Let's talk about visa interviews for the adult children of U.S. citizens.
Table of Contents
Hi, I'm Jim Hacking, immigration lawyer practicing law throughout the United States out of our office here in St. Louis, Missouri.
Today's topic comes straight from a question in our Immigrant Home Facebook Group (if you’re not a member yet, join us). We’re diving into family-based visa interview questions for adult children of U.S. citizens.
Key Takeaways:
• Expect green card interview questions about your relationship with your U.S. parent.
• Be prepared to discuss your plans in the U.S.
• Every visa applicant must bring updated evidence of familial relationship, such as recent photos with family members or travel receipts, to support their claim.
Need expert advice?
Hire a St. Louis Immigration Lawyer
This week, we received a question from Matt, a member of our Immigrant Home Facebook group (thanks for joining, Matt!). He writes:
"Hey, Jim Hacking. Thanks for your great YouTube videos. Been watching for a few months and learned a lot. I have an immigration interview coming up in Sydney, Australia—not by marriage, but because I am the adult unmarried son of a U.S. citizen. Seen a lot of videos on marriage interviews, but what can I expect to face in an interview in my category? Warm regards, Matt."
First of all, Matt, thank you for the kind words and for being a part of our community!
Before we discuss the interview itself, we need to address Presidential Proclamation 10014, which blocks certain visas, including family-based visas for adult children of U.S. citizens.
Donald Trump has cut down on a lot of different visa categories, and one of those is the children of U.S. citizens.
Fortunately, this was revoked by President Biden on February 24, 2021. The revocation ended restrictions on family-based immigrant visas and others affected by the order, allowing processing to resume for these cases. Since then, visa issuance has continued without the constraints of Proclamation 10014.
However, given the recent election results, it's uncertain whether Trump will reinstate Presidential Proclamation 10014. Let’s hope not.
Either way, it’s essential to keep moving forward in the process and get this step completed.
Need expert advice?
Here’s what you can expect during your family-based visa interview as the adult child of a U.S. citizen:
The officer will likely ask:
• Do you still want to come to the United States?
• Why do you want to come to the United States?
• What are your plans when you arrive?
This is the most crucial part of the interview. The consular officer will ensure:
• You are indeed the child of a U.S. citizen.
• Your documents, such as birth certificates, align with this claim.
Be prepared to show:
• Updated evidence of your relationship, such as:
• Photos of trips with your parent.
• Receipts or proof of time spent together.
• Correspondence or any other family-related records.
Don’t forget your:
• Police certificate.
• Copies of every document you’ve submitted.
The immigrant visa interview will likely happen at a window with an officer. They'll establish that you are, in fact, the son of a U.S. citizen. They might ask you some family-based questions. They might ask you what your plans are when you get to the United States. It should be brief as long as all your paperwork is in order.
• Organize Your Documents: Bring copies of everything you’ve submitted.
• Update Evidence: Gather recent proof of your relationship with your parent.
• Practice Common Immigration Interview Questions: Be ready to answer basic questions about your family, how many siblings you have, plans in the U.S., and your ties to your parent.
If you have questions about getting a family-based green card, or if anybody else does need an immigration attorney, give us a call at (314) 961-8200. You can email us at [email protected]. Be sure to join us on our Facebook group, which is called Immigrant Home.
Thanks a lot, and have a great day.
