Individuals who use their marriage as a basis to qualify for a green card must generally prove that their relationship is legitimate. If there is any reason to believe that a marriage is a sham, it may be necessary for a person to take part in a marriage fraud interview. An immigration officer will begin the interview by explaining why there is reason to believe that a marriage could be fraudulent.
During this process, both parties to the relationship will be questioned while in the same room together as well as individually in separate locations. In most cases, each person will be asked the same series of questions while apart from each other. Those questions could be as simple as asking where the couple met or how many bedrooms each house has. A customs official might also ask about how many pets a couple has or which person does most of the cleaning around the house.
If there are any inconsistencies in the answers, the parties to the interview must provide acceptable explanations for those differences. If the answers are acceptable to the official conducting the interview, an application for a green card will likely be approved. If not, there is a good chance that the application will be denied. Individuals should expect the interview process to take several hours to complete.
Those who are seeking green cards will likely want to do so with the help of an attorney. An attorney may provide insight into the requirements for obtaining one, how to fill out an application and what to do if an immigration official suspects fraud. Understanding how to alleviate an official’s concerns about an application may make it easier to get a green card in less time and with less stress.
