If you’ve received your interview notice for a marriage-based green card (Form I-485), congratulations – you’re in the final stage of the process! To help you prepare, we’ve created a comprehensive checklist of what to bring to your interview, based on USCIS guidelines.
This blog is designed to help you avoid delays and ensure you’re fully prepared on the day of your appointment.
Required for All Applicants
- Interview Appointment Notice
- Government-issued photo ID (e.g., passport, driver’s license)
Medical Exam (if applicable)
Bring the following only if you haven’t submitted it yet, or if USCIS notified you it was incomplete or missing:
- Form I-693, Report of Medical Examination and Vaccination Record, in a sealed envelope from a USCIS-approved civil surgeon
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Affidavit of Support (Form I-864) and Financial Evidence (if applicable)
If not already submitted or requested again by USCIS, bring:
- Form I-864, signed by your sponsor
- Federal Tax Return Transcripts and W-2s for the most recent tax year
- Employment verification letters for all jobs held by the sponsor(s)
- Pay stubs from the last 2 months
- Proof of sponsor’s U.S. citizenship or green card status
Proof of Eligibility and Immigration History
- Any USCIS-issued documents (e.g., EAD, Advance Parole, travel documents)
- All passports and travel documents used to enter the U.S.
- Form I-94, Arrival/Departure Record
- Birth Certificate (original and translated, if not in English)
- Any immigration-related documentation ever issued to you
- Form I-130 approval notice, if available
If Your Green Card is Based on Marriage, Bring the Following:
Relationship & Marital Documents
- Certified copy of your marriage certificate
- Your spouse’s birth certificate
- Your spouse’s proof of U.S. citizenship or green card
- Divorce decrees or death certificates (if either spouse was previously married)
- Birth certificates for all children, including those from previous relationships
- Custody documents (if applicable)
Evidence of Bona Fide Marriage (Bring Copies – No Photo Albums)
Bring as much joint evidence as possible. Examples include:
- IRS tax transcripts (as a married couple)
- Lease or mortgage documents in both names
- Joint bank statements (complete and recent)
- Utility or phone bills in both names
- Joint insurance policies (health, life, auto)
- Vehicle titles or financing statements in both names
- Photos together over time (printed and labeled – no albums)
- Correspondence between you and your spouse (e.g., messages, letters)
- Sworn affidavits from friends or family who know your relationship
(Include contact details and supporting evidence)
If You’ve Ever Been Arrested or Detained
If you have any criminal history, even if charges were dropped, you must bring:
- Certified arrest reports
- Court dispositions or letters stating no record exists
- Any charging documents or plea agreements
- Proof you completed probation, community service, or any sentence
- If expunged/sealed, a copy of the court order and supporting records
Note: This includes all arrests or charges anywhere in the world.
Who Should Attend the Interview
- Your spouse must attend if your green card is based on marriage
- Bring an interpreter if you are not fluent in English
- If based on a parent-child relationship, both parent and child (if a minor) must appear
Final Reminders
- Bring originals and copies of all documents unless already submitted
- All foreign documents must be translated into English with a signed translator’s certification
- Print all documents on standard 8.5 x 11 inch paper
- Do not staple your documents
Schedule a Consultation with an Immigration Lawyer
We Can Help!
If you have questions regarding a U.S. immigration matter, we invite you to contact our team at Richards and Jurusik for detailed guidance and assistance. We aim to provide the most accurate and up-to-date information to make your immigration process smoother and less stressful. The immigration lawyers at Richards and Jurusik have decades of experience helping people to work and live in the United States. Please read some of our hundreds of 5-star client reviews! Contact us today to assess your legal situation.
REBECCA KROLL is an Associate Attorney at Richards and Jurusik who practices exclusively in U.S. immigration law, focusing on both business and family-based immigration. She assists clients with employment-based visas, marriage and family cases, and the U.S. citizenship process. (Full Bio)
