Right here’s one other version of “Expensive Sophie,” the recommendation column that solutions immigration-related questions on working at know-how corporations.
“Your questions are very important to the unfold of data that permits folks everywhere in 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 looking for a job in Silicon Valley, I might like to reply your questions in my subsequent column.”
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Expensive Sophie,
Our startup was simply accepted into the winter batch of a high accelerator!
My co-founder with an H-1B simply acquired laid off from huge 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 exterior the U.S. and I don’t but have a B-1/B-2 customer visa.
How can I ace the visa interview? What sort of questions will I be requested? How ought to I put together?
— Tenacious in Tobago
Expensive 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 professional
An interview with any immigration official is a high-stakes endeavor. 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 can allow you to enter america. And the way nicely — or poorly — you do in the course of the interview can have implications in your future visa and inexperienced card purposes.
In keeping with Mandy Feuerbacher, who was a consular officer on the U.S. Division of State, officers take notes about whether or not they suppose an interviewee is accountable, credible, and certified, and that file will likely be obtainable for all consular officers to see even when an individual applies for one more visa class or at one other U.S. embassy or consulate.
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Sadly, you can’t convey 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 convey 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 which will assist alleviate your nervousness. Like everybody else, consular officers have households, good and unhealthy 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 nicely.
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