140 Questions to Ask Immigrants

Immigration stories are full of courage, resilience, and adventure—but they’re also deeply personal. Knowing how to ask about them can feel overwhelming. Where do you even begin?

I got you! This list is filled with thoughtful, easy-to-ask questions that spark meaningful conversations. Whether you want to know about their culture, challenges, or dreams, this article has you covered.

Their Migration Story

1. What made you decide to leave your home country?
2. How did you feel when you first considered migrating?
3. What was the most challenging part of your journey to your new country?
4. Did you migrate alone, or did you have family or friends with you?
5. What was your first impression when you arrived in the new country?
6. What did you bring with you that holds sentimental value?
7. Was migrating a planned decision or something that happened unexpectedly?
8. What were your biggest fears before migrating?
9. How long did it take for you to prepare for the move?
10. Did anyone inspire or influence your decision to migrate?
11. What was the reaction of your family and friends when you decided to migrate?
12. Did you face any obstacles or delays during your migration process?
13. Were there any unexpected surprises during your journey?
14. How did you choose the country you moved to?
15. Did you have to leave behind anything or anyone significant?
16. What were the first few days like after your arrival?
17. Did you know anyone in the new country before moving?
18. What’s a memory from your migration journey that still stands out to you?
19. How has your migration story shaped who you are today?
20. If you could go back in time, would you still choose to migrate?

Their Home Country and Culture

1. What is your favorite memory of your home country?
2. Can you describe a typical day in your hometown?
3. What’s the most unique tradition or celebration from your culture?
4. What food do you miss the most from your home country?
5. How would you describe the people in your home country?
6. Are there any cultural values from your home country that you still practice?
7. What language(s) do you speak, and how often do you use them now?
8. What is a famous landmark or place in your home country you’d recommend visiting?
9. What kind of music or art is popular in your culture?
10. Are there any misconceptions about your home country that you’d like to correct?
11. What are the most common holidays or festivals celebrated in your home country?
12. How is family life different in your culture compared to where you live now?
13. What do you miss most about your home country?
14. How would you describe the weather in your hometown?
15. Are there any sayings or proverbs from your culture that you love?
16. What is a typical meal from your culture, and how is it prepared?
17. Are there any traditional clothes from your home country that you still wear?
18. How does your home country celebrate weddings or other big life events?
19. What do you think is the most beautiful aspect of your culture?
20. If you could bring one thing from your home country to your new home, what would it be?

Adjusting to a New Country

1. What was the hardest part of adjusting to life in a new country?
2. How long did it take you to feel comfortable in your new environment?
3. What was the biggest cultural difference you noticed?
4. Did you struggle with learning a new language?
5. How did you make your first friends in the new country?
6. What local customs or habits took the most time to get used to?
7. How did you deal with homesickness?
8. What were your first experiences with the local food?
9. Did you find it easy to find a place to live when you arrived?
10. What resources helped you adapt to your new country?
11. Were there any surprising similarities between your home and the new country?
12. How has the climate affected your daily life?
13. Did you have trouble finding a job or education opportunities?
14. How do you stay connected to your culture while living abroad?
15. What’s one thing you still find strange about your new country?
16. How do people in your new country usually react when they find out you’re an immigrant?
17. Did you face any prejudice or discrimination?
18. How has your view of the new country changed over time?
19. What’s a piece of advice you’d give to someone adjusting to a new country?
20. What do you love most about your new country now?

The Immigration Process

1. How did you research the requirements for migration?
2. Was it easy to gather all the necessary documents?
3. Did you hire an immigration lawyer or do it yourself?
4. What’s something about the immigration process that surprised you?
5. How long did the entire process take?
6. Did you need a visa, and was it difficult to obtain?
7. What was the most frustrating part of the process?
8. How did you manage the stress of waiting for approval?
9. Were there interviews or tests as part of the process?
10. Did you need to prove financial stability to migrate?
11. How did you choose the type of visa or immigration pathway?
12. Were there specific rules for bringing family members with you?
13. Did the process require learning about the new country’s laws?
14. Were there any unexpected costs during the process?
15. How did you handle setbacks or delays?
16. Was there any point where you wanted to give up?
17. What kind of support, if any, did you receive during the process?
18. How did you celebrate once your immigration was approved?
19. What advice would you give to someone starting the process?
20. If you could change one thing about the immigration process, what would it be?

Immigration Issues and Challenges

1. What challenges did you face during the immigration process?
2. Were there any legal barriers to migrating?
3. Did you receive help or support during the process?
4. How did you manage the financial cost of migration?
5. Have you experienced any cultural misunderstandings?
6. What’s the biggest misconception people have about immigrants?
7. How has your mental health been impacted by immigration?
8. Are there services or resources for immigrants that you found helpful?
9. Did you face language barriers in daily life?
10. Have you ever felt excluded because of your immigrant status?
11. How has the immigration process impacted your family?
12. What do you think governments could do to make immigration easier?
13. Have you been able to access healthcare or other services easily?
14. How did you handle the uncertainty of the immigration process?
15. What’s something you wish people understood about immigration?
16. Did you experience delays or denials during the process?
17. How do you stay informed about changes in immigration policies?
18. What kind of support do immigrants need most?
19. Have you faced discrimination in the workplace or school?
20. How do you cope with the challenges of being an immigrant?

The Impact of Immigration on Their Identity

1. How has living in a new country changed your sense of self?
2. Do you feel more connected to your home culture or your new culture?
3. Have you developed a new perspective on your home country since migrating?
4. How do you balance blending into a new culture while staying true to your roots?
5. What parts of your identity have been strengthened through immigration?
6. Do you feel like a different person compared to when you lived in your home country?
7. How do you explain your cultural identity to others?
8. Have you experienced identity struggles due to immigration?
9. How do you celebrate your cultural heritage in your new country?
10. Do you identify more as an immigrant or as part of your new country?
11. How has immigration influenced your values or priorities?
12. What aspects of your identity are most misunderstood by others?
13. How do you define home now?
14. Has your sense of belonging changed over time?
15. How do you teach others about your cultural identity?
16. What does being an immigrant mean to you personally?
17. Have you found a community that shares your background or culture?
18. How do you handle questions about your identity?
19. How do you honor both your home and host cultures in daily life?
20. What’s one thing you’ve learned about yourself through immigration?

Their Hopes for the Future

1. What are your biggest goals for the future?
2. How do you see your life five years from now?
3. Do you plan to stay in your new country for the long term?
4. Would you like to visit or return to your home country someday?
5. What dreams do you have for your family?
6. What kind of legacy do you want to leave behind?
7. How do you plan to preserve your culture for future generations?
8. Do you hope to become a citizen of your new country?
9. What’s one thing you’d like to achieve in the next year?
10. Are there specific places in your new country you’d like to explore?
11. What role do you see yourself playing in your new community?
12. Do you plan to contribute to immigration advocacy or awareness?
13. How do you hope your children will benefit from your immigration?
14. What personal skills or traits do you want to develop further?
15. Do you see yourself influencing change in immigration policies?
16. Are there any educational goals you hope to accomplish?
17. What kind of life do you envision for the next generation of your family?
18. Do you dream of starting a business or pursuing a specific career?
19. What do you hope to learn from your experiences in your new country?
20. If you could accomplish one major goal as an immigrant, what would it be?

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Frequently Asked Questions

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Final Thoughts

Talking to immigrants and learning about their stories is a meaningful way to build connections and broaden your perspective. These questions are just a starting point, but they can open the door to some truly insightful conversations.

It’s all about asking with curiosity and respect and then really listening to what they have to share. You might be surprised by how much you learn and how much closer you become to understanding their journey.