When the immigrant partner is outside the United States, the interview happens at a U.S. embassy or consulate, not at a USCIS office. Spouses apply for an immigrant visa (IR1 if married two years or more, CR1 if less). Fiancé(e)s of U.S. citizens apply for a K-1 visa to enter the U.S. and marry.

Who is interviewed

Usually only the immigrant spouse or fiancé(e) is interviewed. The petitioner generally doesn’t need to attend; check your embassy’s page, since some allow or encourage the petitioner to come. The consular officer asks the person abroad about the petitioner and the relationship, so that person has to know the U.S. side well: job, home, family, income and plans.

Common questions

• What is your petitioner’s full name, and where does he or she live?
• What does your petitioner do for work, and for which employer?
• How did you meet your petitioner?
• How many times have you met in person? When was the last time?
• What did you do together the last time you saw each other?
• (K-1) When and where do you plan to marry?

Practice these alone, answering out loud, then have the petitioner check your answers.

K-1 rules to know

• The K-1 lets the fiancé(e) of a U.S. citizen enter the U.S. to marry within 90 days of arrival. The 90 days can’t be extended.
• The couple generally must have met in person within the two years before the I-129F petition was filed, unless USCIS waived that requirement.
• Expect questions about the relationship, the proposal and your wedding plans. Evidence often includes photos together, travel records, and messages or call logs.
• The consular officer may ask for Form I-134 (financial support) with the petitioner’s latest tax return and W-2s. The Form I-864 comes later, with the I-485.
• After you marry in the U.S., you file Form I-485 to adjust status. Expect a USCIS marriage interview then, so keep collecting joint evidence. See marriage green card interview questions.

What to bring to a spouse visa interview

The appointment letter, a passport valid six months beyond your intended entry, two photos meeting the requirements, the DS-260 confirmation page, original or certified civil documents you uploaded, original police certificates, and the medical exam results if the panel physician gave them to you sealed. Before the interview you need a medical exam with an embassy-approved panel physician. Each embassy publishes its own instructions; follow yours exactly. The free evidence checklist builds a list for consular and K-1 interviews too.

Outcomes

• Approval. For an immigrant visa, pay the USCIS Immigrant Fee online after the visa is issued and before you travel, so your green card can be produced, and enter before the visa expires.
• Refusal under section 221(g) for missing documents or administrative processing. A 221(g) is often temporary: send exactly what is requested.

This guide is not legal advice. Your embassy’s instructions always come first.

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