Interview with Can K., Green Card & Citizenship Manager at Okanlaw

By: Okan Sengun
December 24, 2025

In the continuation of our interview series examining the acceleration of the marriage-based Green Card process, we now focus on the critical details of the interview stage. Can K., Green Card and Citizenship Manager at Okanlaw, evaluates the most common risks encountered in USCIS interviews and the importance of proper preparation.

The Process Has Accelerated, Interviews Have Become More Critical

Okan Sengun: In marriage-based Green Card interviews, what issues do USCIS officers most commonly question?

Can K.: One of the most common risks is inconsistencies within the application file. In particular, contradictions between information provided in previous immigration applications and statements submitted with the Green Card application can directly put the process at risk. During interviews, officers also pay close attention when spouses give incompatible or unrelated answers to basic questions about each other’s daily lives. Significant differences in responses to simple questions like “What is your spouse’s daily routine?” can raise doubts about the authenticity of the relationship.

Okan Sengun: If there is an inconsistency in the spouses’ answers during the interview, how do officers evaluate this?

Can K.: That depends entirely on the nature of the inconsistency. USCIS officers do not assess answers in isolation; they evaluate the file and the narrative as a whole. Minor discrepancies are often considered natural. However, if there are unexplained contradictions regarding the core elements of the relationship that are not supported by documentation, this can create a negative impression. Small mix-ups due to cultural differences or memory lapses are generally not seen as problematic.

Social Media, Shared Photos, and the Question of Visibility

Okan Sengun: Does living in different cities or separate homes create suspicion during the interview?

Can K.: Not always. If there is a genuine and logical explanation supported by documentation, USCIS can be understanding. Living in different cities due to work or education is quite common. What matters is that the couple’s future plans are centered on building a life together and that this is supported by evidence such as travel records, visits, and shared plans. For example, even if the couple has different addresses, bus or plane tickets showing frequent visits, or proof that they spend holidays together, can be very important.

Okan Sengun: Is it a problem if there are few shared photos or little visibility on social media?

Can K.: In some cases, this may be questioned; however, every case is evaluated within its own context. Especially for LGBTQ+ couples, low social media visibility is not, by itself, a negative factor. Reasons such as family pressure, security concerns, or privacy considerations can be considered reasonable. What matters is that the authenticity of the relationship can be demonstrated through other forms of evidence.

Okan Sengun: How much does the absence of a joint bank account or lease agreement affect the application?

Can K.: A lack of such documents does not always indicate a problem. Especially in new marriages, it is understandable that financial integration may not yet be fully established. From USCIS’s perspective, the key issue is whether the couple is actually living together and maintaining a shared life, supported by reasonable documentation. Official mail, utility bills, or bank correspondence sent to the same address can be sufficient in this regard.

Okan Sengun: Can officers really tell when answers are memorized?

Can K.: Yes, quite clearly. Officers don’t detect memorization from a single sentence, but from the overall manner in which answers are given. Responding too quickly without hesitation or using identical phrasing can create an artificial impression. We always advise our clients to avoid memorization and to explain the truth in their own words. Saying “I don’t know” is completely natural if that’s the case.

Okan Sengun: Is a relationship progressing very quickly and leading to marriage in a short time automatically considered a red flag?

Can K.: No, it is not automatically a red flag. What matters is not the speed, but whether the relationship is logical, consistent, and supportable with documentation. Officers focus on how the relationship developed and why and how the decision to marry was made. In fast-moving relationships, well-documented communication history and evidence of time spent together can significantly strengthen the case.
Success in marriage-based Green Card interviews is less about knowing the “right answer” and more about being able to tell the real story in a consistent and natural way. Even as the process accelerates, the importance of preparation remains unchanged.
In the next installment of our series, we will cover the five most critical types of documents couples must prepare before the interview, along with additional key insights. Stay tuned.