L1, L2 Visa

I attended my PA at US consulate chennai .He did not ask me many questions .
wat is your overall exp?
why ur going to US?
wat is ur specialized knowledge ?
wat is ur current salary?

Then he said he cannot approve my visa currently and asked me to apply for L1 A .I dopnt know why he he ia saking to apply for L1A individual .It is purely for managerial role .He gave me blue slip .My doubt is whether can wee apply L1B after one year .If i apply L1B arether any chances to get visa ....and manily US has targetted bangalore s/w engineers ...this is not fare

VO: Silent
Me: GM Mam

VO: give me the folder
Me : < pushed folder into the window >

VO: why so many documents? she took only 3 WP and gave all other papers.

VO: what's your Overall year of exp.
Me: Over 6 Years

VO : she say my previous compnay name and said
Oh you worked for xyz compnay !!! so how many years with that company

ME : 4 years

VO: you have Masters of Bachelors
ME: Bachelors

VO: In which
ME: CS

VO: who is your Client?
ME: zzzz

VO : how long have you been working with this client
ME: this is new project

VO: what is your specialized skill
ME: Xyz wit number of years, and specialised tool.

VO: Ok sir your VISA is granted you will get in 1 week

Chennai
04-Nov-2010

I just thought of sharing my experience with the travel desk. So that they can take appropriate steps to help the
other candidates in handling this kind of situation. So as to avoid getting blue/yellow slip for the candidates who
will be going for the Visa interview.

========================================== questions asked=================
We : good morning Sir

VO : very good morning, can I have your documents please.
We : handed over the documents folder

VO : From how many years you're working with this company.
Me : 4 years

VO : have you visited any other country.
Me : yes, I have been to Singapore, twice for the project work.

VO : who is your client.
Me : client name

VO : what is your specialist knowledge.
Me : in my 6 years of working experience, I have acquired very good knowledge of mainframes and the banking domain,
along with the specialisation on company's proprietary tools like ___ . I have also got employee of the month award for
the work I have done..... (he didn't let me finish and switch to the next question)


VO : what's your designation
Me : senior software engineer

VO : What is your US salary.
Me : $69,000 per year

VO : you told me about your skills, and document says that you are going to lead a team in US . However,
your designation doesn't support the same and also the salary doesn't look like the salary of uniquely skilled
resource.

Me : IBM follows the band system for each designation. The designation software engineer has----bands, and I'm
currently holding the highest band. I have 14 resources under me from various geographical location. If you want I
can provide you the contact details of them. So that you can verify. Regarding salary, this is as per the company
standard. It used to be higher before, but has been revised during recessions as a measure of cost cutting.

VO : clever answer, but I'm still not convinced that this is the salary for highly skilled person. You can be
considered for L-1 individual visa but not for a L1B. And he handed over a yellow slip to me.

I have least expected that reply from him. I was so shocked that I couldn't speak for a few minutes. Later, I Said
thank you for your time to the officer and left window quietly.

## it's really unfortunate for me. That I managed to answer all the questions as best as I can, but my Visa got
rejected because of something which is not in my control (designation, salary). I'm really depressed, and I'm
wondering why in the first place travel desk has applied for L1B Visa Instead of L-1 individual Visa, If the
designation and the salary doesn't meet the requirement for L1B Visa.
 
## Now I'm really worried that this rejection is going to affect all my future application for any kind of Visa. I
sincerely request to the travel desk and the people involved in deciding about what kind of Visa to apply for, to
look into this matter very seriously and take necessary steps So that employees can be saved from getting into this
kind of embracing situation.

This was the first time I went for my VISA.

To my surprise, VO just aksed me two questions
1. Who is your client
2. What are your roles & responsbilities

And then came the golden words "Visa is approved"

Approved on Oct 31, 2010

First of all thanks a lots to Immihelp. Going thru the posts was very helpful and gave an idea about what to expect in the interviews.........
i went to L1 Blanket today...here is my version
By the time i was in queue one person was there who was giving shacky and nervous answers, he was using all big langauages like 'Methodologies' 'processes' and other things and he was rejected.

By my turn..........
VO took my doucuments and was silent.so i took initiative and said good morning

VO: Very good morning. So you are xxxx.

and below are all the questions asked..

so what do you do,whom do u work for,who u will work in US,what is that and what relation to present company,what about your role,who is your clinet. what do your clinet do. and what is the project in client and how many years you are with this clinet

Hi,
my interview on 2nd Nov 2010
I am unable to write this also, as i too much depressed, I prepared a lot and i am seeing the posts in this site from last 1 month and did home work a lot for interview, Thanks for this site modertator and the one who posted their experiences. I didnt expect that word that my visa was rejected.
After formalities , my questions are simple
- What is your total experience
I said 4 years 10 months
- who is your client
#########
-what is your experience with client
$$$$$$$$
- what is your specialization
I showed my specialization as mainly on one system which i developed in the project that is my domain knowledge, other than this i told my primary skill is $$$$ technology like this.

But the VO didnt heard my answer atleast ,he continously checking on system and atlast he said ask your employer to apply under l1b individual petition, for details go to counter no 9, My face become pale, calm, sad and i said thank you , have a nice day in a very low pitch.
as per me i can say one thing, my desperation, frustration, hard work, prayers from last few months for visa all are wasted, From my company 7 people went there , out of that 1 person already went on L1B and now came for extension. 6 went to counter no 16 and 1 went to counter no 17 , 6 are rejected that 1 person is selected, every one rejected on the same reason that ask your employer to apply on individual category, dont know how long it will continues
if any body has time pelase respond for my following queries
1. can i apply for L1B individual right now
2. If i want to apply for L1B Blanket when is the duration i can apply.
thanks

I would like to thank my God for giving me this success as it was my first Visa interview..
Thanks to this site that helped me a lot in my preparation..

Below were the questions asked
Who is your client?
Exp with the client?
what is your specialised skill?
Tell me about three challenges you faced in the project?

Then came the words "Your visa is approved"


All the best to all who are waiting for interview

Our interview was scheduled on 26 Oct, 8:30AM. As I have a 3 yr old daughter, we decided to use the VFS facility. We reached there at 7:45AM, and checked in. We had to wait until 9:30 before we were called to the bus. At the consulate, we were asked to bypass the queue (as we had a kid with us). We showed our papers, and stood in the queue for the 10-printing. An officer collected our passports and yellow envelopes. After the 10-printing,we had to wait for about 15 mins before we were called.

VO: Good morning sir, please come in
Me: Good morning (kept my stack of forms on the counter - she ignored them).

VO: (Handing me receipt for the DD) I am going to trade this slip for your demand draft.
Me: (smiled)

VO: So you work with xyz?
Me: Yes ma'm, I work with xyz infotech

VO: And you are here for a manager visa?
Me: Yes ma'm, the manager visa

VO: What is your total work ex?
Me: xyz years
VO: How many of these with this company?
Me: a yrs, b months
VO: And how many on this project?
Me: a yrs, b months - I have worked on this project since the time I joined this company.

VO: Who is your client?
Me: abc (expanded the initials)
VO: What will be your annual salary in the US?
Me: qwe US dollars
VO: Wow!

VO: Will you work out of abc premises?
Me: No, I will work out of my office in def location
VO: How many people report to you?
Me: x people report to me here. When I move to the US, they will continue to report to me, and an additional y people at onsite will also report to me

VO: Who are these people behind you?
Me: That's my wife and daughter.
VO: (to my daughter) How old are you?
My daughter: x yrs
VO: She looks so grown up!

VO: So you have been to the US earlier on an H1?
Me: Yes ma'm, twice - in 2004 and in 2005

VO: I am approving your visa, you will receive your passports within 2 days. Please keep these papers with you, you will need them when you disembark from the aircraft.
Me: Thanks.

Thanks to one and all who shared their experiences. Thanks to immihelp, it's a must to go thru website before you attend the interview, it helps.

I attended interview in Sep'10 month end for L1A. I took all Educational certificates,Exp letters, marriage photos / certificate, xerox copies, passport photos etc... but VO didn't ask for any nor looked at them. But please carry with you as you never know what they ask for.

VO asked me the following questions:
1. Asked for passports (of Spouse and myself)
2. Asked me about my role in India and what I'll be doing in US and for how long I'll stay and where
3. To which Company and client I work for and for how long
4. Previous company exp details and any travel to abroad / countries
(>> Carry your old passport with stampings, it helps)
5. Authority to hire and fire. When was the recent I hired and how many / what roles
6. How many report to me in India & USA
7. Whether I do Appraisals for the team and how do I judge the best resource
8. What size of projects do I handle ($ and duration) and how many projects handled so far
9. Why specifically you are chosen

VO said your Visa is approved and will receive in 5-7 days


To my Wife: (My wife was prepared for the interview with all my current / past Co', Client, salary in India , USA etc details..)

VO : What's your Date of Birth

Below is the surprise one
VO : Looked at the computer and said "oh, you had done Masters in Micro Biology". We need further detailed info please go to next counter.

Counter 2, Officer:
1.Please fill this 4-5 page document. Write your project details which you completed 6 years back in college.
2. Your resume / CV - (My wife is a house wife and not interested for higher studies nor job)

It's obvious my wife got puzzled.
She completed the formalities in above Q1 (She should be knowing the details in L1 packet: Stay, Sponsor, contct details ph, email, address of co and stay etc) and handed over.
We emailed the CV with basic details to consulate as requested.
+ We also handed over the Componay sponser letter for L2 which they over looked and returned to us.

It took 1 month and the passport got stamped with L2.

In DS160 form - pls take care what you write for spouse / dependant details in complete like Bio tech , micro biology etc...

Hi,


Thanks to immihelp and all who posted their experiences. It helped me a lot.

I attended the interview on OCT 14th at mumbai consulate. (L1-B)- Approved.

Speak confident and be cool while speaking to VO.

VO officer asked me,

what is the specialized knowledge you possess?
Explain about the specialization?
Since how long you are with current company?
Whats the current CTC?
Have you travelled before to US?
To which place you are travelling in US?
Are you married?
For how long you are travelling to US?

Finally VO said , your visa is approved.

Thanks and wish all the best to one and all.