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A stokes interview is a second, more detailed immigration interview conducted by USCIS when there are concerns about the legitimacy of a marriage-based green card application. Unlike a standard adjustment of status interview, a stokes interview involves separating spouses and asking each person detailed questions to compare their answers for consistency.

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has made changes to marriage green card interviews that may make this process take longer, mainly due to the fact that interviews are now unwaverable and are likely to involve more in-depth questions from immigration officials.

If your I-485 application is denied, you may take steps to resolve the situation, including filing a Motion to Reopen or Reconsider, re-filing the form with corrections, and undergoing consular processing. Contacting an immigration lawyer for I-485 denial could help you make the right decision based on your situation.

The 540-day extension provided an automatic extension for the pending renewal of Employment Authorization Documents (EADs), but the new rule under the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) ended this extension for individuals applying for renewal after October 30, 2025, with some exceptions.

If you get married while on a student or work visa, your situation will depend on your spouse's immigration status, with the possibility of enabling you to adjust your status to become a lawful permanent resident (LPR) in some cases.