Sample Marriage-Based I-485 Interview Script

A marriage-based I-485 interview is a structured but conversational process designed to confirm key aspects of the application and the eligibility for I-485 approval. While every interview follows a similar format, each case is unique — and preparation makes a meaningful difference. Understanding the questions, bringing the correct documentation, and being ready to explain any past issues clearly and honestly can help ensure a smooth experience.

Our clients often want to get a sense of what kind of interaction and questions are asked during a marriage-based I-485 Adjustment of Status interview.   Below is a realistic sample script for a typical marriage-based I-485 interview.

Part 1: Greetings and Swearing In

IO: [Opens the waiting room door] Sofia and Michael Davis?

Beneficiary: Yes, that’s us.

IO: Please follow me. [They walk to the office]. Come on in. You can place your belongings on the chairs, but please remain standing before you sit down. I need to place you both under oath.

Petitioner & Beneficiary: [Standing] Okay.

IO: Please raise your right hands. Do you swear or affirm that the testimony you give today will be the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, so help you God?

Petitioner & Beneficiary: I do.

IO: Great, please have a seat. How are you both doing today?

Petitioner: A little nervous, but doing well, thank you.

IO: That’s completely normal. Today we are going over the I-130 petition for alien relative, and the I-485 application to register permanent residence. Let’s start with your identification. Can I please have your passports, driver’s licenses or state IDs, and your current Employment Authorization Document if you received one?

Beneficiary: [Hands over documents] Here is my passport from Spain, my state driver’s license, and my work permit.

Petitioner: [Hands over documents] And here is my U.S. passport and my driver’s license.

IO: Thank you. I’ll keep these on my desk for now and return them at the end.

---

Part 2: Verifying Basic Information (Formalities)

IO: I’m going to start by verifying some basic biographical information on your forms to make sure everything is up to date. Sofia, what is your current legal name?

Beneficiary: Sofia Maria Davis. My maiden name was Sofia Maria Lopez.

IO: Have you ever used any other names or aliases?

Beneficiary: No, just my maiden name before I got married.

IO: And your date of birth and place of birth?

Beneficiary: October 12, 1994, in Madrid, Spain.

IO: What are your parents’ names?

Beneficiary: My mother is Elena Garcia Lopez, and my father is Carlos Lopez Ramirez.

IO: Thank you. Michael, let’s verify your status. You submitted a copy of your U.S. birth certificate. You were born in Chicago, Illinois?

Petitioner: Yes, that is correct.

IO: Have either of you been married prior to this marriage?

Petitioner: No, this is my first marriage.

Beneficiary: My first marriage as well.

IO: Michael, what is your current address?

Petitioner: We live at 123 Maple Street, Apartment 4B, Bethesda, Maryland 20814.

IO: How long have you lived there, and who is on the lease?

Petitioner: We’ve lived there since September 2024. Both of our names are on the lease.

IO: Have either of you lived anywhere else in the last five years?

Beneficiary: No, we moved into this apartment together shortly after we got married. Before that, I lived at 4500 Fairfax Drive in Arlington, Virginia, from August 2021 until September 2024.

IO: Sofia, let’s look at your last entry into the United States. What visa did you use to enter, and when was it?

Beneficiary: I originally entered on an F-1 student visa to get my master’s degree. My last entry into the U.S. was on August 15, 2021, at Dulles Airport. I haven’t left the country since then.

IO: Excellent. Michael, where do you currently work and what is your title?

Petitioner: I work as a Senior Software Engineer for TechCorp in Washington, D.C.

IO: And Sofia, are you currently working?

Beneficiary: Yes, since I received my work permit a few months ago, I started working as a graphic designer at Creative Solutions in Bethesda.

---

Part 3: Relationship and Marriage Questions

IO: Let’s talk a little bit about your relationship. How did you two first meet?

Petitioner: We actually met at a mutual friend’s birthday party back in June 2023. Our friend Sarah introduced us.

IO: Sofia, what was your first impression of Michael?

Beneficiary: [Laughs] I thought he was very quiet at first, but then we started talking about our mutual love for vintage movies, and we ended up talking in the corner for about three hours.

IO: When did you officially start dating?

Beneficiary: About two weeks after that party. July 14th, 2023.

IO: Where did you go for your first actual date?

Petitioner: I took her to a tapas restaurant downtown, thinking she might like some food from home, but it turned out she actually prefers Italian food.

IO: Sofia, when did you meet Michael’s parents?

Beneficiary: I met them at Thanksgiving in 2023. We drove up to Pennsylvania to spend the weekend at their house.

IO: And Michael, have you met Sofia’s parents?

Petitioner: I haven’t met them in person yet because they live in Spain, but we FaceTime with them almost every Sunday morning. I’m slowly learning Spanish.

IO: When did you decide to get married, and who proposed?

Beneficiary: Michael proposed in December 2023. We went to a cabin in the Shenandoah mountains for the weekend.

IO: Tell me about the wedding. Who attended?

Petitioner: We had a relatively small wedding at the local courthouse in Rockville on May 10, 2024, followed by a dinner reception at our favorite Italian restaurant. It was mostly my family and a few close friends. Sofia’s parents couldn’t make it, so we video-called them during the dinner.

IO: Let’s talk about your daily life. Who usually wakes up first in the morning?

Beneficiary: Michael does. He usually gets up around 6:30 AM to walk our dog, Buster. I usually get up around 7:15.

IO: Who makes breakfast?

Petitioner: Usually me. I make coffee and oatmeal while Sofia is getting ready for work.

IO: Do you have any updated joint financial documents to show that you are mingling your finances? The ones submitted with the original application are a few months old.

Petitioner: Yes, we brought our most recent joint checking account statements from Chase Bank for the last three months, our renewed joint apartment lease, and our combined auto insurance policy.

IO: Perfect, I will take those copies for the file. Who handles paying the monthly bills?

Beneficiary: I usually do. We both have our paychecks direct-deposited into the joint Chase account, and I log in to pay the rent, utilities, and internet.

IO: What did you two do for Valentine’s Day this past February?

Beneficiary: We actually just stayed in. We cooked dinner together—chicken parmesan—and watched a movie. It was a Tuesday, so we were both pretty tired from work.

IO: Sounds like a realistic Tuesday! What color is the sofa in your living room?

Petitioner: It’s a dark grey sectional.

IO: Sofia, what side of the bed does Michael sleep on?

Beneficiary: He sleeps on the left side, if you’re standing at the foot of the bed looking toward the pillows.

IO: What is Michael’s date of birth?

Beneficiary: March 22, 1992.

---

Part 4: I-485 Admissibility Questions

IO: I’m going to move on to the admissibility questions from the I-485 form. Sofia, I need to ask you these directly. They are mostly “yes or no” questions. Take your time, and if you don’t understand a question, ask me to clarify.

Beneficiary: Okay, I understand.

IO: Have you ever claimed to be a United States citizen in writing or in any other way?

Beneficiary: No.

IO: Have you ever registered to vote, or voted in any federal, state, or local election in the United States?

Beneficiary: No.

IO: Have you ever been denied a visa to the United States?

Beneficiary: No, my student visa was approved the first time I applied.

IO: Have you ever been arrested, cited, or detained by any law enforcement officer for any reason, anywhere in the world?

Beneficiary: I once got a speeding ticket in Virginia about three years ago. I paid the fine. But no arrests or detentions.

IO: Do you remember how much the fine was?

Beneficiary: It was around $120.

IO: Okay, minor traffic tickets generally do not cause an issue for this application, but thank you for disclosing it. Have you ever committed a crime or offense for which you were not arrested?

Beneficiary: No.

IO: Have you ever been a member of, or in any way affiliated with, the Communist Party or any other totalitarian party?

Beneficiary: No.

IO: Have you ever received any type of military, paramilitary, or weapons training?

Beneficiary: No.

IO: Have you ever engaged in, or do you plan to engage in, terrorist activities?

Beneficiary: No, absolutely not.

IO: Have you ever engaged in prostitution, or procured anyone for prostitution?

Beneficiary: No.

IO: Have you ever been an illicit trafficker in any controlled substance, such as illegal drugs?

Beneficiary: No.

IO: Have you ever lied or misrepresented any facts to a U.S. government official to obtain an immigration benefit or visa?

Beneficiary: No, never.

IO: Have you ever been deported, removed, or ordered removed from the United States?

Beneficiary: No.

IO: Have you ever worked in the United States without authorization?

Beneficiary: No. I was on a student visa and did not work. Once we filed this application, I waited for my Employment Authorization Document to arrive in the mail before I accepted the job at Creative Solutions.

---

Part 5: Conclusion and Next Steps

IO: Thank you. I just need you to review this tablet screen, Sofia. It shows the changes we made to your application today, primarily just updating your current employer. If everything looks correct, please sign at the bottom.

Beneficiary: [Reviews screen and signs] Done.

IO: Thank you. Well, I have reviewed all your documents, and everything looks great. I am going to approve your case today.

Petitioner: Oh, that is wonderful news. Thank you so much!

IO: You’re very welcome. [Hands them a printed piece of paper]. Here is your notice of interview results showing that your case is recommended for approval. Because you have been married for less than two years, Sofia, you will be receiving a Conditional Green Card, valid for two years.

Beneficiary: Yes, we read about that. We have to file a form to remove conditions later, right?

IO: Exactly. You will need to file Form I-751 within the 90-day window before this green card expires to remove those conditions. Your physical green card should arrive in the mail within the next two to three weeks. Here are your passports and IDs back. Do you have any questions for me?

Petitioner: No, I think that covers everything.

IO: Great. Congratulations to you both, and have a wonderful rest of your day. I’ll walk you out.

Conclusion

Please contact us if we can be of any help in understanding or preparing for I-485 interviews.  We offer flat fee engagements and phone consultations.   Also, please subscribe to our free weekly newsletter to obtain further news and developments on this topic.