Have you ever been arrested, cited, or charged with any crime anywhere in the world?

“Have you ever been arrested, cited, or charged with any crime anywhere in the world?” is a practice question about interview day for a marriage-based green card interview at a USCIS field office. A real officer may ask it in other words, ask something else, or skip it. Practice can help you explain your own facts. It cannot tell you what USCIS will decide.

What is the officer checking with this question?

The officer may be reviewing criminal history statements and any records related to an event. The question covers more than convictions and refers to events outside the United States as well. An arrest, charge, and final outcome are separate facts, so the officer may ask what happened at each stage rather than relying only on how the matter ended.

What might the officer ask next?

• Where and approximately when did the event occur?
• What was the final outcome of the matter?
• Do you have records showing the disposition?

The next question usually comes from the words in your answer. If you name a person, a place, or a month, expect a question about it. The guide to green card interview follow-up questions explains how to practice past the first answer.

How do you prepare to answer it?

Discuss any uncertainty about arrests, citations, or charges with your lawyer before the appointment. Review the event date, location, and outcome using the relevant records rather than assuming that a closed matter needs no attention. Keep what happened separate from your understanding of its legal effect. If you cannot recall a detail, state that limit and do not minimize it through a guess. Follow your lawyer's guidance and your interview notice about which records to bring.

Answer from your own memory, in your own words. Do not learn a script or a sample answer. If your spouse remembers a detail differently, first check whether you mean the same event. Ask your lawyer about any concern with your forms or documents.

Can you practice this question out loud for free?

Yes. Choose "Answer it now, free". The officer asks this question first. You answer out loud, and the officer follows up on what you said. You can try 3 questions free, and you do not need documents. Feedback comes after the session, not while you speak.

More interview day questions

• Since you filed to adjust status, have any facts on your application changed, such as address, employer, or arrests?
• I will ask several yes-or-no questions tied to your adjustment application. Answer each carefully.
• Did you enter the United States lawfully, and what was your most recent status before filing to adjust?
• Do you understand that if you have been married less than two years at approval, you may receive conditional permanent residence?
• Please confirm the originals of your passport, marriage certificate, and any prior divorce decrees.
• Has a civil surgeon completed your Form I-693 medical exam, and was it already submitted or brought sealed today?
• Do you have any questions about the next steps after today's interview?

Read the interview day topic guide, or see all 91 interview questions.