US Spouse Visa Interview Questions
The interview for your US spouse visa is usually the final, and arguably the most important, stage in your spouse visa application.
The interview will be conducted by an adjudicating officer, responsible for determining whether your relationship is genuine and whether you meet the requirements of the spouse visa. It’s their opportunity to vet you in person.
You will have already compiled and submitted your application documentation and form I-130A. The adjudicator will have already reviewed this information prior to the interview and will ask you questions on any areas they want you to clarify. The interview is intended to satisfy the adjudicator that you and your spouse are in an authentic marriage. Be ready for the questions to be quite personal about the history of your relationship, your lives together and your future plans once in the US. Preparation will be critical.
No two interviews are the same. The line of questioning will be determined by the adjudicator based on what they have learned about you through your submission, so familiarise yourself with the information you have already submitted in your application.
As with all US immigration applications, full disclosure and honesty are required when answering the questions.
If you don’t know the answer, or are unsure, say so. Don’t lie. It is better to be open than to be dishonest.
While there is no fixed list of questions you will be asked at your spouse visa interview, there are commonly asked questions and areas that you should prepare for in advance.
Questions about personal information
- What is your spouse’s name, date of birth and place of birth? Give the full answer, first name (legal name, not nickname), any middle names and surname.
- How did you meet your spouse? You will be expected to provide key details about how and when you came to meet your spouse, whether online or in person.
- What did you do for your first date?
- When and where did you get married? The adjudicator will look to get an impression of your relationship from the details you give about the wedding – how long you in a relationship before getting married, who attended the ceremony.
- Where did you go on your honeymoon?
- What are your hobbies and interests? What about your spouse?
- What do you normally do to celebrate your birthdays?
- Do you and your spouse have any children? What are their names and ages?
- Has your spouse been married before? There should be no issues if your spouse was married previously and legally divorced – the intention here is to ascertain if you know about any previous marriages.
- What is your and your spouse’s religious background?
- How are you currently staying in contact with your spouse?
- What was the last gift your spouse gave you?
- Does your spouse have any children from previous relationships? What are their names and ages? Will you be taking care of them when in the US?
- What are your spouse’s parents’ names? Have you met them before?
- What is your spouse’s educational background?
- When did you last see your spouse?
- Do you have any relatives in the USA? Answers to this question are used to delve into the motivations of spouse visa applicants – to be with their spouse rather than other family members.
- Where will you live in the US? Usually, this would be the same address as your spouse has given. If you intend to move after arriving, be honest about this but you will need to give an address for where you’ll stay on arrival.
- You could also be asked about the day to day routine and details of your relationship – your spouse’s habits, any health issues or regular medication and their general likes and dislikes.
Employment-related US spouse visa questions
In addition to personal information, you may be expected to confirm details relating to your and your spouse’s income, such as employment and any assets owned.
- What do you do for a living? Your petition will not be determined by the type of work you do, rather the adjudicator will be looking for you to confirm the detail you have provided on form I-130A.
- What does your spouse do for a living? Provide their job title, if possible where they work, and whether they work full time or part-time.
- How much does your spouse earn? Give the adjudicator good indication of your spouse’s earnings, by month or year. Payslips or bank statements are helpful evidence.
Immigration-related US spouse visa questions
- Have you ever travelled to the USA before? Ideally you should recall all prior travel to the US. The adjudicator will want to corroborate information they have access to about previous visits to the US.
- Have you ever overstayed in the US? Remember, the adjudicator will have access to this information, so honesty is the only policy. Overstayers are generally subject to visa bars, and you will need to ensure you are clear of any current bar when making your application or look at submitting a waiver application.
- Have you ever been refused a visa? This answer should address all countries that have denied you a visa. The adjudicator will ask for the reasons for the refusals, in the event these have bearing on your spouse visa application.
- Do you or your spouse have any criminal convictions? Again, the adjudicator will be able to access this information, so be upfront.
What else should you expect during the interview?
You should bring your valid passport and any relevant documentation not already provided to the National Visa Center.
Take the time to put together a comprehensive file to take with you containing supporting materials, such as photographs, airline tickets from travels with your spouse, originals of the documents submitted with your application (marriage certificate, joint property ownership documents etc), to back up your responses and help prove your marriage is genuine.
If the adjudicator is satisfied that you meet the spouse visa requirements you would usually be told during the interview. Your stamped passport will be returned to the address provided online prior to the interview for passport delivery.
US spouse visa interview FAQs
What kind of questions do Immigration ask for spouse visa?
US spouse visa interviews focus on verifying that the marriage is genuine and ongoing. Applicants will be expected to talk about their spouse, their relationship, as well as their history and life together and plans for the future.
Can a US spouse visa be denied?
Yes, US spouse visa applications can be denied if the adjudicator is not satisfied that the visa requirements are met.
This article does not constitute direct legal advice and is for informational purposes only.
Author
Founder & Principal Attorney Nita Nicole Upadhye is a recognized leader in the field of US business immigration law, (The Legal 500, Chambers & Partners, Who's Who Legal and AILA) and an experienced and trusted advisor to large multinational corporates through to SMEs. She provides strategic immigration advice and specialist application support to corporations and professionals, entrepreneurs, investors, artists, actors and athletes from across the globe to meet their US-bound talent mobility needs.
Nita is an active public speaker, thought leader, immigration commentator, and immigration policy contributor and regularly hosts training sessions for employers and HR professionals.
