Dear Sophie: How should I prepare for my visa interview?

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The advice column that answers immigration-related questions about working at technology companies is called "DEAR SOCIETY"

A Silicon Valley immigration attorney says that your questions are vital to the spread of knowledge that allows people all over the world to rise above borders. I would be happy to answer your questions in my next column.

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I would like to ask you a question, DearSophie.

The startup was accepted into the winter cohort of a top accelerator.

My co-founder with an H-1B was laid off from Big Tech, but his immigration lawyer is going to file a change of status to B-1 within 60 days. I don't have a B-1/B-2 visitor visa so I'm worried.

What can I do to get a visa? I don't know what questions will be asked. I don't know how to prepare.

In Tobago, it was tenacious.

Thank you, dear tenacious.

Thank you so much for contacting us! Before I dive into your questions, I would like to give you some advice on how to prepare for a consular interview.

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Interviewing an immigration official is a high-stakes endeavor. Immigration officials have the ability to grant you a non- immigrant visa or an immigrant visa that will allow you to enter the U.S. Your future visa and green card applications will be affected by how you do during the interview.

Department of State, officials take notes about whether they think an interviewee is responsible, credible and qualified, and that record will be available for all consular officers to see.

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The State Department stopped allowing immigration attorneys to accompany their clients to a consular interview more than 25 years ago. You can bring an attorney with you to the green card interview with the U.S. citizenship and immigration services officer.

Immigration officers are human, too!

It's obvious, but reminding yourself of that may help you relax. Like everyone else, consular officers have families, good and bad days, hopes and dreams, as well as their own unique experiences. They are doing their job to the best of their abilities.

The H-1B and L-1 visas allow you to stay in the U.S. if you file for a green card. The O-1 visa has some flexibility.