Let's talk fashion for a minute. Yay! (Yes, I keep Vogue in my waiting room and am never without a pair of giant heels--you've found me out!) But this is actually about immigration fashion--specifically, what to wear to your interview, court appearance, etc. I get this question all the time from my clients, and I'm sure there's probably someone out there googling this as we speak, so I'm here to help. First, let's take a minute to think about why this is important at all. Maybe you're thinking (or, more likely, since you're reading this, your spouse is thinking and you're trying to come up with arguments to convince him or her to dress up a bit) that it shouldn't matter--that you shouldn't be judged on how you're dressed, but on what you say and the documents you present. True. But think of this like a job interview, and remember the cardinal rule of job interviews--most decisions are made in the first 30 seconds. You have a limited window to make a good first impression, and so you want to come across as the best version of yourself. You don't need to dress as if you're someone you're not--so if you would never wear a suit in real life, don't feel like you need to go out and get one for this process (and when you get there, see if you can spot the one guy--there is always one--who borrowed his much larger brother's suit, and has paired it with white gym socks for the occasion). You want to look like you're comfortable in what you're wearing, but as if you have made an effort--which you have, of course. It's an important event, so dress accordingly.
Now, a few specific tips. Please skip heavy perfumes, since the offices tend to be tiny and poorly ventilated. Avoid anything skin-tight or low cut, and do a check to see if you're comfortable sitting in whatever you're wearing--you will be in a chair with your lap exposed, and the officer would prefer not to see too much of your thighs! If you have to fidget with it, leave it at home--you'll have enough on your mind without having to constantly readjust your scarf, or checking that your dangly earrings are still in place. The officers tend to be fairly conservative in their style of dress (think flat, rubber soled shoes, polyester slacks, and lots of cardigans), so if you tend to be more flashy, try to tone it down just a bit so they're not so distracted by what you're wearing that they forget to listen to what you're staying. Still, your style is a reflection of who you are, so don't go too far in the opposite direction--if you and your husband say that you met at a biker convention and all your photos show you in leather jackets, but you show up in a floral print dress last seen on one of the wives in Big Love, you might raise some eyebrows!
I tend to dress differently for court than for interviews with USCIS, and I notice that my clients do, too. I think that's a reflection of the setting--even though most immigration courts are fairly dreary, administrative-type places, the judges do wear robes, and the lawyers all tend to be in dark suits. If you're a man, a tie is a nice touch, and for women, I prefer if you stay away from jeans; if you have nothing else in your closet, go with your darkest, dressiest pair (no rips or embellished pockets if you can avoid it). Keep your jewelry on the small side--now's the time to remember Coco Chanel's old adage about taking one thing off before you leave the house. Stay away from things that make a lot of noise when you move--bangle bracelets, for instance, can be really distracting in court. You'll probably be sitting for a long time, so be sure to be comfortable, and if you can, avoid fabrics that are going to wrinkle instantly--if you're between a linen skirt and one made of rayon, today's the day to go with the rayon!
Dark colors read as more serious than brights, which is important for court but less so for interviews, where you may want to express a bit more of your personality in your clothing. Avoid expressing your personality through words on your clothing, though--stay away from tee shirts with slogans. It's too easy to be reduced to whatever will fit across your chest, and really, you want the officer to understand that you're a complex, real person. For the same reason, stay away from athletic jerseys (which can be polarizing to someone who is a supporter of your rival, as well as generally looking too casual), concert tee shirts, or what I'll call "patriotic" clothing--your flag tee shirt can stay in the closet for this trip!
That said, if you or your partner are from a country with a distinctive traditional dress, feel free to wear that clothing if it is what you usually do. But if you're going to feel like you're in costume, or self-conscious about people staring at you, skip it in favor of something more neutral that you feel comfortable in. The same goes for religious garments--if you traditionally wear religious garb, don't feel that you need to hide that. The one note of caution I have is if you are attending an asylum interview--make sure that whatever you're wearing is consistent with your statement. Asylum officers have a lot of training, and a fairly sophisticated understanding of regional and cultural norms of dress, so if you're claiming to be one thing, don't wear clothing that suggests you are in fact something else. I had a case early on in my career with a young man who claimed to be an innocent victim of a particular gang; I was surprised when the officer was so skeptical of what I thought was a credible story, until she pointed out that what I thought were just ordinary, if fairly low-quality, tattoos were actually gang signs signifying his membership in the very group he claimed was persecuting him.
If you have questions about what to wear, or what not to wear, or anything else immigration related, please feel free to be in touch. Good luck to you!
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