First and foremost, it is crucial to present yourself as polite, respectful, and trust-worthy during your interview. Answer questions directly and honestly, without volun-teering unnecessary information. Be honest and precise, maintaining eye contact with your interviewer, as this demonstrates confidence and sincerity.

In our experience, Consular Officers typically focus on two main objectives during the interview: they want to know if the Applicant is telling the truth and determining whether they have any in-tention of remaining in the U.S. permanently (i.e., immigrant intent).

These are critical factors for all nonimmigrant visa applicants and Consular Officers are trained to look for these two “red flags” in particular, no matter which nonimmigrant visa you are applying for.

To best prepare for the interview, we recommend reviewing the sponsor letter included in the peti-tion filed on your behalf and approved by the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), the federal agency that oversees lawful immigration to the United States. You should be ready to discuss your job title, duties, compensation, residence and work address, with respect to both your current job and your future job in the United States. It is essential to avoid giving the im-pression that you are unemployed. Being a member of a religious order means permanent em-ployment with this order and you should explain that when asked about current employment. If there are other unemployment issues, please talk to your attorney before your visa interview.

It is also very important to show that you have no intent to stay in the United States permanently. To be successful in your application for a nonimmigrant visa, you need to show that you intend to return to your country of residence and will not overstay. To strengthen your case, emphasize your intent to return to your home country by highlighting factors such as ongoing employment, family ties, and your property and bank accounts in your country of residence. Your current plan is to stay in the U.S. for the period allowed by R-1 regulations, which is up to 30 months, with the exact du-ration depending on the expiration date of your I-129 approval notice, which you will need to bring to your interview.

It is advisable to consult with your attorney before the interview to discuss any concerns and to address any potential "red flags" in your application, such as relatives in the United States, prior visa overstays, previous visa denials, or security issues. Transparency with your attorney will help them guide you on how to present this information most effectively.

Finally, in the event of a visa denial, take note of the details during your interview. Observing the officer's actions, such as searching the computer screen or consulting with a colleague, can pro-vide valuable insight into the reasons behind the denial, which could be crucial for addressing the denial in the future and overcome it.