Stokes Interviews
Is Your Marriage Real? Prove It With Confidence.
Date of Information: 06/24/2025
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What is a Stokes Interview?
A Stokes Interview is a secondary green card interview conducted by USCIS when your marriage-based green card application raises concerns. These interviews are designed to determine whether your marriage is bona fide—or fraudulent.
Here’s what sets the Stokes Interview apart:
You and your spouse are interviewed separately, then re-interviewed together.
Officers compare your answers for consistency.
You may be asked detailed, personal, and even intrusive questions.
It is often recorded and can involve signed statements.
For more information on routine adjustment of status interviews, please see our research guide on green card interviews.
Why You Might Be Scheduled for a Stokes Interview
USCIS uses the Stokes Interview when they suspect that:
The couple lacks shared documentation (e.g., joint tax returns, shared lease).
There are inconsistencies in your application.
The couple has a limited shared history or doesn’t speak the same language well.
You had a brief courtship or recent marriage.
One of you has a history of immigration fraud or prior denials.
The purpose is to protect the integrity of the immigration system by uncovering fraudulent marriages—but sometimes, genuine couples get caught up in this process.
For more information on routine adjustment of status interviews, please see our research guide on green card interviews.
What to Expect at the Interview
The Stokes Interview Process, Step-by-Step:
You and your spouse will arrive together and be sworn in.
You’ll be placed in separate rooms for questioning.
Each of you will be asked identical or similar personal questions (examples below).
The officer will compare your answers.
If answers match well, the process may end there.
If there are inconsistencies, you may be brought in together for clarification or interrogation.
For more information on routine adjustment of status interviews, please see our research guide on green card interviews.
Sample Questions You May Be Asked
Daily Routines:
Who wakes up first?
What do you eat for breakfast?
What side of the bed does your spouse sleep on?
Home Life:
What color is your shower curtain?
Do you have any pets?
Where do you keep the dirty laundry?
Relationships & Habits:
When is your spouse’s birthday?
What was the last movie you watched together?
Who pays which bills?
Special Dates:
Where did you go on your honeymoon?
What did you do last weekend?
Who attended your wedding?
Caution:
If the questions sound like they have little to do with immigration law, you are correct. The more mundane the question, the more it’s testing whether you live together and intend to share a life.
For more information on routine adjustment of status interviews, please see our research guide on green card interviews.
Required Documents for a Stokes Interview
Bring everything you’d take to a regular interview, plus as much marital evidence as possible, including:
Joint tax returns (most recent 2–3 years)
Utility bills in both names
Lease or mortgage in both names
Bank account statements with joint transactions
Insurance policies listing each other as beneficiaries
Photos together over time and with family/friends
Travel records (tickets, hotel receipts, itineraries)
Sworn affidavits from friends or family
For a list of documents you should bring to a routine green card interview, please see our research guide on green card interviews.
Pro tip:
Organize your documents in a binder or clearly labeled folders. Make it easy for the officer to see your life together.
Tips for Surviving the Stokes Interview
Review your application with your spouse.
Practice answering questions separately.
Don’t over-rehearse—memorized answers may raise suspicion.
Answer only what’s asked. Don’t guess.
Be honest about mistakes or memory lapses.
Dress neatly and show up early.
Remain calm—even if the questioning gets uncomfortable.
Frequently Asked Questions About Stokes Interviews
What is a Stokes interview?
A Stokes Interview is a second, more intensive interview conducted by USCIS in marriage-based green card cases where fraud is suspected. You and your spouse will be questioned separately, and your answers will be compared for consistency. The name comes from a federal court case that established procedural protections for applicants undergoing this process.
What questions are asked at a Stokes interview?
Questions often focus on day-to-day details of your relationship, such as:
Who wakes up first?
Where do you keep your laundry?
What color is your toothbrush?
What did you do together last weekend?
These questions are designed to test whether your marriage is genuine or fabricated for immigration benefits.
Why is it called a Stokes interview?
The term comes from the federal case Stokes v. INS (1975), which required the government to give additional procedural protections to couples facing marriage fraud allegations—including access to interview transcripts, the right to counsel, and the opportunity to address inconsistencies.
How common is a Stokes interview?
They are uncommon but not rare. Stokes Interviews occur when USCIS officers see red flags, such as inconsistent paperwork, different home addresses, or a lack of joint documentation. While many marriage-based applications are approved after a single interview, a significant minority are flagged for further review.
What happens after a Stokes interview?
After the interview, USCIS will either:
Approve the I-130 petition and move your case forward,
Issue a Request for Evidence (RFE) for more documentation,
Refer the case for further fraud investigation, or
Deny the petition, possibly placing the applicant into removal proceedings.
What happens if you fail a Stokes interview?
“Failing” means that your answers or documentation didn’t convince USCIS that your marriage is genuine. This could result in:
Denial of your I-130 petition
Referral for removal (deportation) proceedings
In some cases, criminal referrals for immigration fraud
That’s why it’s essential to be honest—and to be represented by a qualified attorney.
Can USCIS schedule a second interview?
Yes. The Stokes Interview is itself a second interview, often triggered by unresolved concerns from your first interview. In rare cases, a third interview or additional follow-up may be scheduled if USCIS still needs clarification.
What happens if you don’t pass your immigration marriage interview?
If USCIS determines that your marriage is not bona fide:
Your green card application will likely be denied,
You could face removal proceedings,
Your spouse may face criminal exposure if the officer believes fraud occurred.
How long is a Stokes interview?
A typical Stokes Interview lasts between 2 and 4 hours, but can go longer. Each spouse is usually questioned for 30 to 60 minutes individually, followed by a joint interview or further questioning to clarify inconsistencies.
What is a Stokes interview with USCIS?
This is a marriage fraud investigation interview conducted under oath by a USCIS officer. It involves separate questioning of both spouses, followed by a comparison of their answers to determine whether the marriage is real.
How long does it take for an immigration marriage interview?
The initial green card interview generally takes 20–45 minutes. If referred to a Stokes Interview, the process becomes longer and more adversarial.
What should you not do during a USCIS interview?
Don’t lie or exaggerate.
Don’t guess if you don’t know an answer—just say you don’t remember.
Don’t interrupt or argue with the officer.
Don’t bring incomplete documentation—your case may hinge on it.
Most importantly, don’t attend alone if your case raises red flags. Legal representation matters.
Facing a Stokes Interview? Don’t Go Alone.
A Stokes interview isn’t just a routine immigration step—it’s a fraud investigation. Your answers can have serious immigration consequences and may even expose you to criminal liability if inconsistencies are misinterpreted. You need legal counsel with experience in both immigration law and federal criminal defense. At Charles International Law, we bring both. Let us protect your rights and prepare you thoroughly.
Other Helpful Resources:
See Also:
CIL Guide to the Green Card Interviews
CIL Guide to Family-Based Immigration
CIL Guide to Marriage Visas
