The EB-3 interview

What I wrote in 2021

If you process the EB-3 while you are in America and your petition is submitted, you then have to wait until your priority date becomes current.

What does priority date current mean? Simply, it is the date USCIS received your petition. USCIS receiving it means a serial number has been created for you in the enormous queue of green card applicants. Whenever the petition filed for you becomes "current", you can submit form I-485, which is Adjustment of Status.

I am talking about the case where you are processing the EB-3 while inside America. Once the I-485 is approved you will be called for an interview. Your interview will take place in America.

Now for those processing from outside America

In the same way, your priority date has to become current first. As soon as it does, you fill out and submit the DS-260 application form.

You have to do this yourself. Your employer, meaning the person giving you the job, will not do it. And there is a fee to pay for filling this form, which you pay at the embassy in your own country. The fee is currently 345 dollars and it can change. Check it when you are applying.

After submitting the DS-260 the interview call will come. You may ask, how long after? I cannot tell you that. It depends on how busy the embassy is and how much priority they are giving your application. Assume two to three months. It can be more or less.

What to take with you

After submitting the DS-260 and making the payment you get a confirmation by email and a receipt. You need to take both of those with you. Also:

• A valid passport
• If you are interviewing inside America, a copy of your I-94
• The original copy of your birth certificate
• National ID card if you are in Bangladesh; driving licence or other ID if you are in America, if you have one
• The job confirmation letter or job offer from your employer
• Your academic qualification documents, transcripts, certificates and so on
• Certificates for any training you completed
• If you are in America, your tax return documents for the last two years or one year, if you have them

Beyond that you can take other papers that serve as evidence for your job, your employer and the documents I just mentioned. That is optional, but I would recommend taking everything organised, so the officer can look at your papers and understand it all clearly. If you take papers in a mess you will face more questions.

Can the whole family interview together?

One question you have is whether husband, wife and children can interview together. The answer is that if the embassy gives everyone a date together, the interview will happen together. You cannot decide this. If you file the I-485 in America for everyone together, the chance of interviewing together is much higher. The real point is that the immigration officer decides whether the interview is joint or separate.

The questions

All sorts of questions can come. I will just give you an idea so it is easier for you to get a sense of it.

• The name of the company that hired you
• Have you worked for that company before?
• Questions about your educational background and training
• Your date of birth, where you were born, questions like that
• Do you have any criminal record, in America or in your own country?

Do not plan on getting away with a lie here. Say what is true. Because if you tell the truth and you were once caught committing a crime, your interview will not be cancelled. They will keep it on record and assess how safe you are to go and work in America.

They will ask where you currently live. If you are in America give the address there, if you are home give the address at home. Current address, remember that. Then for those who filled the I-485, more questions may be asked according to that form.

Answer the questions with confidence. If the officer senses there is no confidence, they will ask more questions, because the officer is checking whether the information is true. Dress well, go there presentable, and give the interview with confidence.

One last thing

You can take an immigration lawyer with you if you want. If you feel your spoken English is quite weak, or there is some critical information you cannot explain properly, then taking a lawyer means the lawyer will answer the questions on your behalf. If you are going to take a lawyer, I would say work with one from the start of processing, so the lawyer can keep all the records properly.