What is the role of the USCIS officer during the marriage interview?

The role of the USCIS officer during the marriage interview is primarily to assess the credibility of the marital relationship. This involves evaluating the authenticity of the relationship between the applicants, who are seeking immigration benefits based on their marriage. The officer will ask various questions to determine if the marriage is genuine and not solely for the purpose of obtaining immigration status. They may inquire about the couple's history, shared experiences, and plans for the future, among other details.

This assessment is crucial because USCIS aims to prevent marriage fraud, ensuring that only genuine relationships receive immigration benefits. The officer's primary focus during this interview is not merely procedural tasks, such as collecting documents, approving applications, or scheduling interviews, but rather understanding the couple’s relationship to confirm its legitimacy. The thorough examination of facts and consistency in the applicants' responses plays a vital role in this process.