U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services has a new requirement for all employment-based green card candidates: an in-person interview. Are you and your family prepared?

Most companies hire attorneys only to help with the paper application process for employment-based green cards. However, when you go for an interview, you’re on your own. Same for your spouse and kids.

What Can Go Wrong?

Here are top most common issues that will cause trouble at an interview:

1. You’re unprepared and nervous, so you seem like you might be lying or hiding something.
2. Your forms are missing, incomplete, or old.
3. Your medical exam expired.
4. You didn’t bring the right documents.
5. You have DUIs or other arrests, charges, or convictions.
6. Your employment is unauthorized.
7. You are actually out of status.

If any of the above apply to you, definitely consider hiring an attorney to review your documents, prepare you for the interview, and be there by your side.

Recent Interview Changes

Here’s a rundown of what’s new:

• You will have an interview if your Form I-140 was filed on or after March 6, 2017.
• If your spouse and kids filled dependent Form I-485 applications, they will be interviewed as well, usually all together.
• At the interview, the officers will be checking for accuracy of all information.
• Your I-140 will be returned to USCIS for further processing if problems exist.
• If you’re not eligible for adjustment of status, your I-485 will be denied.
• You’ll receive a Request for Evidence if documents are missing or incomplete.
• If you live in the San Francisco Bay Area, you’ll have to wait extra long because the USCIS field offices in San Jose and San Francisco will be most impacted in the whole country by the interview requirement.

We Can Help

Worried about attending your green card interview alone? Regardless of which law firm filed your I-140, our talented team of attorneys can be by your side at the interview.

We offer interview preparation and counseling. We also offer representation during USCIS interviews. Contact us to learn how we can help you.