Why did you come to the United States?

When the USCIS officer asks why the applicant came to the United States, the applicant should respond truthfully with the actual reason or reasons for immigrating, which most commonly include family reunification, work or career opportunity, education, religious freedom, escape from persecution, or marriage to a U.S. citizen. The answer should match the applicant's immigration history and the category of the green card.

If the applicant entered as a family-sponsored immigrant (IR or F category), the answer naturally involves joining a relative in the United States. If the applicant entered through employment sponsorship (EB category), the answer involves a job offer or specialized skill. If the applicant came as a refugee or asylee, the answer involves persecution or fear of persecution in the home country. If the applicant came as a student and adjusted status later, the answer includes the original educational purpose. Applicants who came through the Diversity Visa lottery typically describe seeking opportunity or simply a chance to live in the United States.

The officer is partly testing the applicant's ability to communicate in English at a basic level, and partly verifying that the immigration narrative is consistent with the documents and applications on file. Honest answers are essential. Applicants who came to the United States and overstayed their visa or worked without authorization should not lie about that history; depending on circumstances they may still qualify for naturalization, but lying compounds the problem.

Applicants should not invent dramatic stories to make their immigration appear more legitimate. The simplest accurate answer is best. A response of "I came to the United States to be with my family" or "I came for a better job opportunity" or "I came to escape war in my country" is typically sufficient. Applicants should be prepared to elaborate if asked. Some officers may follow up with questions about the specific country of origin, the family members who sponsored, or the conditions that prompted leaving.

Applicants who are nervous about their English can practice this answer in advance with a friend or English tutor. The officer is not looking for perfect grammar or vocabulary, only basic comprehension and ability to communicate. The question is also part of building trust between the applicant and the officer; a candid answer often makes the rest of the interview proceed more smoothly.

Applicants from countries with complicated political histories (Iran, Cuba, Syria, North Korea, etc.) should be especially honest while focusing on personal motivations rather than political opinions, since the United States values religious and political freedom but does not require applicants to disavow their countries of origin.