CLIENTS often come in to our office with Hollywood-like ideas of what to expect at an immigration interview. They are usually surprised to hear that immigration interviews are almost completely different from what they have seen in the movies. An experienced immigration attorney will help clients to know what to expect at their immigration interview. This will allow clients to properly prepare for the interview, and to get the results they hope for.
Preparation for the Interview
It is important for the client to meet with the attorney and prepare for the immigration interview. Simple steps that should be taken before the interview will help the interview to run much more smoothly. Once an immigration interview date and time is received from U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (“USCIS”), an appointment with the attorney should be scheduled a week or two prior to interview date with USCIS. This timing allows interview preparation to be fresh in the client’s mind at the actual interview.
Questions and Documentation
An experienced immigration attorney will know the types of questions a client will be asked at the interview. The attorney will also know the types of documents that clients will need to bring to the interview. Originals and copies of certain documents are needed at the interview, as well as identification documents. Depending on the type of case, your attorney will be able to tell you what documents you need. One of the easiest ways to cause delays with a case is not brining proper documentation to an interview with USCIS.
Importance of Having an Attorney Present
Many times, clients are understandably nervous at their immigration interview. So much is on the line, and even seemingly small oversights can cause long delays or even denials of applications. These delays and denials so often could have been avoided with proper preparation and guidance. Being nervous in the interview causes many interviewees to not answer to the best of their abilities, and in some cases, to completely forget which documents they have that may support their cases. However, an experienced attorney can help you and guide you to answer the questions correctly, clarify misunderstandings, and make sure you provide the documents that immigration officers ask for. Prepare thoroughly for your immigration interview and seek the guidance of a licensed attorney. Spending a small amount of time before your interview, gathering documents and practicing answering questions, goes a very long way in assuring an approval of your application.
At Wilner & O’Reilly, we specialize in immigration law. Here, you can find a team of experienced attorneys who have successfully guided clients through thousands of USCIS interviews. Our attorneys can help you to know the type of questions that will be asked, and the proper documents which must be provided to have your case approved. Call our office today and schedule a free consultation with us. We have offices in Orange, Riverside, Sacramento, San Francisco, Salt Lake City, and San Diego.
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Kelly S. O’Reilly is a nationally known immigration expert and former immigration officer. He is a highly sought after speaker on immigration and employment compliance issues. Mr. O’Reilly serves as the current chair of the Riverside County Bar Association Immigration section and is a partner in the full-service immigration firm of the Wilner & O’Reilly where he provides free consultations. Mr. O’Reilly can be contacted at (714) 919-8880 and he welcomes email inquiries at [email protected].
