A: No. For NVC processing, you normally submit scans or copies of the required civil documents. Keep the originals or certified copies, because you will need to bring them to the immigrant-visa interview.
A: Yes. I-130 approval is an important step, but it does not freeze the marriage issue forever. Later stages such as adjustment of status, removal of conditions, or naturalization have their own eligibility review. If new evidence or inconsistencies appear, USCIS can look again at whether the marriage was genuine. Keep your records consistent and do not assume the earlier approval makes later questions impossible. Keep important relationship evidence even after I-130 approval because later stages may revisit the marriage.
A: It can happen, but it is not a routine step in every marriage green card case. USCIS investigators may conduct a home or site visit when the agency believes additional verification is needed. If officers contact you, verify who they are, answer truthfully, and do not guess. A case that has reached an investigative stage should be taken seriously, especially if USCIS is trying to resolve inconsistencies in the record. If a visit happens, answer from what you actually know instead of guessing.
A: Yes. USCIS can compare your filing with information from its own records, other government systems, public sources, and investigative work. Whether the agency contacts a particular employer, landlord, bank, or other private party depends on the individual case. The practical lesson is that an immigration filing does not exist in isolation. Make sure the current filing is accurate and consistent with information that can be verified elsewhere. Prior filings, addresses, employment, and other verifiable facts can all become points of comparison.
A: A pending Form I-485 green card application is not the same as keeping your old nonimmigrant status. Whether the case can continue after the old status expires depends on the immigration category and history. Spouses of U.S. citizens have important exceptions from some adjustment bars, but a pending case does not by itself give permission to work or travel. Understand the effect before the old status ends.
A: USCIS can interview the U.S. petitioner even when the spouse is abroad. The officer may want more information about the relationship, prior marriages, evidence, or filing history. An interview does not automatically mean denial. Review what was filed and be ready to explain the relationship accurately. Bring the notice, review the petition, and know the relationship timeline.
A: Yes, but filing Form N-400 does not make future travel irrelevant. You remain a permanent resident until the oath and still need to satisfy the continuous residence rules. A trip of more than 6 months can create a residence issue, and an absence of 1 year or more generally breaks continuous residence unless a specific exception applies. You also need to return for USCIS appointments. Keep a record of every trip after filing. Be ready to update USCIS about any trips taken after the N-400 was filed.