Green card interview questions are generally designed to test the knowledge of people who would like to permanently move from their country of origin to the United States. Questions are usually asked about U.S. history, about people of significance to the country, and about how the American government works. If the green card interview is scheduled because an immigrant has married a U.S. citizen and is seeking permanent residence, the questions are more personal and revolve largely around the relationship. Employment-based green cards do not always require interviews, but if one is given, simple questions are usually asked about the interviewee's job function and place of employment.
Immigrants who would like to live in the U.S. permanently have to go through a citizenship interview with an immigration officer from the federal Citizenship and Immigration Services to prove they have sufficient knowledge about the country. Green card interview questions may center around current events and information, such as the President and Vice President, but can also delve deep into the history of the country. Immigrants should expect to know historical facts like what the stars and stripes on the American flag symbolize, who the first President was, and what the Fourth of July celebrates, among other things. Some personal questions may also be asked, such as why the immigrant would like to become a U.S. citizen.
Marriage-based green card interview questions will include many personal inquiries about the relationship. These can range from very broad to extremely detailed. Questions may include how, when, and where the couple met; what each other's likes and dislikes are; how, when, and where the couple got married; what each other's family histories are; career aspirations; and what religious and political views each other have. The questions can also be very detailed to test that the couple actually spends time together and is not just marrying for the citizenship. These questions will usually include mundane things about everyday life, such as what cereal the other person eats or the color of the kitchen curtains.
The first round of questioning in this type of process is usually not particularly intrusive. If the first round of green card interview questions are not satisfactorily answered and the officer suspects the couple is marrying just for citizenship, however, the questions may get extremely intimate. Queries about the couple's sex life, personal hygiene, and other intimacies are not off limits.
