You may get a lot of results of sample interview questions for marriage based petitions online but there are rarely any sample interview questions for parents. So, what type of questions may USCIS ask your parents during their I-130 and I-485 interview? This blog highlights some basic inquiries and some challenges that might arise.
First and foremost, you will want to ensure that your parents are adjustable in the United States. Once that is determined and the adjustment of status application is filed, they will later get interviewed. The basic questions are all derived from your relationship with your parent if you are the petitioning child. You must be a US citizen and 21 years old or older to petition for your parents. The USCIS officer will review the application to ask questions at the interview and you will also have an opportunity to make any changes at that time.
USCIS may question your parents about their entry into the United States, which visa did they enter with and what was their intention at the time they applied for that visa? What was their intention when they entered the US? Have your parents ever lied to an immigration officer? This doesn't have to be verbal, it can be written as well such as failing to disclose information on an application while applying for a visa to the US. Have your parents ever been arrested in the US or anywhere in the world? Have they violated any terms or conditions on their visa? Have they worked in the US without authorization? Have they ever been in removal proceedings? Has anyone ever filed a petition for them before?
If any of the above mentioned questions have a response of "yes," you may want to reach out to an immigration attorney right away especially if the interview is fast approaching. If your parents have a lengthy immigration history, it will be best to get their case evaluated by an experienced immigration attorney prior to filing anything. You may be putting them at risk. Sometimes, it's not quick and easy just applying for the family based petition along with the adjustment of status. Some parents may have deportation orders or fraud/misrepresentation issues which need to be handled the proper way.
(This blog is written by Attorney Poonam Minhas. It has general questions that USCIS may ask parents during their adjustment of status interview. It is for informational purposes only and should not be construed as legal advice. Should you have any questions about your immigration matter, kindly consult with an experienced immigration attorney.)