What to expect at the green card interview

Marriage Green Card Interview in Chicago: What to Expect

The marriage green card interview in Chicago is one of the most important steps in a marriage-based adjustment of status case. This page explains what usually happens at a marriage green card interview at the USCIS Chicago Field Office, what to bring, and how to prepare so you can attend the interview with confidence.

If you are just starting the process, you may also want to review our main marriage green card page and our marriage green card timeline guide. USCIS provides a general overview of adjustment of status on its Form I-485 page.

Marriage Green Card Interview in Chicago at a Glance

Where the interview happens
Chicago Field Office logistics, check-in, and timing.
How to prepare before the interview
Update your bona fide marriage evidence and review your forms.
What to bring
IDs, originals, I-864 financials, and updated relationship proof.
Common interview questions
Relationship history, daily life, and eligibility questions.
What happens during the interview
Oath, document review, and (sometimes) separate questioning.
What happens after the interview
Approval, RFE/NOID, or “case held for review.”
Detention risk and bond planning
When to consult a lawyer before attending the interview.

If you want a step-by-step view of the entire process (filing through decision), see the
marriage green card timeline.
If you want help preparing for the interview in Chicago, you can
schedule a free consultation.

Where Does the Marriage Green Card Interview Happen in Chicago?

If you live in the Chicago area and are applying for a green card through adjustment of status based on marriage, your interview is usually scheduled at the USCIS Chicago Field Office, located at 101 W. Ida B. Wells Drive in downtown Chicago. USCIS will mail (or post) an interview notice with the date, time, and address. Your interview notice controls, so follow any special instructions on the notice even if you have been to the building before.

On the day of the interview, you will go through security, check in, and wait in the lobby until an officer calls your name. Plan to arrive early, allow extra time for parking and security lines, and bring your interview notice and photo IDs. If you need official location information, you can also use the USCIS Office Locator.

How to Prepare in the Months Before the Interview

In the months leading up to the marriage green card interview, focus on two things: (1) consistency (your forms, documents, and answers match) and (2) updated evidence showing your marriage continued after filing.

Helpful preparation steps include:

Reviewing your I-130/I-485 filing copies together so both spouses understand what was submitted.
Collecting updated proof of living together and sharing finances (lease/mortgage, utilities, insurance, bank statements, etc.).
Saving updated pay stubs and tax documents for the sponsor’s Form I-864 (Affidavit of Support) materials.
Collecting new photos together at family events, holidays, trips, and ordinary day-to-day life.
Keeping copies of messages or call logs that show ongoing communication (especially if you travel or spend time apart).

If you want a checklist-style guide, see Marriage Green Card Forms and Documents and Evidence to Prove a Bona Fide Marriage.

What to Bring to the Marriage Green Card Interview

Your interview notice will list required items. In most Chicago marriage-based adjustment of status cases, couples should bring:

Interview notice and government-issued photo IDs.
Passports (current and expired), and any work permit (EAD) or travel document (advance parole) if issued.
Original civil documents: birth certificates, marriage certificate, and any divorce judgments or annulment orders.
Updated I-864 financial evidence: recent tax returns (and W-2/1099s if applicable), recent pay stubs, and employment verification if available.
Any missing items USCIS requested in prior notices (RFEs) or that you know were not included.
Updated bona fide marriage evidence: joint bank/credit statements, insurance, lease/mortgage, utility bills, photos, and other joint documents.

As a practical matter, it is usually better to bring more evidence than you think you need—organized in a clean, easy-to-follow binder or folders—rather than showing up with very little.

Common Marriage Green Card Interview Questions

Every officer has a different style, but many marriage green card interview questions cover the same categories. Examples include:

How and when you first met.
When you decided to get married and how the proposal happened.
Details about your wedding (or courthouse ceremony) and who attended.
Where you live and who lives with you.
How you spend time together and whether you have met each other’s family.
How you share money, bills, household chores, and responsibilities.

Officers also review the answers on your immigration forms. Expect questions about prior entries to the United States, past visas, prior marriages, prior petitions, arrests, or other immigration history. Both spouses should review the filed forms together before the interview so there are no surprises.

What Happens During the Marriage Green Card Interview?

At the start of the interview, the officer will place you under oath and verify your identities. The officer will typically review the applications (including the I-485 eligibility questions and the I-864 sponsorship materials), ask relationship questions, and may request updated documents.

Most marriage green card interviews last about 20 to 45 minutes, although some are shorter or longer. In many cases, the officer keeps copies of certain updated evidence and returns your original identity documents at the end of the interview.

Sometimes the officer may separate the spouses for more detailed questioning (often called a “separate interview”). This can be stressful, but it does not automatically mean the case will be denied. If you are separated, stay calm, answer honestly, and avoid guessing. If you do not remember something, it is better to say so than to invent an answer.

After the Marriage Green Card Interview

After the marriage green card interview, there are several possible outcomes:

Approval: Some cases are approved at the interview or shortly after. The green card is then produced and mailed.
Request for Evidence (RFE): USCIS may request additional documents before it makes a decision. Respond by the deadline and submit exactly what the notice requests.
Notice of Intent to Deny (NOID): In more serious cases, USCIS may issue a NOID describing the reasons it intends to deny the case and giving a short period to respond.
Further review / background checks: Sometimes the officer says the case needs more review. A decision is then issued later by mail.

Many people search “what happens after the green card interview” because they leave without an immediate decision. That can be routine. Online updates can lag, and USCIS often communicates next steps by mailed notice. If you want a broader step-by-step view of what typically happens after the interview (including common “case held for review” scenarios), see the marriage green card timeline guide.

If the marriage is less than two years old on the date USCIS grants permanent residence, the foreign-born spouse normally receives a two-year conditional green card and must later file Form I-751 to remove conditions. If the marriage is more than two years old at approval, USCIS typically issues a ten-year green card.

Do You Need Help Preparing for a Marriage Green Card Interview?

The marriage green card interview can be stressful, especially if there are past immigration issues, criminal history, prior removal proceedings, or complicated entries and exits. As a Chicago immigration lawyer, I help couples understand what to expect at the marriage-based adjustment of status interview, organize their evidence, and prepare for the questions that commonly come up in Chicago cases.

If you would like help preparing for a marriage green card interview in Chicago, you can contact me for a free consultation.

Detentions at Interviews, Bond Issues, and Why Planning Matters

Most USCIS marriage green card interviews are routine. However, there have been recent news reports in 2025 of applicants being detained at or immediately after green card appointments in some cities. If you or your spouse has any enforcement risk factors (for example: a prior removal order, unresolved criminal matters, alleged fraud findings, prior missed court dates, or other complicated immigration history), it is prudent to speak with an experienced immigration lawyer before attending the interview.

Examples of reporting on detentions connected to green card appointments:
KPBS and
ABC7 Los Angeles.

Bond is not automatic, and eligibility varies. If someone is detained, DHS makes an initial custody decision. In some cases, it may be possible to request a bond redetermination (custody hearing) in immigration court, and the strategy often depends on the person’s history, the posture of the case, and the evidence available. For general resources, see:

Why having a lawyer matters in detention scenarios: Detention can trigger fast-moving deadlines and high-stakes choices (custody review, bond strategy, and sometimes litigation related to removal proceedings). If you are concerned about detention risk, it is best to discuss it before the interview date so you can plan appropriately.