What will be asked in Green Card interviews in the U.S.?

Notable remarks have emerged about the interview process closely followed by those seeking a Green Card through marriage in ABD. Immigration lawyer Volkan Anık, who operates in New York and New Jersey, described the questions he encountered and the points applicants should pay attention to during the eight separate Green Card interviews he attended last week.

In an update posted from his social media account, Anık said that three topics stood out in the interviews and emphasized that each application is evaluated within its own circumstances.

First Notable Topic: State Assistance

According to lawyer Volkan Anık, one of the topics most emphasized in the recent interviews he attended was the public charge assessment, known as a burden on society in ABD immigration law.

Anık stated that during the interviews, applicants were specifically asked whether their American citizen or Green Card–holding spouses had ever received any state assistance in the past.

He also noted that the section of the I-485 form used for Green Card applications concerning the public charge assessment is carefully examined.

In this assessment, it is necessary to remember that not every state aid leads to the same legal outcome. The type of aid, who receives it, and the applicant's circumstances are important. Therefore, the fact that a spouse has received state aid in the past does not, by itself, mean that a Green Card application will be rejected.

The question 'Why didn't you return to your country?' has come to the agenda.

The second issue that Volkan Anık drew attention to was the questions about why the application was made from within the United States.

Anık said that in some interviews he attended, immigration officials asked applicants the following questions:

'Why didn't you return to your country? Why did you decide to submit your application from within America?'

Anık said that he explained that Green Card procedures carried out through consulates outside the United States can take a long time.

Anık noted that consular processing can take two and a half to three years—or even longer—in some cases, and that such a lengthy wait can pose serious difficulties for married couples.

However, the right to apply from within the United States depends on the applicant’s immigration status and other legal conditions. Consequently, it cannot be said that the same questions will be asked in every application or that the answers alone will determine the outcome.

Update Your Documents Before the Interview!

One of immigration lawyer Volkan Anık’s third and most important warnings concerned the up‑to‑date documents that must be uploaded to the file before the interview.

He stressed the importance of couples applying for a Green Card through marriage adding new evidence that their marriage is ongoing and that they share a common life to their files.

He also emphasized that income, employment status, financial sponsorship, and other monetary documents must be current.

Anık advised applicants not to settle for merely uploading documents to the system, but also to bring copies of those documents to the interview.

Having up‑to‑date documents ready can facilitate the provision of additional information that may be requested during the interview.

Warning to Green Card Applicants from Attorney Volkan Anık

Sharing observations he gathered from the last eight interviews, Volkan Anık said that the topics he raised stood out in the meetings he attended, and that they should not be treated as standard questions applicable to all Green Card interviews.

Reminding that the conditions of each file and the interview process may differ, Anık said he would continue to share the experiences he gains from future meetings he attends.

From the perspective of those applying for a Green Card in the United States, Anık's remarks once again highlighted the importance of interview preparation, up‑to‑date marriage evidence, and the complete submission of financial documents.

Volkan Anık, a New York Bar‑registered immigration lawyer, practices immigration law across the United States. He continues to share his experiences with the public about Green Card and immigration processes through posts on social media.

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