L1, L2 Visa

Got my L1A Blanket approved in Chennai today.

This forum is a treasure of information and have been of immense help to me for my past L1B and now L1A.

Since mine was a blanket visa so only consulate option was Chennai.

OFC: 8am
PA: same day 10am

I arrived in Chennai a day before my OFC and PA, and stayed at a close by hotel. Consulate was at 10mins walk from the hotel.
For the day OFC & PA I booked Ola rental for 2 hours starting 730 - 930am just to have peace of mind and save myself from unnecessary haggling with rickshaw drivers.

OFC Experience
I left hotel at 730 and arrived OFC at 740, at the entrance gate there is security guard who asked appointment time and let me in the compound, followed by another guard at a distance who directed us to first floor. There is a small hold up area where everyone queues up for their turn. Hardly after 5 mins our passport and appointment time was checked and we were directed to move to next floor. After waiting for another 5 more minutes and passport and appointment check we were frisked and were asked to switch off our phones. Yes phones are allowed in OFC only if you switch them off. After the frisk check our DS160 confirmation page details were matched with Passport and those whose doesn't match were sent back to get fresh DS160 confirmation with correction.
Post that we received a token and were ten printed and photo was taken. DS160 confirmation page was stamped there and we were asked to report for PA 15mins before scheduled time.
So in all I was in and out from OFC in 20 mins.
OFC Advice:
1) Do not reach more than 30mins before your appointment else you'd be not allowed in the compound and have to stand outside
2) Phone is allowed, but you've to switch it off before frisk check.

I was out of OFC by 8:05am and decided to go to Hotel and take rest. You can directly go for PA after your OFC as at consulate no body cares about your time slot unless there is huge queue outside ( If you plan to do so, please arrange to keep you phone at hotel or with someone you trust )

Interview :
ADVICE:
1) Storage facility outside consulate is shut down, DO NOT CARRY Phones, bag packs and electronic items with you or you'd be sent back.
2) There is no restrictions on the folders types, I saw people carrying their docs in transparent files, piano folder, shopping bags and even jute bags. I carried my docs in transparent files.

I reached consulate at 9:20am and there was no queue outside, hardly 2-3 people in front of me. Before you enter consulate at least 4-5 security guards will stop you and ask if are carrying phone, media, electronics etc.
Once you enter consulate you go through metal detector, then into a small hold up area where you are asked to arrange following documents in given order
1) First 8 pages of I129S followed by first page of I797. This is one set and you are asked to create 3 sets like this in total
2) Followed by above 3 sets is DS160 confirmation page of principal applicant.
3) Passport
3) Demand drafts (optional if you are paying by cards/cash)

Once you are done with the doc arrangement, the person giving you instructions fold the 3 sets individually and tie your passport with rubber bands.
After this you join the another line to enter a separate area for interviews. Before you can attend interview, you've to submit fees followed by a verification on another window. Just follow the instructions of staff there and you'd good.

After all formalities we joined the main single queue for interview, there is no token system here, you join the queue and staff at the start of queue instructs which counter to join.

My Questions:
Question: Who is your Employer
Answer: Gave Employer name

Question: For how many years you have been working for them
Answer: My total years of exp.

Question: Who is your client
Answer: Client name

Question: Who do you report to
Answer: VP

Question: Will you working from same office where your manager is
Answer: No, he works from different location.

Question: Does he manages your client or any other client as well
Answer: 2 other clients, so total 3

Question: So you’d be most senior person at the client side
Answer: Yes.

Question: What would be your role
Answer: Program Manager

Question: Will you be paid US salary or Indian
Answer: US Salary

Question: How much is your salary
Answer: USD YYYY K

Question: How many people reports to you at onshore
Answer: 12, 3 direct and 9 indirect

Question: Are all indirect subordinates at onshore
Answer: yes.

Question: How long you plan to stay in US
Answer: 3 years (as per petition)

Question: Have you been to US before
Answer: Yes on L1B

Question: For How long
Answer: 5 years & mentioned the dates.

Question: You have B1/B2 ?
Answer: Yes, but never travelled on it.

Question: How many person like you reports to your manager
Answer: 3

That's all, and approved my visa, gave me 2 set of stamped I129S and I797.

Advice:
1) DO NOT give speech, answer to the point and as concise as you can..
one VO literally screamed at a L1A candidate, VO said "I am not here to listen to your speech, give me points and precise answers".