TIPS TO EXCEL IN AN IMMIGRATION APPOINTMENT/ INTERVIEW

Introduction

A really smart person once said, “If you don’t get ready, you’re getting ready to mess up.” This saying is super relevant when you are heading into your interview with the local USCIS office. But every day, folks show up to their immigration interview without being ready, and it can end badly. Their cases might get turned down, and some people could even get arrested by immigration right there and sent back to where they came from. So, how can you make sure you don’t end up as one of those unfortunate stories? What can you do to boost your chances of winning your immigration case? 

If you are looking to meet your immigration goals, whether it be a green card, a visa, or other benefits, it is super important to get ready for that immigration interview. 

These particular interviews, if held at a local US Citizenship and Immigration Services office, really shouldn’t be frightening, though taken seriously. You don’t need a lot of exertion to research what it will be like there and what you should bring. It is one of those deals where it is better to err on the prepared side rather than being caught short. 

This a cool guide through great insights, useful tips, and advice on how to do better in your immigration interview. 

Be on time for immigration interview

Immigration officials want you to attend your interview on schedule. They will possibly deny your application if you arrive late. Expect a long queue at the immigration building; therefore, be at least 30 minutes early. 

And remember, you will not enter the immigration building with some items, such as matches, lighters, and liquids, including perfume, sharp objects, and pepper spray. If the guard catches you with any of these items, you probably must throw them away or take them back to your car. This will delay your interview since you might have to go through the line again. Some immigration offices do not allow cell phones either. 

Wait for your immigration lawyer

Sometimes an immigration officer may call you into the interviewing room before your immigration lawyer arrives. They may want you to proceed without an immigration lawyer and ask you to sign a form acknowledging that waiting for your immigration lawyer isn’t possible. 

Agreeing to this would be a big mistake, as leaving everything up to an officer without the backing of a competent immigration lawyer may leave one without rights or subject to either denied applications or cases. The best course of action is thus to ask the officer nicely to wait for your immigration lawyer’s arrival. 

Dress well for Immigration Appointment

Immigration officers, just like everyone else, are judgmental. They can decide whether or not to approve your application or case based on the way you appear and clothe yourself. Wear something dignified and serious for the interview. You have high entry chances like that. So, forget about those shorts and flip-flops. 

Bring someone who understands English 

If you do not understand English very well, you need to fetch your own interpreter. They must be legally present in the United States. You cannot hire a family member to interpret. The interpreter should only translate the questions and answers; otherwise, the immigration officer might end up doing something different from what you want. 

Be sure to bring the original documents and copies 

Present the original document (or certified copies) during the interview and a photocopy of each. The immigration official would check the originals, and to keep it for his records would want a copy. 

Listen to what is asked and answer truthfully 

Nothing would annoy an immigration officer more than an applicant not answering the question directly. Sadly, this too often gives rise to cases that go poorly with immigration interview (almost every time). The officer will ask you very direct questions and expects equally direct answers. 

For example, if the officer asks you, “When did you last arrive in the United States?”, do not respond by saying: “I came in on a tourist visa.” By stating that information instead of providing the date of your last entry, you just told them about your visa type, which is just the type of non-answer that pisses them off. 

Another example: supposing the officer asks, “When did you first meet your wife?” And you say something like, “I met her at my friend’s house”; that is no answer to that question. Should you continue providing such ambiguous responses, that alone will raise officers’ suspicions and make them conclude perhaps one is being slippery and untruthful, in which case this will result in denial of that case. They will be full of many questions in the immigration interview, and therefore you should really keep your ears open to be prepared for answering them quite well. 

The other big mistake involves making a guess when the applicants simply do not know the answer. If one does not remember something, or if they just don’t know, simply say: “I don’t remember,” or “I don’t know.”  

To guess, or make up an answer, simply because one does not want to look bad, could destroy one’s case. Such as: If a husband is asked what he got his wife on her last birthday and he did not buy her anything, just out of shame, he may say he bought her a bottle of perfume. But upon asking the wife, she categorically states that he did not get her anything, and now the officer will start wondering about the credibility of their marriage upon hearing these contradictory statements from both parties. 

In another case, if the officer asks the husband when he and his wife got married and he forgets because he is nervous, instead of admitting he doesn’t remember, he guesses and gets it wrong! If he had just said he couldn’t recall the exact date, it might have saved his case. 

A good immigration lawyer will help you get ready for the questions you will face in the interview and protect your rights along the way. 

Get help! 

Preparing for an immigration interview does not need to be overwhelming: just learn the process, get your documents, and practice how you will answer questions. When you do that – the right prep, a great mindset – you feel really good as you walk in to see them. 

Need custom help? At Gehi and Associates, we have assisted a lot of people with their immigration needs for many years. 

Book a consultation today to get fully ready for your big day!