If you want a green card or have one already and want US citizenship, you must go through an interview process. Someone asks you questions about why you want American citizenship status or the protections and rights a green card affords you.
These interviews might make you feel nervous or even frightened. You probably have legitimate reasons why you want green card status or American citizenship, but can you communicate them? Some people find they can’t easily articulate them when sitting in a small room with someone from the government grilling them.
You can see why someone getting green card status or attaining American citizenship must go through an interview process. You can also understand why this interview might scare or at least rattle someone.
Lawyers can help immigration applicants feel more secure, though, and we’ll talk about what one can do for you right now.
American Green Card – United States Permanent Residency Card Closeup.
Why Become a US Citizen?
Let’s first discuss why green card status or American citizenship appeals. You might want these statuses for several valid reasons.
For instance, maybe you want US citizenship status because you met someone overseas and fell in love. This person has American citizenship, and you want the same so you can move here and marry them. You might start a family together, but first, you must live here legally.
Maybe you have a skill set that America values. You also speak, read, and write English fluently, and you feel you’ll do well here as a citizen. You know your skills can make you a valuable US resident.
You might flee political, sexual, or religious violence in your country. Maybe you choose American citizenship because you never see yourself returning. You need asylum here.
For American citizenship or green card applicants, other valid reasons exist. If you want citizenship or green card status, though, you must consider that crucial interview.
What Will the Interviewer Ask You?
The interviewer will ask you about why you want your green card or US citizenship status. They will ask about your English language skills. You should speak, read, and write English as a US citizen.
They will ask about whether you have questionable ties. They will pay special attention if you come from a country or region that regards the US unfavorably.
They might ask about what you’ll do here in the US. They may ask whether you have plans. Where you will live, whether you have employment, and things of that nature will come into play. You must have answers ready and not hesitate when these topics come up.
How Can a Lawyer Help You in These Situations?
You can tackle the interview process alone, but we’ve already mentioned the intimidation factor. You might feel you have valid reasons for wanting US citizenship or green card status, but when the moment comes, perhaps you can’t bring them up without feeling nervous or tongue-tied.
If you have an immigration lawyer with you, you’ll feel better. You know they have your back, and they’re there for emotional support.
They can also keep the interviewer from asking anything illegal or otherwise out of line. The interviewer can ask many things, but they must follow certain rules and maintain decorum. The lawyer can step in if the interviewer does anything out of order.
The lawyer can also step in and help you if the interviewer asks you something or mentions some topic and you become confused. That happens sometimes. The interviewer might ask a trick question to trip you up. These individuals should have no personal bias against you, but there’s no guarantee you’ll get impartiality.
How Can You Find One of These Lawyers?
You might feel before facing this crucial interview that you must find the right lawyer. You should know some law firms handle exclusively immigration law. They will understand all this legal niche’s subtleties.
You can look online and find the right law firm. You might Google something like “immigration law near me” and see what comes up. If you know anyone who has gone through the immigration interview process, you can ask them about attorneys as well if they used one.
You can approach some different law firms and see how much they charge. You must get one that charges what you can afford.
You should also feel comfortable with the lawyer that you choose. Some attorneys might seem competent, but they may lack people skills. You should feel a rapport with your lawyer if possible.
You Can Arrange a Lawyer Conference Call
You may also find a lawyer who seems perfect, but they’re not giving clients in-person help during their interviews right now. Covid-19 brought about this change. Some lawyers will do digital consultations via Zoom calls, or you might call one on your phone using Facetime functionality if you have an iPhone.
The interviewer will let you have the lawyer on a Zoom call or on your smartphone while they ask you their questions. The lawyer can still provide you with the support you need and steer the interviewer into safer territory if they say something out of line.
You can legally have a lawyer present, but you can also legally have them with you via an electronic device. If you feel nervous and your lawyer can’t or won’t attend the meeting in person, have them with you digitally.
If you have a fairly straightforward interview, you should do fine. You may have the confidence you need and never require a lawyer. In more complex cases, though, you never know what curveball the interviewer might throw at you.
They might ask you all kinds of things, and if you know your case has some unusual components, you should always have a lawyer there, whether in person or not. They can prevent overreach and give you the confidence you need. Hopefully, you can get your green card or attain US citizenship without any issues. You’ll doubtless thank your lawyer if that happens.
