Right here’s one other version of “Pricey Sophie,” the recommendation column that solutions immigration-related questions on working at know-how firms.
“Your questions are very important to the unfold of data that enables folks all around the world to rise above borders and pursue their desires,” says Sophie Alcorn, a Silicon Valley immigration legal professional. “Whether or not you’re in folks ops, a founder or searching for a job in Silicon Valley, I’d like to reply your questions in my subsequent column.”
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Pricey Sophie,
Our startup was simply accepted into the winter batch of a prime accelerator!
My co-founder with an H-1B simply received laid off from massive tech, however he’s OK as a result of his immigration lawyer is submitting a change of standing to B-1 inside the 60-day grace interval. I’m nervous although, as a result of I’m outdoors the U.S. and I don’t but have a B-1/B-2 customer visa.
How can I ace the visa interview? What kind of questions will I be requested? How ought to I put together?
— Tenacious in Tobago
Pricey Tenacious,
Thanks a lot for reaching out! Earlier than I dive into your questions, let me present some context and basic suggestions for making ready for a consular interview.
Get recommendation from an skilled
An interview with any immigration official is a high-stakes enterprise. Immigration officers have the discretion to resolve whether or not or to not grant you a non-immigrant visa or an immigrant visa (inexperienced card) that may allow you to enter the USA. And the way properly — or poorly — you do throughout the interview could have implications to your future visa and inexperienced card functions.
In accordance with Mandy Feuerbacher, who was a consular officer on the U.S. Division of State, officers take notes about whether or not they assume an interviewee is accountable, credible, and certified, and that file can be accessible for all consular officers to see even when an individual applies for an additional visa class or at one other U.S. embassy or consulate.
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Sadly, you can’t carry an immigration legal professional with you to a consular interview — the State Division stopped permitting that greater than 25 years in the past. In distinction, you’re allowed to carry an legal professional with you to a inexperienced card interview with a U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Companies officer contained in the U.S.
Immigration officers are human, too!
Picture Credit: Joanna Buniak / Sophie Alcorn (opens in a brand new window)
This sounds apparent, however reminding your self of that will assist alleviate your nervousness. Like everybody else, consular officers have households, good and dangerous days, hopes and desires, and personalities and world views formed by their distinctive experiences. They’re merely attempting to do their job to the perfect of their capacity.
As an apart, the H-1B specialty occupation visa and the L-1 visa for intracompany transferees are dual-intent, and assist you to intend to stay within the U.S. by submitting for a inexperienced card. The O-1 extraordinary capacity visa has some flexibility as properly.
