How to Prepare for An Interview with USCIS

          An interview with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) is a critical step in your immigration journey. During the interview, USCIS will review your application, assess your eligibility, and gather needed information. Properly preparing for your interview can help you navigate this intimidating process with ease and confidence. Here at Baibak Law, we offer personalized interview preparation services tailored to meet your unique needs. We can be at your side during the interview to protect your legal rights and guide you towards a successful outcome.

How to Best Prepare for the Interview

Reread your entire immigration filing.

          The first, and sometimes most forgotten step in preparing for your USCIS interview is to review your initial application or petition. Often months or even years may have passed since you filed. Remind yourself what you said. During the interview, the USCIS Officer will review your application or petition line-by-line. Inconsistencies between your filing and your oral testimony — even small details like dates — can be a red flag. 

Carefully organize your documents.

• Bring original copies of all civil documents that you filed with your original application or petition. This might include your passport, marriage certificate, birth certificates, etc.

• Bring clear copies of all evidence that you submitted with your original filing. Sometimes evidence is distorted when it is scanned into USCIS’s internal system. The Officer may ask to review a clearer copy of a piece of evidence that you already submitted. 

• For marriage-based green card cases, bring updated “bona fides,” or proof of relationship, that you have gathered since filing. For example, bring recent joint bank statements, utility bills, tax returns, or insurance policies.

• At Baibak Law, we encourage clients to carefully organize all documents in an accordion-style file divider. All parties should know where to find the relevant documents.

Give honest, consistent answers.

          It is normal to forget a specific date or detail. A well-trained USCIS Officer understands this. But guessing can have permanent, negative immigration consequences. It is better to say, “I don't remember,” than to guess.

          When reviewing your relationship history in a marriage-based green card case, it is critical that both spouses give honest, consistent answers. Don’t worry about what you may think the Officer wants to hear. For example, if you met your spouse at a bar, and you each disclose this, that is fine. But, if one spouse lies and says you met volunteering at a soup kitchen and the other says you met at a bar, the Officer will immediately suspect fraud.

          Always tell the truth.  

Why It Is Best to Have an Attorney Present

          One of the most powerful ways to change the tone of an interview and move towards a more successful outcome is to have an attorney present. While an attorney cannot testify for you, an attorney can correct misunderstandings in real-time, ensure proper legal standards are followed, and maintain a cooperative, professional tone. In this way, legal counsel can help turn an otherwise unnerving interview into a collaborative venture in which you work with the USCIS Officer to provide the needed information and evidence to arrive at a positive outcome.

Attorneys provide pre-interview risk assessments.

          A major part of an attorney’s job happens before you walk into the interview. An attorney reviews your immigration background to identify "hidden" legal issues — such as a minor arrest (even if dismissed), brief unauthorized employment, or previously denied visas — and helps you address them truthfully.

          Here at Baibak Law, we understand that every immigration case is unique. We seek to fully understand your past and address immigration-related concerns. To this end, we thoroughly review clients’ full immigration histories before filing an application or petition to assess and address risks. When issues are present, we anticipate questions an Officer may ask and help clients proactively gather additional documentation to answer these questions and elevate the Officer’s concerns.

          At Baibak Law, we also prepare our clients by performing mock interviews. We allow clients to practice answering relevant questions, so they feel prepared and confident during their interview.

Attorneys help keep the tone professional.

          Walking into an interview with an attorney immediately and tangibly shifts the tone of the interview. Officers know that the case has been carefully prepared and reviewed and are more likely to engage collaboratively.

          When an attorney is in the room, Officers are much less likely to ask “gotcha”-type questions. If an Officer does ask a question that is overly broad or legally problematic, counsel can step in to ask for clarification and ensure that you fully understand what is being asked.

Attorneys ensure proper legal standards are applied and rules are followed.

          During the interview, your attorney is, first and foremost, your legal advocate. If legal issues arise — such as your eligibility for an immigration benefit, past immigration court history, or previous problems at the border — your attorney is there to remind the USCIS Officer of the relevant law and proper procedures.

          Here at Baibak Law, we have years of experience practicing immigration law. We know the law and are committed to ensuring that it is followed and that USCIS abides by its own rules and procedures.

Attorneys correct mistakes in real-time.

          Sometimes Officers ask questions in a confusing way. If you try to answer such a question, and your response is inconsistent with your immigration record, you may experience severe delays and even denials. Trusted legal counsel can prevent such accidents or misunderstandings by requesting clarifications and asking the Officer to rephrase a question.

          Other times, Officers may misunderstand the facts in a case and be inclined to deny the case based on this misimpression. An attorney can step in to correct these misunderstandings by pointing out specific, relevant evidence in the record.

Attorneys keep accurate records of the interview.

          If USCIS later issues an adverse decision, and you wish to appeal or respond, it can be difficult or impossible to obtain records of the interview. An attorney can keep careful notes of all that is said during the interview, which can help you respond swiftly and accurately to USCIS.  

Attorneys can help you feel more relaxed and comfortable.

          Walking into a federal building and being placed under oath is intimidating. Having an expert sitting next to you, who knows your case, can help you slow down and focus on telling the truth. You can relax, trusting that your legal counsel will handle any legal issues that arise.

Conclusion

          Here at Baibak Law, we have successfully guided individuals through numerous USCIS interviews in the Cincinnati area and beyond. We understand that each person has a unique story and immigration past. We offer personalized support to help address your particular situation and best prepare for a successful outcome. If you would like to learn more about the immigration process, or discuss your upcoming USCIS interview, please contact us at (513) 203-5429 or schedule a consultation online.

Disclaimer: The information provided above, and on our website, is intended for general information purposes only and should not be construed as legal advice. This blog post shall not create an attorney-client relationship with the readers of its content.