L1, L2 Visa

Here is my experience under an L-1A Blanket (Functional Manager) case in Chennai, India in May 2023. Hope it helps.

Documents: I brought a lot of documents other than the I-129S and I-797, but didn't need any of them.

Process :
Entered the consulate around 10:30am. After the security check, was directed by a staff member to arrange my docs in this order - passport/I-129S (all 8 pages)/ I-797 (only the first page).
She checked my documents, asked for the payment mode and directed me to go to the building where the interviews happen. There, I paid the fraud prevention fee of USD 500, collected my receipt and waited for my turn.

Interview:
The visa officer asked me the following questions while looking at their computer and taking notes.

1. How long have you worked for <my employer>
2. Do you have direct reports?
3. What's your pay going to be in the US?
4. Do you have hiring and firing authority?
5. Who will you report to in the US?

And then they told me my visa was approved.

My L1-B VAC and the interview was conducted in Chennai, India on 04 and 05 MAY 2023.

VAC -

I reached 30 minutes ahead of the time. They let me after checking the appointment confirmation page and the passport.
I was carrying my old (still not expired) and the new passport. My DS-160 form had old passport details. The old passport is not expired. (Expiry date in 2024)
I was asked to submit a new DS-160 with the new passport details. There are a few photo-copy stores in and around the VAC venue. They charge for the new DS-160 filling up and its photocopies.

I was then allowed to go inside the VAC again. They captured my biometrics and clicked a photograph. You may wear a formal shirt and denim without any issues. The cell phone is allowed but has to be switched off. A chargeable locker facility is available in the building with the photocopy vendor. All in all, I was out in 20 minutes with the right documentation. They paste a sticker on the back of your passport that enlists your DS-160 form number, passport number, VAC date, time, and interview date time. Verify if everything is correct - VAC and interview details, passport number, and the DS-160 form number. The vendor accepts UPI and cash payments. Better to carry cash.

Docs needed - passport, DS-160 (with current passport details, even if your old passport is not expired), and appointment confirmation letter.

Interview -

The mask is mandatory.
I reached the consulate 45 minutes ahead of the time. There were two long queues. In the first queue, they check the passport sticker pasted at the VAC. They then ask you to stand in the second queue. They then let a group of 10-15 individuals inside the consulate where there's a security check. No bags, smart and electronic devices including cell phones are allowed. No smartwatches are allowed. Everything is checked thoroughly. Once that is done, a person asks about your visa type and then helps you to stack the necessary documents. All other documents are advised to keep inside the folder you carry. After this, you enter the interview building where they separate applicants on the visa type. I was asked to sit with other L1 applicants for around 20 minutes. There is a water and washroom facility available. Again, in a batch of 5-7 individuals, you are asked to approach a counter where they check the stacked documents (Passport, DS-160 confirmation, I-129S, I797)

You then are asked to approach the anti-fraud fee counters. A dollar is straight-away converted into 84 INR since 06 October 2022. The person on the other side of the glass asks for the stack of documents already sorted before. He asked me the mode of payment - I replied cash. He asked if I had a credit card and I said yes. Only the credit card which is in your name is allowed. Carry an extra credit card if you have one. Otherwise, cash (INR 42000) works with a bit of reluctance. The third option is a Demand Draft. After payment is done, the person gives the stacked documents and the receipt.

A staff member then asks you to stand in the queue of one of the many interview windows. I was third in front of my window. The ongoing interviewee was asked about the client's location, proposed salary, and some other questions. (which I did not hear) His visa was approved. The next interviewee was a lady and her interview was wrapped in 3 minutes with visa approval. I took off the mask during my turn (everybody does) and submitted the stack of docs on the other side of the glass window. You can keep the folder aside on the counter and relax till your docs are checked.

Questions asked with the V.O typing a lot on her computer -
Who is your petitioner?
What does your company do? (Answer in brief, keep it simple, and use keywords like AI/ML/Cloud if applicable)
Is it a software company?
Have you ever traveled to the U.S.?
Why only you are traveling from the company?

Then I was asked to put 4-fingers of my left hand on the biometric machine and the V.O. told me that my visa was approved.
Don't forget to carry at least one stamped and signed I-129S.

Overall good approval rate around the time I was there. No one wore a blazer. Simple formal-wear works.

This forum helped be prepared, so giving back my experience. Had gone in for L1B for myself and L2 for my husband in Chennai. It was a smooth process. I travelled from bangalore, took a stay around 500m from the visa consulate so that I can walk and attend the interview. Note that mobiles, smart watch, cosmetics, bluetooth earphones, other electronics are not allowed. You have to run around for the locker unnecessarily . So plan to stay at a near by hotel.

April 30th - Biometric : Need to carry latest original passports, appointment conformation, DS-160 of every individual if your going as a family. This would be complete in 15-30 mins. Mobiles are allowed here

May 1st - Visa Interview
Document that were used : 2 sets of I-129s + I-797, DS 160, appointment conformation, all passports including old , anti fraud fee payment $500. Apart from these I carried a couple of other docs like payslips, certifications on tech courses, marriage certificate, birth certificate, graduation certificate but nothing was used.

Questions asked
1. What does your company do?
2. How long did you work in this company?
3. What is my specialisation? -> felt this the most important question. I told my tech skills quickly and also explained my roles and importance of my responsibilities
4. What will my salary in US be?
5. How long I’m planning to stay in US?

They didnt ask any questions to my husband. When I answered the 3rd question, they stamped approved on my I-129.

Be prepared with short answers, dont use too many tech terms, try to explain in simple terms that even kids can understand. When I was waiting for my turn, I could hear how other interviews were going, lot of them struggled with the 3rd question.

Go atleast 30 mins before the appointment time as there will be a long queue. Dont forget to take a mask.

Hello everyone,

I was on L2 visa three years ago in the US. Currently appearing for L1B Blanket. I am wondering should I mention about the L2 extension denial? I read in some forums that I need to mention in DS 160 only if the embassy makes the denial. Should we also mention the past denial from USCIS?

Please advise on that.

Thanks
KB

Biometric - 9th April. Required docs - Appointment confirmation, DS-160 confirmation page, Passport.

Visa Interview - 10th April. Required docs - (2 sets of I129 and I797), anti fraud fee $500(DD, cash, credit card) and Passport.

VO: you are here for L1A or L1B ?
VO: what's your specialized knowledge ?
VO: How long you are with this petitioner ?
VO: what's your overall work experience ?
VO: what's your designation ?
VO: so you previously had H1B ?
VO to dependent: What's your highest qualification ?

All the time he was typing on his screen and at last he said your visa is approved.

Giving back to this forum as this have helped me a lot.

My L1A Blanket rejected 1.5 years back and I was nervous about my Individual this time. But once your L1A Individual petition is approved without any RFE then you are good to go there won't be any further issues.

Below are the questions asked.

1. When was your last L1A visa got rejected?
2. Where you are heading?
3. What is your Salary.
4. What is your highest education qualification.

VO is looking at system constantly and typing through out my duaration and mine was just 2min and I have seen multiple approvals before me and finally golden words saying "I am approving your Visa.

Be prepared for your interview with mock inteviews and quality crisp answers for notable questions asked( Be specific to point give relevant details and dont elaborate), which will give lot of confidence.

I currently have an L1B visa (India) and will be applying for an L2 visa (India) so that I can travel to the United States as a dependent, where my wife is already working for one of our clients on L1B visa.

I have few questions: -
- Will my L1B become void if I apply for an L2 visa?
- Will there be any issues with my L2 immigration processing?
- Do I need any extra documents in addition to the L2 visa checklist?

Vac Appointment - 15th March
Consular Appointment- 20th March

Received passport for primary L1A on 23rd march,
however the L2 is showing Approved in Ceac website but no progress from there.
Is this normal? Can anyone suggest?

Regarding the interview:
Wore formals with blazer.
Spouse wore formals.

Paid antifraud fee of 500$ with credit card

Questions:
Salary in US?
What is your role?
How many reportees?
Any managers under you?
Do you have hire and fire authority?

You can take all docs however they only sort and check passport, ds-160, I129s(2 copies) and I797(2 copies)

The experience shared on the Immihelp forum helped me with my preparation, so I am sharing my experience in the hope that someone else might benefit from it.

I don't hold any other US visa, and this was my first time applying for an L1B Blanket visa. On XX March 2023, I had my biometric appointment at 8:30 am at the Chennai VAC. My wife and I were dressed casually since it was just for biometrics. We arrived at 8 am, and the security guard at the entrance allowed us inside the premise after verifying our appointment time.

Once inside the building, the staff asked us to go to the first floor and keep the following documents:

• DS 160 confirmation page
• Appointment Confirmation page
• Passport Original

The queue on the first floor moved very quickly, and we moved to the second floor, where they did a security check and allowed us inside. At the counter, the staff verified the details entered on DS 160 to our passport. After this, we moved into another queue and then directly to the biometric queue. Once at the biometric counter, the staff took biometrics and stamped DS160.

We had to carry the stamped DS160 to our next day consular interview.

Here are a few tips based on my experience:

• Do not reach the venue early as they won't allow you inside the premise earlier than 30 minutes to your appointment time.
• You can carry your mobile phone, but it should be in switched off mode.
• Avoid carrying a large suitcase or bag. However, I did see others carrying small handbags, etc.
• It is advisable to carry all the documents etc. in a transparent folder

The whole process was very quick, and we were out in 20 minutes.

On next day, I had my interview appointment at 8:30 am at the Chennai Consulate. My wife and I were dressed semi-formally with formal shirts and trousers. We reached the venue at 8 am, and there were already a few people in the queue outside the consulate. However, after showing our appointment, a staff member allowed us to go ahead. There were 2-3 points where they checked our documents and passports, etc. After the security check, we were moved into a hall where the staff was giving instructions on the documents, etc. Based on my L1B Blanket visa type, the following sets of documents were required:

• VAC Stamped DS160 of primary applicant
• 2 sets of all eight pages of I-129S
• 2 sets of the first page of I-797
• Original Passport of primary applicant and dependent

Once the documents were sorted, the staff bundled the papers with the passport and asked us to go ahead. We moved into another building where the staff asked my wife to wait in the seating area as I went ahead and made the anti-fraud fee payment. I used a credit card, and it worked without any issues.

Once the payment was done, I joined my wife back in the seating area, and the staff asked us to stand in a queue. After 20 minutes, we were asked to move into another area where the interviews were happening.
As we stood in line, we could clearly hear the ongoing interview conversations. At the first counter, they verified our documents and passports and asked us to go back into the interview queue.

As we stood in queue, we could see VO interviewing the person ahead of us with a smiling face. It made us feel calm and comfortable that VO seems to be in good mood. :)
Within 5 minutes, it was our turn.

The visa officer requested our documents and passports and greeted us. Here is a summary of the interview:

VO: Are you applying for L1 A or L1 B?
Ans: L1 B

VO : Let me interview your wife first. ( This shocked me a bit as I was not expecting this!! )

VO to my wife : What is your highest qualification Ans - XXX

VO : Thanks, you can go back to the seating area or you can stand here. My wife decided to stay back.

VO started interviewing me :
VO : How long has it been with the current employer ? Ans : XXX years
VO : For what client are you going to work ? Ans : No client as it is internal project
VO : What are you going to work in US ? Ans : Explained the project
VO : Why were you the only one selected among your colleague for this project ? Ans : Explained my specialized knowledge and my experience
VO : What would you be your salary in US ? Ans XXX

VO : thank you, Both your visa are approved. You should receive passport in one week. Please carry stamped I-I129s at the port of entry.

Overall, the interview lasted only 5 minute.

We were out of consulate by 9.10 am.

Few Tips :
1. Do not reach early to the venue as they won't allow you inside the premise earlier than 30 minutes to your appointment time
2. Do not carry phone, electronics, car key ( remote ) , smart watch etc. We just carried cash, cards, documents along with us.
3. Prepare your answers for specialized knowledge in crisp 3-4 sentences
4. Be calm and avoid listening to others interview
5. It would be advisable to practice the sample questions as it will give you enough confidence to answer them in front of VO
6. Book your stay near consulate as you can walk and reach consulate and will not have hassle of carrying phone along with you for booking cabs etc.
7. Book early slots as there won't be any backlog from the earlier slots. As I could see that after us, queue was becoming long.

I checked my visa status on the evening of the interview day and it was Approved. After 2 days, it turned to Issued and on the same day evening, CGI portal showed that passport is with delivery team. I received passport 3 days after the interview.

Overall, I would say it went smooth however, I prepared well anticipating tougher Interview questions.

Jan 27 - Hyderbad biometrics .
Passport , DS160 , Appointment confirmation.
Reached Application center 30 min early and staff have checked DS160 and passport for DOB and name validations.
After that entered inside and gave my finger prints and they took a photo of mine and told me process is completed in less than 10 min.

Feb1st Chennai Interview.
Docs - passport , ds160 stamped at biometrics , l1 b petition documents.
there will be staff to set your documents in order once entered inside. he will help you to keep in order
Int. Hi
me: hello officer.
Int: can you pass me the documents.
me: gave the documents.
Int: So you work for XXXX company .
me: yes
Int: what is special skill that you hold in the company
me : told my expertise and maintained eye contact.
Int: have you worked in this application from the beginning .
me: no officer , but i have gained this level expertise by working from past X years .
Int: How many of your company employees are there in the same project as yours.
me: gave the number and told currently they are not within the organization.
Int: ok . i am approving your visa and gave me the stamped i797 and kept one set with him.
Me: Thank you officer have a great day .

Got my passport within 5 days
Overall my experience was good and i was having so many thoughts running in mind, but somehow kept them aside during the interview tried not to show my nervousness.

Thank you immihelp, i am sharing this exp so it can help someone to boost their confidence.