What to wear at your hearing or interview

Suits are an option, but business casual is better.

---

Is your hearing or interview coming up and not sure what to wear? Generally, you want to look well put together without going overboard unless your circumstances merit going to one extreme or the other. At the end of the day, it is your personal choice. However, just as home sellers stage their houses before having would-be buyers walk through, so should you consider staging how you look for your interview or hearing.

First, let's imagine you have an interview at USCIS. You've applied for your green card and you finally having your interview after months or years or waiting patiently. You cannot control which officer you will be seeing or what their mood is going to be. But you can control how you appear to them and there is your power.

Overall, it is best to appear in business casual attire. You might think a suit is more formal and therefore better. Yet, in my experience, officers and immigration judges react favorably to business casual because it calmly suggests that you respect the proceedings rather than screaming it as a suit could do.

Joggers, sweatpants, leggings, and denim should all be left in the closet. Instead of sneakers, flip-flops, or crocs, wear a pair of closed-toes shoes. Tears, rips, stains may be fashionable but keep the fashion for after your interview or hearing. Any clothing with words on it should be left at home. You want to appear as neutral as possible and not risk offending the person interviewing you or adjudicating your claim.

Likewise, do not wear any strong deodorants, perfumes, or colognes. While some might enjoy the smells, remember that officers have to interact with hundreds of people a month and can only handle so many odors.

Another hint don't wear jewelry that is ostentatious and don't wear too much of it. Often times the government offices you will be going to are in relatively high crime areas so you will be a target. Second, the more jewelry you have on, the more you will have to take off (and might lose) when you go through security at the location of your proceeding. Next, an officer or judge might find your jewelry to be a negative or they may question how it relates to your claim. Better to give the officer or judge nothing to get distracted with.

Car keys! Do you drive a luxury vehicle or one that could be perceived as such? No one needs to know. Keep your key fobs in your pockets. Less is more unless you have a reason to show an item to assist with your case. This goes for tattoos as well. Especially now, tattoos can cause you trouble even if they are merely artistic. Keep them under wraps until after your proceeding is over. Have a conceal carry permit? Make sure to leave you weapon at home or secured in your vehicle. (It is a federal crime to bring a weapon into a federal facility even by accident). Also, make sure to leave any ammunition or pocket knives in your car or at home.

While all the above is generally true, cases vary. In some cases, it might make sense to wear street clothes. For instance, maybe you are a fashion designer. Or it might make sense to wear lots of jewelry if you are jeweler. Likewise, perhaps you have an asylum claim that revolves around a tattoo of a cross. You should, in consultation with your lawyer, consider the positives and negatives of making any of the choices of attire above before the day of your interview or hearing.