At a marriage green card interview, questions you may be asked include, but are not limited to, how you met and the timeline of your relationship; details about your first date and wedding; your future plans together; your home and daily routines; your knowledge of each other’s families; and questions about each other’s employment and finances. The officer is trying determine if your marriage is legitimate.
Already filed on your own, or with an attorney in another state? I can prepare you for your interview and go with you to the USCIS Salt Lake City office. Contact my office at 801-883-8204 to set up a specialized interview preparation consultation, which is different than a standard initial consultation.
Every question comes back to the same point: whether you and your spouse share a joint life. The questions my clients get asked most often start with the relationship itself:
The officer also goes over the answers on your green card application with you. If something on the form was wrong, or has changed since you filed, the interview is your chance to correct it.
In 2026, be ready for questions about your finances as well. So far, I have not seen big changes at the USCIS Salt Lake City office since the May 2026 USCIS memo, but applicants should still be ready to address potential questioning about why they filed for adjustment of status instead of going through consular processing, and they need to be ready to answer questions about their financial situation and public charge-related questions.
Questions you may be asked include, but are not limited to, how you met and the timeline of your relationship; details about your first date and wedding; your future plans together; your home and daily routines; your knowledge of each other’s families; and questions about each other’s employment and finances.
Most of the trouble I see comes down to evidence, not answers. Red flags include:
If you just got married and haven’t lived together yet, don’t let that stop you from filing. Newly married couples often don’t have much together yet, and I have had cases like this approved with no problems.
Interviews also vary. Some USCIS field offices separate couples as a standard practice, no matter how much evidence of a good-faith marriage they bring. Even officers in the same office can interview couples differently. That is why preparing for different potential scenarios, not just a list of questions, matters.
A big age gap, or not speaking the same language. Both can make an interview harder, so they are worth preparing for ahead of time.
Living apart. This can be a red flag, but a good explanation usually overcomes it. One spouse may be studying at a university, or may have a job they can’t easily find somewhere else. You also need to explain your plans to live together. I have handled this situation before and have always been able to address it so far, and those cases were approved.
Marrying soon after a divorce. This can also be a red flag, and it can also be overcome with a good explanation. Often the person had been separated from their former spouse for a long time, and the divorce just took a while to finalize.
For any of these, I ask my clients for a clear explanation ahead of time, so the officer hears it from them in a way that makes sense.
What is not necessarily a red flag: meeting online. Most of my clients met online.
There is no requirement that you wait a certain amount of time after getting married before you file. If your marriage is real, you can file when you are ready.
You will be interviewed under oath, so never lie. If you don’t know an answer or don’t remember, say “I don’t know” or “I don’t remember.” Guessing is never a good idea.
When I prepare clients, we go over:
Lists of interview questions are easy to find. What they can’t tell you is which parts of your own case an officer is likely to question, or how to explain them. That depends on your file, your history, and the evidence you have.
When you hire me for interview preparation, I review your case for weak spots, help you prepare clear explanations for anything unusual, give you the document checklist, and can go to the interview with you. This includes people who filed on their own or used an attorney in another state. I meet clients at our South Jordan office, by Zoom, or by phone.
To set up an interview preparation consultation, call my office at 801-883-8204.
What questions are asked at a marriage green card interview?
Questions about your relationship and shared life: how and when you met, when you started dating, when it got serious, and how you share your home and finances. The officer also reviews the answers on your application.
Will we be interviewed separately?
It depends on the office and the officer. Some USCIS field offices separate couples as a standard practice, even when they have provided a lot of good faith marriage evidence.
What if I don’t know the answer to a question?
Say you don’t know or don’t remember. You are under oath, so never guess or make something up.
Is meeting online a red flag?
Not necessarily. Most of my clients met online.
Do we have to wait after getting married to apply?
No. There is no required waiting period after the wedding.
Can a lawyer go with me to the interview if I filed on my own?
Yes. I prepare people who filed on their own or with an out-of-state attorney, and I can attend the interview with them in Salt Lake City.
More on the full process: Marriage green card lawyer · Processing times · I-864 financial sponsor obligations
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