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What to bring to a green card interview
Officers expect originals, copies and a story that matches the file. Here’s the list I give every couple, in the order I’d pack it.
Eulalia Benavente, Immigration lawyer6 min read
Before you leave the house
Put the interview notice on top. The officer checks it first, and the security desk downstairs will ask for it too.
- The interview notice for each person called in
- Passports, including expired ones
- Every green card, work permit or travel permit you’ve held
- Birth certificates, each with a full English translation
- Your marriage certificate and any divorce decrees
Proof that the marriage is real
Sort it by year. An officer would rather page through a thin folder in order than a full box in none.
- A lease or mortgage in both names
- Joint bank statements and tax returns
- Photos together across the years, with dates written on the back
- Birth certificates of children you have together
What to leave at home
Don’t bring a document you haven’t shown me first, and don’t bring a friend to interpret. If you need an interpreter, we’ll arrange it in advance.
If you don’t know an answer, say so. A guess that turns out wrong does more harm than “I don’t remember.”
Every case is different. This list is general information; bring yours to a consultation and we’ll check it against your file.