Behind the Documents: How Expert Interviews Add Depth and Credibility
- ProfVal
- Oct 24
- 5 min read
Elizabeth Kharabadze, Rachel Simmons, and Zachary Johnson, PhD
ProfVal connects clients with over 200 U.S.-based experts for structured interviews that clarify and strengthen immigration business plans and Expert Opinion Letters.
These sessions may involve petitioners, employers, or managers, depending on visa type and goals.
Facilitated interviews add context, improve accuracy, and ensure credible, well-informed outcomes.
Expert Interviews Can Serve Different Purposes
We work with over 200 U.S.-based experts across a wide variety of disciplines. Depending on the context, there can be significant value in interacting with them and a trained ProfVal facilitator via a video interview.
Depending on the type of petition and the goal of the interview, these discussions may be conducted with the petitioner directly or with a manager or supervisor at the employer.
For example, when an employer is sponsoring a beneficiary, the interview may involve a manager who can describe the petitioner’s role, responsibilities, and contributions. In self-petition cases, the petitioner typically participates directly. Attorneys may also join these interviews, though this is never required.
It is important to note that 1:1 interviews with our editing team are already included with visa business and professional plan orders, but those editorial sessions are not the type of interview being discussed in this article. The interviews described here refer to specialized meetings with subject-matter experts and ProfVal facilitators that focus on evaluation and clarification rather than editing.
Business Plan Consultative Interviews (EB-1, EB-2, E-2, L-1, EB-5)
For petitioners developing an immigration business plan, ProfVal offers consultative interviews designed to provide early-stage feedback from a subject-matter expert. The process for these interviews is generally consistent across petition types (EB-1, EB-2, E-2, L-1, EB-5).
After you have provided the initial framework with a member of our editorial team, an expert and a member of our team may ask probing questions about your business. The expert may inquire about your operational model, growth strategy, market analysis, and assumptions, as well as potential gaps or opportunities. Their expertise relates to the business itself—not the visa—so no legal advice is offered during these sessions.
These consultative interviews can help petitioners gain a clearer understanding of the U.S. market, refine their strategic plans, and strengthen their immigration business plans with informed, real-world perspectives.
Research by the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) and its partner organization SCORE (SCORE) has shown that early mentorship and expert feedback can significantly improve business success rates, highlighting the potential value of such sessions for petitioners developing their business plans.
However, we do not advise consultative interviews at the final stages of petition submission, as it may be too late to make suggested changes. In those cases, a clarifying interview may be more appropriate.
Clarification Interviews for Expert Opinion Letters (EOLs)
Clarification interviews are non-consultative and focus on helping the expert preparing the letter gain first-hand understanding of your work. The goal is to ensure that their analysis is as accurate, balanced, and aligned with your experience and objectives as possible. This type of interview may support EB-1, EB-2, H-1B, L-1, or O-1 visa applications by grounding the expert’s evaluation in direct, contextual insight.
The format and focus of interviews that support Expert Opinion Letters can vary depending on the petition type:
EB-1 (Extraordinary Ability or Outstanding Researcher) EOL – Interviews for EB-1 petitions may emphasize achievements that demonstrate exceptional ability or leadership in the field. Experts may ask about innovations, publications, patents, or recognized accomplishments that show the petitioner’s extraordinary standing within their profession.
EB-2 NIW (National Interest Waiver) EOL – For NIW petitions, interviews may focus on how the petitioner’s work benefits the United States and contributes to the national interest. The discussion may explore the endeavor’s significance, potential impact, and the petitioner’s qualifications to advance it.
H-1B (Specialty Occupation) EOL – H-1B interviews may center around verifying the specialized nature of the petitioner’s role, ensuring that the duties align with professional and industry standards. Experts may discuss job responsibilities, educational background, and relevant technical expertise.
L-1 (Intracompany Transfer) EOL – For L-1 cases, interviews may involve an employer’s manager or supervisor describing the petitioner’s leadership, managerial, or specialized knowledge responsibilities. The focus may be on clarifying organizational context, role transitions, and oversight functions across international operations.
Each of these interview types will be facilitated by a trained ProfVal team member to keep the session efficient, structured, and aligned to the specific petition category.
How Interviews Are Conducted
A dedicated member of ProfVal’s team may facilitate each interview, helping to ensure a structured, focused discussion that stays efficient and productive. The purpose and tone may vary depending on the type of interview:
For immigration business plan consultations, the discussion may be exploratory and interactive. Petitioners can share their business ideas, goals, and assumptions about the market, while the expert may provide feedback on feasibility, market positioning, and how the concept could fit into U.S. industry standards. This exchange can help petitioners strengthen their immigration business plans and better anticipate the expectations of investors, partners, and evaluators.
For Expert Opinion Letter interviews, the session is designed to give the expert a deeper understanding of your background, experience, and project details. The facilitator helps keep the conversation on point, assisting the expert in gathering the technical and contextual information needed to produce a well-informed, credible Expert Opinion Letter.
The Benefits of Meeting with a ProfVal Expert
Sharing your professional history, prior projects, and domain-specific accomplishments during an expert interview can allow the expert to evaluate your approach against industry norms and standards. That context may help the expert determine whether your methods, results, or innovations are routine, exemplary, or pioneering for the field—supporting balanced, evidence-based statements about the significance and potential influence of your work.
During the conversation, the expert may clarify uncertainties, confirm key terms, and resolve any gaps between your documents and your real-world experience. This exchange can enable a deeper understanding of your methodology, evidence, and outcomes than written materials alone can provide—while giving you the opportunity to explain the practical implications and impact of your work.
Beyond the potential of helping you, these sessions can also be enjoyable and enriching for experts and our team members.
They may gain valuable insights into how employers collaborate with recent graduates, observe how innovation unfolds in practice, and learn from petitioners who demonstrate exceptional or extraordinary ability. Many experts find these discussions inspiring, as they offer a rare chance to see how their academic or professional discipline connects to the evolving realities of global industries and talent mobility.
Beyond the technical aspects, these meetings may allow petitioners, attorneys, and experts alike to connect with the real people behind the documents—the motivations, creativity, and determination that drive each case. This human connection can make the collaboration both productive and memorable.
Working together in real time can give the expert a clearer understanding of your endeavors, reducing the likelihood of later revisions and helping keep the process efficient and professional. When questions are addressed directly, the expert may draft with greater confidence—shortening turnaround time and minimizing back-and-forth.
According to the USCIS Policy Manual (USCIS Policy Manual – Evidence, Chapter 6) and AILA-published guidance (USCIS Policy Memorandum PM-602-0005.1), officers consider the probative value and specificity of expert analyses when reviewing petitions. Interviews that allow experts to gather first-hand, detailed information can strengthen the credibility and evidentiary value of Expert Opinion Letters.
The result can be a balanced, credible, and nuanced Expert Opinion Letter or immigration business plan that reflects your work accurately and presents it persuasively for the intended audience. This collaborative step may strengthen the letter’s authority or the business plan’s realism, enhance authenticity, and help ensure alignment with your goals and the broader professional context in which it will be used.
