Top 10 Fiance Visa Interview Tips

 

Top 10 Fiance Visa Interview Tips

1.    Know Your Fiance    The number one thing you can do to make sure you do well at your interview is to know your fiancé very well.  You should know about his past (previous marriages, criminal matters etc.) and know all about his current situation (where he works, where he lives, does he have children etc.)  Knowing your fiancé well will put you in the best position to ace (not just pass) the fiance visa interview.

2.    Be Prepared   Talk to your fiancé and review the facts surrounding the history of your relationship prior to the interview.  You should know when you met, how you met and how the relationship developed.  You should also know your joint plans for the future.

3.      Review Paperwork. You should also review  all paperwork which was filed in your case.  Look at the questions and answers on each and every form. Study these forms. You want to be able to bring to the attention of the immigration officer any mistakes in the paperwork. (If you discover mistakes in your paperwork you should consult with an attorney on how to handle the situation before you attend the interview.)

4.       Bring Paperwork. Bring all the paperwork that the embassy requests you to bring to the interview.  This also includes your interview notice, your entire K-1 package and all supporting documents that you have filed during the case.   Also bring documentation available to prove the “bona fides” of the relationship e.g. proof of contact with each other through cards, social media, phone etc. Bring originals of all the key documents that you were required to file during your case and an extra copy for your file.

5.      Proof of Support. If your American fiancé is sending you money for support bring proof of that support to your interview.

6.       Never Lie. Never lie or mislead the Immigration Officer at your interview.  Always tell the truth.  Lying can have long lasting and very severe consequences in your case. Also, immigration officers are trained to find inconsistencies in cases.

7.       Never Argue. Never argue with the Immigration Officer handling your interview.  Always stay calm.  In the history of fiancé visa interviews I do not think arguing has ever improved the chances of a fiancé obtaining a fiancé visa. On the contrary, cases that may have been approved may have been denied due to fiances arguing with USCIS officers. No matter how tempted you are do not argue with the officers. If you have a temper you may wish to do a mock (practice) interview with a friend. Have your friend try to make you angry and practice how to calmly answer the questions.

8.       Don’t Tell Your Life’s Story.Answer the question you have been asked.  Do not go off on tangents about things you think the immigration officer needs to know.  He will ask you what he needs to know. For example, if the officer asks you your name do not blurt out your life’s story. It is understandable that you may want to talk to the officer about your situation as you have waited months (currently 9 months) to tell you story. Resist this temptation and instead simply answer the questions you are asked. Hopefully, your file is very strong and the officer will not need to ask you a lot of questions. A strong file will make it more likely that your case is approved.

9.       Stay Calm and Carry On. Stay calm and do not appear nervous.  It is normal to be nervous.  However, try not to act nervous as it could appear that you are trying to hide something or that you are not telling the truth (which you should be).  The entire interview is likely to last only 15-30 minutes.  It could even be shorter if the Immigration Officer is satisfied with the file and the interview. Do mock (practice) interviews so that you know how to behave during the real interview.

10.  Follow Instuctions. Do not, under any circumstances, open the thick sealed envelope that you receive at the end of your interview.  Doing so can have very severe consequences including having your fiancé visa revoked and a denial of entry into the United States for years.

For more information about the ins and outs of the fiance visa process please read our popular article titled: Top 10 Things You Should Know About the Fiance Visa Process.

Lawrence Gruner is an immigration attorney with over 25 years of experience handling immigration cases. His office handles cases in California, the United States and the World. He would be happy to talk to you about your fiance visa case. You may email him at attorneygruner@gmail.com or call him at 888-801-6558