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THE GREEN CARD INTERVIEW AT THE INS
Before your wife is issued a Green Card or given permanent residency,
you both will have to attend a Green Card interview by an INS officer.
You will be notified of the date of your interview weeks in advance.
Your INS interviewer will have your complete file in front of him or
her and will have reviewed it by the time your interview has arrived.
Our interview went very smooth. The INS officer asked similar questions
about how we met, how long we’ve known each other, et cetera, that we
had at the US embassy when applying for our fiance visa.
The purpose of the interview is to determine the legitimacy of our relationship and my wife’s claim for permanent residency.
The interview is videotaped. While you may be nervous, just answer the
questions. Don’t volunteer any information. This is similar to a police
investigation in that any information can and will be used against you.
But remember, your relationship is legitimate. You are innocent. You
have nothing to hide. Just answer the questions asked in as direct a
method as possible.
You Have The Right To Appeal:
I have heard stories of people who have had a difficult time at the
interview. According to the couples reporting the stories, the INS
officer was rude and condescending and stated that they did not believe
that they had a legitimate marriage.
We had the opposite experience. However, be prepared for some tough
questioning. Even if the INS officer is not having the best day,
maintain your composure and answer the questions that are asked.
If your petition is legitimate, you shouldn’t have any problems. Your application will be approved.
If, for some reason, your application is denied, you can appeal. You
can get the immigration attorney who filed your Fiance Visa to help you
in the matter.
You will find out whether your application is approved at the
interview. Your wife’s Green Card may arrive several weeks later or
several months later.
Properly Secure Her Green Card:
Do not lose your Green Card. Make copies of it. Whenever your wife
leaves the country, make sure she carries her Green Card with her, plus
copies of it, in case it gets lost.
She will not be readmitted to the United States without the Green Card in her hands when she arrives.
The Green Card she will receive is a special two-year Green Card. Just
in case she got married for the sole purpose of getting a Green Card,
the INS issues the two-year card.
At the end of two years, her Green Card expires. If she is not married
to you at that time, her Permanent Residency may expire. She has the
burden of proof to show why she should get a new Permanent Residency
card.
Of course, if she is still married to you at the end of two years, she
must re-apply for a new Green Card, which she will automatically be
granted. This new Green Card will be for ten years in duration.
by John Kunkle
John has been successfully married to a Belarussian wife for over five years. He has traveled extensively through Russia and other CIS countries. He will tell you why you should consider Russian women, how to meet them, how to bring your special woman home, and how to survive married life.
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