Preparing for your immigration interview
The interview is a key step in many immigration applications: a marriage green card involves an interview with USCIS, naturalization includes English and civics tests, and family members applying for an immigrant visa from mainland China are interviewed at the U.S. Consulate General in Guangzhou. It is normal to feel nervous after receiving an interview notice. The officer’s job is to verify that your application and your actual circumstances match and that you meet the legal requirements. Learning the process in advance, gathering the documents listed in the notice, and thinking through anything that might raise questions can prevent many unnecessary problems. This section, prepared by our managing attorney, David Wang, explains how the three common types of interviews work, what to bring, and what outcomes may follow.
Which interview are you preparing for?
The three types of interviews differ in the agency in charge, the rules and the notices issued afterward. First confirm which type applies to you, then read the matching detailed guide.
Marriage green card interview
For couples where one spouse is married to a U.S. citizen or green card holder and has filed I-130 / I-485 to adjust status inside the United States, the interview takes place at a USCIS field office: the areas questions cover, the evidence of a bona fide marriage to bring, and the outcomes you may receive afterward. Marriage green card interview guide ›
Naturalization interview
The interview after filing N-400: review of the application, the English reading, writing and speaking test and the civics test, questions related to good moral character, and what the N-652 results notice you receive at the end of the interview means. Naturalization interview guide ›
Immigrant visa interview at the Guangzhou consulate
For spouses, parents and children in mainland China immigrating on an immigrant visa: how to prepare after NVC schedules the interview, the medical exam, the originals and notarized translations to bring, the day’s procedure, and what to do if you receive a 221(g) request for documents or administrative processing. Guangzhou consulate interview guide ›
The three interviews compared
The table below summarizes the general situation; the specific arrangements in your interview notice and the current requirements of USCIS or the U.S. consulate control.
| Item | Marriage green card interview | Naturalization interview | Guangzhou consulate immigrant visa interview |
|---|---|---|---|
| Agency in charge | U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) | USCIS | U.S. Department of State, consular officers at the U.S. Consulate General in Guangzhou |
| Location | The USCIS field office named in the interview notice, inside the United States | The USCIS field office named in the interview notice | U.S. Consulate General in Guangzhou (immigrant visas for mainland China are processed in Guangzhou) |
| How you are notified | Appointment notice mailed by USCIS, Form I-797C (Notice of Action) | Interview appointment notice mailed by USCIS (Form I-797C) | Interview letter (appointment / interview letter) issued by the Department of State’s National Visa Center (NVC), with interview preparation instructions attached |
| Can an attorney attend? | Yes. An attorney who has filed a G-28 may attend the interview with you | Yes. The applicant may request that an attorney or representative be present; a G-28 must be filed in advance | Generally no. The Guangzhou consulate states that it does not admit applicants’ attorneys or sponsors to the waiting area or the interview; people not listed on the interview letter may not enter the consulate |
| Interpreters | Since September 28, 2025, USCIS field offices generally no longer provide interpreters for interviews; if you need one, you must bring a qualified interpreter, who signs a G-1256 at the interview; the interpreter cannot be your attorney of record and, as a rule, cannot be a witness in the case (including the petitioning spouse) or under 18. Documents not in English must include a complete English translation | The English test itself must be conducted in English; applicants who qualify for an exemption based on age and years of residence, or who have a disability exception, may bring an interpreter for the rest of the interview | Documents not in English must include certified English translations; documents issued in China must be translated and notarized by a local notary office in China. The interview language and interpreter arrangements are determined by the consulate |
| Common outcome notices | Approval at the interview or later; Request for Evidence (RFE); Notice of Intent to Deny (NOID); a second interview if needed; denial | N-652 (interview results notice) issued at the end of the interview; N-14 if additional documents are needed; one retest may be scheduled if a test is failed; a denial may be challenged by requesting a hearing on Form N-336 | Visa approved and the passport returned by the method you registered; refusal under section 221(g) of the Immigration and Nationality Act, meaning documents must be submitted or administrative processing is required; refusal on other grounds of ineligibility |
Recent changes (as of October 2026): Since September 28, 2025, USCIS generally no longer provides interpreters at field office interviews; applicants who file N-400 on or after October 20, 2025 take the 2025 version of the civics test; in August 2025 USCIS announced that it was resuming naturalization “neighborhood investigations,” applied at its discretion case by case; since November 1, 2025, the Department of State has required immigrant visa applicants to interview in the consular district where they reside (or to apply in their country of nationality). In January 2026 the Department of State announced a pause on immigrant visa issuance for nationals of certain countries; China is not on the published list. These policies have changed frequently; before your interview, check the latest announcements from USCIS, the Department of State and the Guangzhou consulate.
General pre-interview checklist
The items below are basic preparation for all three types of interviews. For the specific documents for each type, see the matching guide and your interview notice.
How we can help
Mock interviews
Pre-interview practice in English or Chinese to help you get used to the pace of the interview and the kinds of questions asked. We do not provide “model answers”; we help you explain your own true circumstances clearly and accurately.
Document review
We check your documents item by item against your application and interview notice, identify inconsistencies, gaps or points that need further explanation, and address them in advance.
Attending USCIS interviews with you
After filing a G-28, attorney David Wang can attend USCIS interviews with you, such as marriage green card and naturalization interviews. Attorneys generally cannot enter consular immigrant visa interviews, so we prepare you beforehand and follow up afterward.
Follow-up after the interview
If you receive an RFE, NOID or N-14, or a 221(g) request for documents from the consulate, we help you understand what is being asked, prepare documents and explanations, and evaluate your next options.
The outcome of every case depends on its specific facts and on review by the responsible agency; we do not promise any result.
Frequently asked questions
The interview time doesn’t work for me. Can I reschedule?
You can ask, but do not reschedule lightly, and do not simply fail to appear. For a USCIS interview, submit a written rescheduling request as early as possible following the instructions in the notice or on the USCIS website. For applications such as adjustment of status, failing to appear for the interview without good cause may lead to the application being treated as abandoned and denied; a naturalization applicant who fails to appear and does not explain the reason and request rescheduling in writing within 30 days may have the application administratively closed (it can be reopened by written request within one year). Consular immigrant visa interviews are rescheduled according to the interview letter and the Guangzhou consulate’s instructions; the consulate notes that after rescheduling you may wait a long time, and there is no guarantee a visa number will still be available then.
What if I don’t understand or don’t hear a question during the interview?
Ask the officer directly to repeat or rephrase the question, and answer only once you understand it. Do not guess what a question means just to appear fluent. For USCIS interviews where you need an interpreter, you now generally must bring a qualified adult interpreter, who signs a G-1256 at the start of the interview; the English test in a naturalization interview must itself be conducted in English, and only applicants who qualify for an exemption may use an interpreter for the rest of the interview.
Do I need to bring my children to the interview?
Follow your interview notice. At a consular immigrant visa interview, applicants listed on the interview letter (including accompanying children) usually must attend, and those under 14 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian; people not listed on the interview letter may not enter the consulate, and the sponsor does not need to attend. At a USCIS interview, if a child is also an applicant or the notice requires the child to attend, follow the notice; if you are unsure, ask your attorney in advance.
Can my petitioning spouse interpret for me?
As a rule, not at a USCIS interview. Under USCIS interpreter rules, a witness in the case (including the petitioning spouse who filed the I-130) may serve as interpreter only with good cause and approval, and your attorney of record cannot also serve as your interpreter. We recommend finding a different adult interpreter who has no stake in the case and is fluent in both English and Chinese.
How long after the interview will I get a result?
There is no set time. Some applicants learn the result on the spot; others need to submit more evidence, attend a second interview or wait for further review. USCIS cases can be tracked on its website using the receipt number; consular immigrant visa status can be checked in the CEAC system. The Guangzhou consulate advises that if your case is placed in administrative processing, you should wait at least 90 days after the interview before inquiring. Processing times are as officially published.
What if I’m asked a question I didn’t prepare for?
Answer truthfully. If you don’t remember, say you don’t remember; if you don’t know, say you don’t know; do not make up details. If you realize there is an error in what you filed, explaining it truthfully and providing the correct information is far better than having the officer discover the inconsistency. This is also why we recommend telling your attorney about possible issues before the interview.
Official sources
- U.S. Department of State: Guangzhou consulate immigrant visa interview instructions (travel.state.gov)
- U.S. Department of State: immigrant visa interview appointment and preparation (travel.state.gov)
- U.S. Department of State: the day of the immigrant visa interview (travel.state.gov)
- U.S. Department of State: CEAC status display and 221(g) refusals (travel.state.gov)
- USCIS Policy Manual, Volume 12, Part B, Chapter 3: Naturalization Interview (uscis.gov)
- 8 CFR 292.5 (representation at interviews) (law.cornell.edu)
- 8 CFR 335.2, 335.3, 335.6 (naturalization interview, retest, failure to appear) (ecfr.gov)
- USCIS: Form G-1256, Declaration for Interpreted USCIS Interview (uscis.gov)
Related reading: Marriage green card guide, N-400 naturalization application, DS-260 immigrant visa application, Civics test practice, Family immigration guide.
Received an interview notice and want to do a mock interview in advance or have an attorney review your documents? Book an attorney consultation, or call (312) 519-1115 or reach us on WeChat at WangLawpllc. Please send us your interview notice together with the application materials you filed, and attorney David Wang will plan your preparation based on your situation.
This page is general information, not legal advice. Interview arrangements and requirements are set by USCIS or the U.S. consulate and may change at any time; outcomes depend on the specific facts. Follow your interview notice and the official websites.