There are not many options for foreign nationals to obtain legal status in the U.S. Those desperately looking to obtain legal status in the U.S., rely on marriage fraud to get into the U.S. and get a green card.
However, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) authorities who are aware of marriage fraud, take all measures to prevent it. They have a lot of procedures to prevent this illegal practice.
Marriage green card interviews go through the USCIS but some cases are referred to a special unit called the Stokes unit. If the USCIS authorities suspect a couple applying for green card based on marriage of fraud, they will ask the couple to attend the Stokes interview.
This interview is to make sure the couple has not involved in marriage fraud. Members of the Stokes unit will interview the couple separately about their marriage. They will also bring the couple together and give them a chance to explain any discrepancies. These Stokes interviews will be recorded and the couple will be allowed to bring their lawyers with them.
There are a lot of reasons why a couple could be referred to the Stokes unit after their initial interview with the USCIS. The aim of the Stokes interview is to give the couple a chance to prove that their marriage is real. Questions that could validate that they are a real married couple, will be asked. It is not about how many questions they will ask and how many right answers they give. It is a personal interview where questions related to the applicant’s spouse, such as the spouse’s medical condition, religion, financial assets and family members will be asked.
Officers of the Stokes unit will come to know that a person is lying if they have written something else on their applications and say something else during their interview. Likewise, their applications for marriage green cards may be denied if there are a lot of discrepancies between what the husband and the wife say. However, their applications may not be denied just because they make a mistake during their Stokes interview. The Stokes unit will look at the evidence the couple submits and will look at their answers. If they feel there are a lot of discrepancies, the couple will be told that their marriage is not provable.
However, applicants need not be scared. All they need to do is to stay calm throughout the interview and answer truthfully.