Immigration
Immigration Interview
Stokes Interview In Marriage Based Immigration Cases
Stokes Interview In Marriage Based Immigration Cases
A stokes interview happens primarily in marriage based immigration cases. Very often, U.S. Citizens sponsor their spouses for Permanent Residence to the United States. Upon submission of the documents, the USCIS office forwards an interview notice to the parties to come in for an interview. The interview letter from Immigration clearly describes the documents which the married couple has to get to the interview. For example, the interview letter states that the couple should get all the joint documents to the interview.
On the date of the interview, the couple has to demonstrate to the USCIS officer that they intent to establish their life together. To put it in another way, the couple has to convince the USCIS Officer that the intent of the marriage is not to circumvent the Immigration Laws of the United States. At the interview, the USCIS Officer makes a determination regarding the validity of the marriage as well as other issues pertaining to the good moral character of the beneficiary of the green card. If the Immigration Officer is not convinced with the statements made by the couple at the interview, the Immigration Officer has the authority to schedule the couple for a second interview which is commonly known as the Stokes interview.
A stokes interview is a very difficult interview and it is a good idea for an individual to seek legal help in such situations. This is because if the couple fails the Stokes interview and if the immigration officer makes a determination that the intent of the couple was to circumvent the immigration laws in order to obtain a green card, the beneficiary of the petition can be permanently barred from obtaining the green card.
During the stokes interview, the couples are separated by the immigration officer and are separately questioned in detail about their relationship, relatives, employments, travels etc. If the answers of the couple properly match perfectly, then the officer will approve the I-130 petition. However, if the answers do not match and if the officer makes a determination that the marriage between the parties is fraudulent, the Immigration Officer has the power to arrest the parties and commence deportation proceedings against the beneficiary.
Very often, couples think that they are happily married and they have nothing to worry about their immigration interview. This statement may not hold true on all occasions. This is because the burden of proof in on the married couple to show by means of preponderance of evidence that they intend to establish their life together.
In essence, if you are confronted with a second interview (stokes interview) by immigration, it would be a good idea for you to be extremely well prepared in order to avoid serious consequences such as deportation.
N.M. Gehi, Esq. is a practicing
Immigration Attorney
in the state of New York and Connecticut. This article is based upon his practical experiences in handling stokes interviews since many years.
Naresh M. Gehi is an Attorney at Law with two offices located in Queens . For assistance in Immigration Matters and bankruptcy matters, please call (718) 263-5999 to schedule an appointment for a FREE personal consultation. Or, visit our website at http://www.immigrationquestion.com
How is an immigration interview typically conducted at the USCIS!
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