Sometimes, a person who has emigrated from another country of origin to Florida is called to appear at a Stokes interview. This is an official meeting that takes place within the U.S. immigration law system. It is a way for immigration officials to determine whether a married couple is committing fraud and has forged their union in marriage only to help one of the spouses achieve a specific immigration goal, such as obtaining permanent residency status in the United States.
US immigration law officials ask intimate questions at a Stokes interview
The average married couple is typically able to answer questions about their life together at home or a spouse’s habits or preferences, such as a favorite color or favorite dessert. The following list includes examples of the types of questions spouses should be prepared to answer (correctly) during a Stokes interview:
- Which side of the bed a spouse sleeps on
- Where they went on their first date
- How many siblings a spouse has
- Name of grocery store where they normally shop for food
- Color of walls in bedroom
Immigration officials usually separate spouses to question them individually, then compare their answers to the questions to see if they match. If one spouse says the walls in their bedroom are blue and the other says yellow, officials may question whether their marital relationship is legitimate or fraudulent, especially if several of their answers differ.
Prepare ahead of time and never lie
A spouse who is unsure of answer to a Stokes interview question might be tempted to guess or to lie to the interviewer. This is never a good idea. It is always best to admit not knowing an answer to a particular question rather than risk causing suspicion of fraud. An experienced U.S. immigration law attorney can help a married couple understand the legal implications of a Stokes interview and can be on hand to help resolve any type of legal problem that arises throughout the process.
