Each week, thousands of foreigners are interviewed by employees from United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), the U.S. Department of State, and the U.S. Customs and Border Protection agency, all of which deal with every type of immigration matter, from marriage-based immigration to naturalization. The reasons for these interviews are usually provided by rules, guidelines, and procedures established by each government entity, and the reasons may range from granting entry visas to reviewing asylum claims.
The number of times you’ll have to appear for interviews will depend on the immigration benefits you’re seeking and the status of your case. Some interviews may take place at embassy and consulate offices abroad, while others will be conducted at regional USCIS centers. Whatever your immigration status or the reason for the interview, you can certainly count on having to take subsequent steps to advance the process.
After a Visa Interview
The applicant interview at an overseas consular or embassy office is a step toward adjudication, which means an approval or denial will be issued. In the former situation, your passport will be retained for the purpose of adding the visa page, and you’ll be notified as to when you should return to pick it up or wait for it to be delivered to your residence. If your application is denied, you should be informed of the reasons, and it will be up to you to apply again or request a waiver. This would be a good time to get counsel from an immigration lawyer in San Diego so future applications don’t turn into “rubber-stamp denials.”
If your visa application is approved, it’s very important that you enter the U.S. before the visa expiration date. You should also pay attention to medical examination and vaccination card requirements. Failure to comply with these steps could render you inadmissible at the port of entry. Additionally, drastic steps in your lifestyle, including abandoning your job, emptying your bank account, selling real estate, or making abrupt changes to your travel itinerary could prevent you from entering the country, especially if your visa falls under the non-immigrant category.
After a Green Card Interview
The interview is one of the final steps in the Adjustment of Status process, which starts with filing Form I-485. When these interviews are conducted overseas in family-based immigration cases, there’s a good chance the case adjudicator will stamp your passport with an I-551 approval, which will serve as your visa. In the U.S., you’ll likely have to wait for your Notice of Decision letter to arrive in the mail.
Denials aren’t commonly determined during an Adjustment of Status interview. However, the adjudicator may inform you about steps you may have missed or failed to complete. These steps will be outlined in the Notice of Decision, and they must be completed before you can get your green card. A denial is something you must follow up with an immigration lawyer right away, because a Notice of Deportation could be forthcoming.
If you’re expecting to be interviewed for an immigration matter or you’ve already been interviewed and need advice about what steps to take next, reach out to the caring, experienced San Diego immigration attorneys at KS Visa Law. From green cards to family immigration to naturalization, we can address all your immigration-related needs. Call us today at 858-874-0711 to schedule an appointment.