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What Not to Do at an Immigration Interview

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If you are hoping to move to the United States to work, then your employer might hire a business immigration attorney who will help with the application process.  According to the folk at Graham Adair, a lawyer will help your employer file a petition with the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) and, once approved, will help during the process of applying for an employment visa. This will include making sure that the right documents are submitted. The lawyer might also prepare you for the interview. It will be during the interview that your application will either be approved or denied. To improve your chances of success, the following are some of the things you should not do.

Be Late

Turning up late to your USCIS interview could be enough to ensure that your application is denied, unless you have a particularly good reason for doing so. It makes sense to do a practice run to the interview location beforehand and make allowances for any traffic on the day of the interview so that you are on-time, or early if possible. If you do not show up for your interview, it will be considered that you have abandoned your application.

Not Having the Right Documentation

Your immigration lawyer will have submitted your documentation in advance, but during the interview you may be asked to show the original copies. For an employment visa, this is likely to be the original certificates of your qualifications. You will also have to show your original birth certificate, passport, and any other originals of documentations that were submitted with your application.

Not Dressing Appropriately

The interview is a formal process and as such you should dress accordingly. Your lawyer will probably tell you that you should be wearing at the very minimum, smart casual clothing. Arriving in gym gear, wearing flip-flops, shorts, or wrinkled clothing is not appropriate and could affect your success. You will be judged on your appearance as well as your answers to the questions asked.

Lying During the Interview

No matter how nervous you are, never lie during the interview. If you do not know the answer to a question, then tell the interviewer that you don’t know. It might be that you cannot remember the exact date of when you got your degree. It is better to say that you have gone blank rather than to just guess at a date. It is important too that you listen carefully to the questions being asked and make sure you give the appropriate answer. Try not to go off on a tangent when answering questions as some interviewers might perceive this as you being evasive and trying to avoid the questions.

Not Bringing a Translator

If English is not your first language and you are not yet fluent, it is always best to bring a translator with you so that you can answer the questions properly. Remember, an interpreter will not be provided for you by USCIS. If you don’t have one with you, you could find it difficult to communicate with the interviewer. This could mean your interview has to be rescheduled or even denied.

Conclusion

The interview is an especially important part of the application process for an employment-based visa. To improve your chances of success, you should dress appropriately, arrive on time and, above all, be prepared.  It is vital that you have the original documentation with you and that you can communicate effectively with the interviewer throughout. Failure to do these things could delay your application or result in it being denied.

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