Do I Need A Lawyer For A Green Card Interview?

A Green Card interview is a face-to-face meeting between the US government representatives and a Green Card applicant to confirm that the applicant is qualified to become a permanent resident and that all of the information on their application is correct. This interview is generally the last phase in the Green Card application process and takes place 7 to 15 months after submission.

 
Note that the interview for a Green Card will take place in a local USCIS office or at the US embassy or consulate nearest the address you specified on your application. Also, the person whose name appears on the interview appointment notification must attend the interview. You do not need to attend your parent, child, spouse, or sibling to their Green Card interview if you live in the United States and file for a Family Green Card for them.

Only workers must attend the interview for employment-based Green Cards. Depending on your immigration position, you may be exempt from attending a Green Card interview entirely. Asylees, for example, may not be required to attend a Green Card interview. In any case, the US government will notify you if you are required to attend an interview.

Can You Bring A Lawyer With You?

You may bring a lawyer from the immigration law firm Chicago to your Green Card interview if you like. If you have any criminal or immigration difficulties in your background, it may be a good idea to bring them up during your interview with a lawyer. To accompany you to the interview, your lawyer must complete and submit Form G-28, Notice of Appearance as Attorney or Accredited Representative.

Do You Need A Lawyer There?

No. However, it can aid in the smooth running of the interview and application process. After completing all your paperwork and waiting months for your green card, your green card interview is the final stage in the process - for many individuals, it's a daunting experience.

Missing needed paperwork or stating the wrong thing might cause the entire procedure to be delayed or result in the denial of your green card. Hiring a family immigration lawyer to defend you at the interview can assist you in navigating the procedure and avoiding costly errors.

Benefits of Having A Lawyer With You

Protect Against Excessive Screening Or Vetting

Interviews with USCIS are not meant to be combative. They are intended to gather thorough and accurate information (both positive and negative) to correctly adjudicate the case rather than to find a justification to refuse the sought benefit. The attorney can analyze your criminal record and immigration history before the interview to assess the dangers of interview participation.
 
While attorneys cannot prevent ICE from properly apprehending or detaining an application during a USCIS interview, they may ask pertinent questions to confirm where the applicant will be kept and the following stages in the detention and removal process. However, unless there is a specific agreement, the attorney is not required to defend you after the interview with USCIS.

Avoid Delays And Difficulties

A green card or citizenship application used to take six months to be accepted. It now takes two years or more in certain regions. If you are missing papers or something needs to be clarified, USCIS may send you a Request for Evidence, which you will have a limited time to answer.
 
Your marriage immigration lawyer can assist you in avoiding these delays by determining what to bring to the interview and what to prepare for after the interview based on what transpired.

Assist You In Avoiding Common Mistakes

One of the most critical aspects of the procedure leading up to your green card interview is accurately filing your papers and supporting documentation. It's a lengthy and difficult procedure, and a single blunder might result in your green card application being denied.

For approval, you must present the relevant documents and information during your interview. Based on the circumstances of your case and the interview notification, an immigration attorney can advise you on what to bring to the interview. Furthermore, a k1 visa lawyer may assist you in preparing for the next steps following your interview, such as determining whether or not you can expect a positive outcome.

Act As An Advocate

Interviews with USCIS, unlike court hearings before a judge, do not entail your counsel asking you direct questions to elicit testimony. The USCIS officer poses the questions, and you respond with your responses. Questions on factors that may appear irrelevant or immaterial to you may be relevant to your eligibility for the immigration benefit and following USCIS policy.

Having counsel at the interview helps you decide when to answer, ask for clarification, or object. Your attorney is unable to reply to inquiries posed by a USCIS official. They may not teach you how to lie about facts or conceal desired information. However, they may advise you on legal concerns, object to improper queries, or, as a last option, request to meet with a supervisor.

The presence of a fiancé visa lawyer during the interview helps to safeguard and argue for your legal rights. If USCIS requests a sworn, written statement on contentious issues, the attorney may confirm that you understand what you are delivering and signing.

Counsel can also assist you in avoiding misrepresenting material facts to the USCIS officer and explaining negative information to calm a potentially explosive scenario. They counsel you on potential hazards and flaws in your case that will most likely come up during the interview. They decide when and how to present testimony and documentary evidence to accentuate favorably and mitigate negative aspects of your case.

Assist You In Understanding The Law

During your in-person interview, the examiner may inquire about the questions on application forms, your admissibility, background, job, martial history, admission into the United States, and so on. These questions are frequently imprecise or ambiguous. An attorney can assist you in clarifying what is being asked during your interview.
 
If your responses are legally or factually wrong, your counsel might ask the examiner to reword the questions or produce objective documents highlighting errors.

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Posted - 04/27/2023