ to all these questions about criminal history. Is that correct? or You traveled outside the U.S. last year to Mexico. Can you confirm the dates? They are checking that your answers are still the same and allowing you to update anything that has changed.
If something has changed or was incorrect, this is the time to let them know. USCIS explicitly allows you to revise answers during the interview and will have you sign the updated information. For example, if you moved to a new address after filing, you can inform the officer and they will update your form. If you realize you made a mistake on the form (you forgot to list a short trip abroad), you can clarify that now. Correcting it upfront is much better than for the officer to discover a discrepancy later.
Specific Questions (Green Card Cases)
Depending on the type of green card, the officer will ask case-specific questions. In family-based cases, especially marriage-based, anticipate personal questions about your relationship. The officer may ask things like: How did you two meet? When did you start dating? Who proposed and how? When and where was the wedding? They might ask about details of your daily life, e.g., When is your spouse’s birthday? What do you usually do together on weekends? How many bedrooms are in your home?
They might even ask quirky things, like what side of the bed each of you sleeps on or what you had for dinner last night, to ensure that your relationship is genuine and not just a staged marriage for immigration. In a parent/child or sibling case, the questions might be fewer since those are straightforward relationships, but the officer could still ask about your family background and life in the U.S.
In employment-based cases, the officer may confirm details about your job offer to ensure the job opportunity is legitimate and still available, e.g., What will your role be at the company? Who is your employer, and are you still planning to work for them?
Yes/No Questions
All green card applicants must answer a long series of general eligibility questions (the ones on the I-485 form), which cover criminal history, immigration violations, security-related issues, etc. The officer usually goes through these rapid-fire yes/no questions during the interview. They might ask, Have you ever claimed to be a U.S. citizen? Have you ever been arrested? Have you ever lied to the U.S. government? and so on.
Even if you answered “no” on the form, they will ask again under oath to have it on record. Just stay calm and answer truthfully. If the answer is “yes” (for example, you were once arrested), be prepared to provide a brief explanation and any documents showing the outcome of the incident. The key is honesty; USCIS likely already knows about incidents from your background checks, so this is your chance to clarify them.
Naturalization (Citizenship) Interview
The structure is slightly different if you are there for a naturalization (N-400) interview. The officer will still review your application and test your knowledge and language. They will ask about your time as a green card holder (to ensure you met the residency requirements), your travels abroad (to ensure you didn’t break continuous residence), and things like your employment, marital status, and overall eligibility.
Expect questions like: How long have you lived at your current address? Have you traveled outside the U.S. in the last 5 years? Describe those trips. Do you pay your taxes every year? Have you ever been a member of any organization or group? and Do you understand the Oath of Allegiance and are you willing to take it?
These come directly from your N-400 form. The officer also informally gauges your English proficiency during this conversation – they notice how you respond even to simple questions like How are you today? Once the form review is done, you’ll take the civics and English tests (usually still with the same officer, as part of the interview):
Civics Test
The officer will ask up to 10 questions from the official list of 100 civics questions. These cover U.S. history and government. You must answer at least six correctly to pass. They might ask, for example, What is one right or freedom from the First Amendment? Who is the Governor of Texas now? or How many U.S. Senators are there? You answer orally. If you reach six correct answers before 10, they will stop – you’ve passed the civics portion. Study well beforehand so you can ace this part.
English Test
This has three parts:
- Speaking. This is evaluated throughout the interview—if you’ve been conversing in English about your application, you’ve already demonstrated your speaking ability.
- Reading. The officer will give you a sentence to read aloud. The sentence will be simple and about U.S. civics/history (e.g., The President lives in the White House.) You need to read one sentence correctly out of up to three tries.
- Writing. The officer will dictate a sentence to you, and you’ll need to write it on paper or a tablet. Again, these are basic sentences (e.g., The flag has 50 stars.) You need to write one correctly out of up to three attempts.
The civics and English tests are designed to be fair, and if you’ve studied the official questions and practiced basic English, you should do fine. Many people find this part more manageable than they imagined. The officer usually lets you know right away if you passed the tests.
Certain long-term residents (age 50 or older with 20 years as a permanent resident, or age 55 or older with 15 years) qualify for exemptions from the English requirement. They may conduct their naturalization interview in their native language.
Before you leave, the officer may have you sign a few documents. Green card applicants often have to sign an update on the application if anything was changed or corrected during the interview (for example, confirming you changed an address with your signature). Always read what you are signing–it usually is just a reaffirmation of your answers under oath.
After that, you’ll say thank you and exit the office. Most interviews last around 20-30 minutes for straightforward cases. Some can be shorter and some longer (an hour or more) if the case is complex or a lot of discussion is needed. Don’t worry if your interview felt brief or long – the length isn’t necessarily an indicator of approval or denial. Each officer has their own style.
When you leave the building, take a moment to breathe and congratulate yourself. You’ve completed a massive step in your immigration journey.
Why Bring an Immigration Attorney to Your Immigration Interview?
You now have a solid idea of the interview and how to prepare. You might think, Do I need an immigration lawyer with me for this? This is a common question. There are several situations where having legal help can be highly beneficial. A Texas immigration attorney’s role during the interview is to ensure the process is fair and to step in if something improper occurs.
An immigration interview can be stressful, but you don’t have to do it alone. If you have an interview in Texas – whether for a green card or U.S. citizenship – Bailey & Galyen can guide you through every step. We’ve worked with individuals and families across Texas to prepare for USCIS interviews, attend interviews alongside them, and address any issues. Our focus is to help you feel confident and ensure that your case is presented in the best possible light. Call 817-438-2121 to speak with an immigration attorney in Texas today.
