Immigration Office (Intermediate-Advanced)

Practice on Your Own

Imagine that you are in a country where the language is spoken. You got a visa before arriving in the country. However, you may need to go to an immigration office to extend your visa or to have your passport stamped.

• First prepare a phone call to find out where the office is and what hours it is open. Also ask what documents you need to take with you (passport, a check or cash, a document showing that you are student…).
• What is your reason for going there?
  • I am here to extend the length of my stay.
  • I lost my passport, and I need the immigration stamp in my new passport. What documents do I need? Should the school send you a note? …
• Practice different conversations around some of the reasons for going to an immigration office.
  • You: Hello, my name is John Patterson, and I am here to extend the length of my stay.
  • Officer: Why do you want to stay longer?
  • You: I was not able to finish the materials that I found useful for my language learning./I need to do more research on the topic I have been working on./…
  • Office: How much longer will you stay? …

Practice in Conversation Session

• Role play a phone call in which you ask for the location of the immigration office and their hours. Continue the conversation by asking about the documents that you need to bring with you. Then switch roles with your conversation partner.
• Have a conversation with an officer (played by your conversation partner) in the immigration office. Then switch roles so that you become the officer.
• Have a discussion with your conversation partner about the appropriate way to address an officer in that country (how casual or formal, etc.). Compare immigration issues in the U.S. with the country/ies where the language is spoken.