When and where did your previous marriage end, and do you have the divorce or death certificate?

“When and where did your previous marriage end, and do you have the divorce or death certificate?” is a practice question about earlier marriages 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 want to connect your spoken answer with a record showing how your previous marriage ended. The place and date help identify the event described in the case documents. Asking whether you have the certificate is also a document check, so a clear explanation of where the record is may matter more than a long personal history.

What might the officer ask next?

• Where was the divorce finalized or the death recorded?
• What date appears on the record?
• Do you have that record with you today?

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?

Find the document that relates to the end of the marriage and review its date and place. For a divorce, do not assume a filing date is the final date. Know whether the record was submitted and where you keep the version you plan to bring. If you do not remember a detail, say so and refer to the record when permitted. Follow your interview notice and ask your lawyer which documents apply to your case.

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 earlier marriages questions

• Have either of you been married before?
• How long were you married previously, and when did that relationship end relative to this marriage?
• Has your spouse been married to anyone else before this marriage?
• Are there any ongoing financial or custody obligations from a prior marriage?
• When did your current spouse's prior marriage legally end?

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