Green Card Interview / The Stokes interview

The Stokes interview: separated questioning, explained (2026)

Same questions, separate rooms, answers compared. Here is exactly how it works.

Updated August 2026

A Stokes interview is separated questioning: each spouse is taken to a different room and asked the same 20 to 30 questions about daily life, the household, finances and the relationship, and the officer then compares the two sets of answers. It is triggered, not random: material inconsistencies at the first interview, a short timeline before filing, thin joint evidence, or a petitioner with prior spousal petitions. In 2026 the mechanic has spread: officers now separate spouses as routine screening in ordinary marriage cases, not only formal fraud referrals. Minor differences are expected. Contradictions on facts genuine couples agree on are what turn a Stokes into a denial.

This is interview practice, not legal or immigration advice. Merra does not review your application and is not affiliated with USCIS or the US Department of State.

If you have received a Stokes notice or a NOID, speak to an immigration attorney.

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The process

  1. 1The officer separates the spouses.
  2. 2Spouse one answers the question set, recorded.
  3. 3Spouse two answers the same set independently.
  4. 4Answers are compared, sometimes with both brought back together to explain differences.
  5. 5Outcome: approval, an RFE for more evidence, or referral for investigation.

The five triggers

What comparison actually means

Officers weigh materiality, not perfection. The standard is facts a genuine couple would agree on — the wedding date, who lives where, major life events — not trivia any two busy people might answer slightly differently.

The at-home Stokes

Answer the same question set separately at the kitchen table, compare, repeat. You cannot script a Stokes interview and should not try to — but you can make sure you both actually know your shared life.

If you have already had one

An RFE (Request for Evidence) asks for more documentation. A NOID (Notice of Intent to Deny) is a stronger signal, and gives you a chance to respond before a decision. See the official source below for specifics.

If you have received a Stokes notice or a NOID, speak to an immigration attorney.

Real interview questions

Grouped by area.

Asked to both, separately

“What did you have for dinner last night, and who cooked?”
“Which side of the bed do you sleep on?”
“What time did you each leave home this morning, and how did you travel here?”
“When did you last visit your in-laws?”
“How much is the rent and which account pays it?”
“What did you do last weekend, together or apart?”
“Describe your kitchen.”
“What gift did you exchange last birthday?”

Pricing

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FAQs

Is a Stokes interview an accusation?

It signals doubt, not a decision; couples pass them every week.

Can we refuse separation?

Refusing is effectively abandoning the application; you can request your attorney present.

What counts as a bad inconsistency?

Different wedding dates, conflicting accounts of how you met, disagreement about who lives in the home. Grey vs charcoal sofa does not.

What happens after?

Approval, an RFE, a NOID, or in suspected fraud, referral; timelines vary.

Can you prepare for one?

You cannot script it, and should not try; you can make sure you both actually know your shared life by answering the standard sets separately and comparing before the interview does it for you.

Official information

For the official application process, forms and requirements.

uscis.gov: Policy Manual, Volume 6, Part B, Chapter 5 ↗

More green card interview guides

Green card interview hubMarriage green card interview questions

Merra is an independent interview-practice platform and is not affiliated with USCIS or the US government. Merra’s feedback is advisory only — it is not a guarantee of any interview or application outcome, and it is not legal or immigration advice.

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