Your point about not offering unnecessary information is, unfortunately, good advice. In my situation it felt as if the officer was going to every possible len

Your point about not offering unnecessary information is, unfortunately, good advice. In my situation it felt as if the officer was going to every possible length to find a reason to reject my application. I was explicitly asked why I was no longer with my former employer, what my last day of work was, and what date I had previously left the US to return to Canada. Being untruthful about any of these easily-verifiable points would have been much worse in the long run (since this officer definitely seemed intent on running down every possibility). Honestly I am lucky that I had a proof of my severance agreement, which showed it was not a voluntary departure.