Right here’s one other version of “Expensive Sophie,” the recommendation column that solutions immigration-related questions on working at expertise firms.
“Your questions are important to the unfold of information that enables folks all around the world to rise above borders and pursue their desires,” says Sophie Alcorn, a Silicon Valley immigration lawyer. “Whether or not you’re in folks ops, a founder or in search of a job in Silicon Valley, I might like to answer 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 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 throughout 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 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 normal suggestions for getting ready for a consular interview.
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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 may allow you to enter the USA. And the way properly — or poorly — you do throughout the interview could have implications in your future visa and inexperienced card functions.
In line 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 probably be out there 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 not convey an immigration lawyer with you to a consular interview — the State Division stopped permitting that greater than 25 years in the past. In distinction, you might be allowed to convey an lawyer with you to a inexperienced card interview with a U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Providers officer contained in the U.S.
Immigration officers are human, too!
Picture Credit: Joanna Buniak / Sophie Alcorn (opens in a new window)
This sounds apparent, however reminding your self of which will assist alleviate your anxiousness. 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 easiest of their capability.
As an apart, the H-1B specialty occupation visa and the L-1 visa for intracompany transferees are dual-intent, and help you intend to stay within the U.S. by submitting for a inexperienced card. The O-1 extraordinary capability visa has some flexibility as properly.
