To prepare for a green card interview, gather all original documents you submitted, complete your medical exam, and review your application for gaps or outdated information. Preparation details differ depending on whether you're interviewing inside the U.S.
(adjustment of status) or abroad (consular processing). Both pathways require you to bring your medical examination results in a sealed envelope. Your interview officer will verify that you understood your application questions and give you an opportunity to correct or update any answers that have changed.
Table of Contents
- Which Interview Process Applies to You
- Required Documents and Original Evidence
- Medical Exam Requirements
- What the Interview Officer Will Ask
- Financial Documentation and Affidavit of Support
- Special Requirements for Consular Processing Interviews
Which Interview Process Applies to You
If you are currently in the U.S., you are applying for adjustment of status, with your interview held at a nearby USCIS office. If you live outside the U.S., you are pursuing consular processing, with your interview at a U.S. embassy or consulate in your country.
USCIS requires an interview for all adjustment applicants to verify your Form I-485, though the agency may waive interviews in rare cases. You will receive a notice specifying your interview date, time, and location. For family-based applications, the petitioner (the family member sponsoring you) must attend the interview alongside you. All derivative beneficiaries—other family members included in your application—must appear as well.
Required Documents and Original Evidence
Bring original copies of all documents you submitted with your Form I-485, regardless of whether they have expired. This list includes your passport, travel documents, and Form I-94 (your arrival/departure record). Also bring your sealed medical examination envelope and original birth or marriage certificates if applicable. If any documents are in a language other than English, they must be accompanied by a certified English translation.
The translator must attest to the translation's completeness and accuracy. This applies to both adjustment and consular processing interviews.
Medical Exam Requirements
Before your adjustment of status interview, you must complete Form I-693 (Report of Immigration Medical Examination) with a USCIS-designated civil surgeon. This is a required step, not optional. The sealed envelope containing your completed medical form must travel with your I-485 application and remain sealed until USCIS opens it.
Bring the sealed envelope to your interview appointment unopened. Do not open it yourself, even if you want to review the results. USCIS will open it during your interview.
What the Interview Officer Will Ask
During your interview, USCIS officers will verify that you understood your application questions. They'll give you the opportunity to correct or update any answers that have changed. The process is generally non-adversarial and designed to clarify information. If a question was left blank or your circumstances changed, the interview is your opportunity to address it.
Prepare by reviewing every answer on Form I-485. Know when you entered the U.S., any prior immigration proceedings, your education and work history, and your family relationships. Bring documents of your spouse or petitioner if available; officers may ask you to confirm relationships.
Financial Documentation and Affidavit of Support
Your preparation for this requirement differs by interview type. For adjustment of status interviews, bring financial evidence and your Affidavit of Support (Form I-864). USCIS must verify your sponsor meets income requirements. For consular processing interviews, financial evidence is already submitted through the National Visa Center; you do not bring it to the embassy interview. This is the key difference: adjustment applicants must bring documentation, while consular applicants have already submitted everything.
Special Requirements for Consular Processing Interviews
If you're interviewing at a U.S. embassy or consulate, your passport must be valid for at least six months beyond your intended U.S. entry date. You must also bring two 2"×2" color passport photographs. During your consular interview, you will undergo digital fingerprint scanning as part of your background check. After your visa is approved, you must pay USCIS's Immigrant Fee so that USCIS can process your visa packet and produce your green card.