L1, L2 Visa

First, I would like to thank the immihelp community members for posting all their previous experiences. It really helped a lot 😊

Here is my visa interview experience. The interview lasted for about 8 minutes including exchanging of pleasantries, talking about our university, fingerprint work and the actual questions.

Officer: Hello, Good morning, how is it going? (with a pleasant smile)

Officer: Please hand over your documents
Me: Here you go sir!

Officer: So, you work with XXX company?
Me: Yes sir!

Officer: Is your family here with you today?
Me: Yes sir, they are behind me in the sitting area. Do you want them to come here?

Office: Not required now, may be towards the end for fingerprints.
Me: OK sir

Officer: Where will you work in the USA?
Me: XXX

Officer: Oh ok, close to XXX right?
Me: Yes, sir.

Officer: Have you worked in the USA before?
Me: Yes sir! I was on a H1B.

Office: The same company sponsored your H1B?
Me: Yes sir!

Officer: When were you on H1B?
Me: From 2013 to 2017 sir

Officer: Where did you go to school?
Me: XXX university.

Officer: Oh wow, I went to the same school too (with a smile)
Me: Great sir! 😊

We then discussed a few things about the university and the professors.

Officer: Where will you work in the USA? (Repeated the previous question but looks like it was since he forgotten the question was already asked before)
Me: XXX

Officer: How long have you been with your company?
Me: 8.5 years (This was a tricky question for me since I had a 1 year break in between that could have confused the officer. But I went with my attorney’s advice of mentioning the overall experience unless they ask “How long have you been with the current role”)

Officer: What you will be your title?
Me: XXX

Officer: You are applying for an L1A; Will people report to you?
Me: No, sir. I will be a functional manager for the product xxx

Officer: (In a very friendly tone) So, you know that L1A has very specific managerial or executive requirements, right?
Me: Yes, sir.

Officer: What are your qualifications that make you qualify for this?
Me: I work as a functional manager for product xxx and I will be xxx (my role). I will be accountable for all aspects ….. (Spoke about the discretionary authority/importance of the role for about 30 seconds)

Officer: What will be the budget that you will manage?
Me: Mentioned the revenue impact of my product line. (it was a sizeable number)

Officer: How many years of managerial experience do you have? (At this point, he had already hit a stamp on my I-129s))
Me: More than 13 years

Office: Got it!

Officer: Could you place your left four fingers?
Me: Done

Officer: Please call your wife and have her place her left four fingers
Done

Officer: OK, your visa is approved, you will have your passport in a week’s time. Please carry the approved I-129s as they ask for it at the port of entry. Have a nice stay at the USA
Me: Thank you sir!

I got a green slip of visa approval and an attested copy of I-129s with a stamp and circled on L1A with a visa validity end date.

Overall, the officer had a very pleasant demeanor.

Tips for the interview
1. Keep your answers crisp.
2. Keep eye contact.
3. Show that you are confident of your case. I prepared a lot to keep the answers brief so that I would not stutter during the interview. Some of the immihelp friend’s guidance helped me prepare for this.

Other details

Dress code
Formal wear for the Biometric.
Blazer and formal wear for the interview. I noticed that most of the L1A folks had a Blazer on.

Biometrics
This is a very straightforward exercise. Just go with your appointment letter, DS160 confirmation pages and original passports. If you have a dependent who is below 14 years, pls take 2 photographs (per specification). The photo will be scanned.
They take your fingerprints, photos and give you a stamped DS160 confirmation. Please ensure you retain this as they ask for the stamped DS160 at the Consular Visa center during your interview appointment.

Visa interview logistics
My appointment was at 10 AM but I was there at 9.25 AM. I had my 3-year old Daughter with me and asked if I can jump the queue. But it looked like there were many other toddlers and kids. There was not the usual crowd that you would see at a US embassy
• They ask for your passports and DS160 right at the gate.
• You will be asked to clear the security line (Empty pockets etc. Belt/Shoe can be on) – Make sure you don’t carry any electronic devices, not even in switch off mode, not even car keys.
• You will enter a building where a person sitting ther directs you to assemble documents- Passports, 2 copies of I-129s, 2 copies of I-797, Attested DS-160 of the principal applicant, Demand Draft for Fraud fee; If you don’t have the DD, carry cash or credit card for paying the fraud fee.
• You will be asked to sit in a separate queue and then you go to the main building with a separate queue for L1 blanket
• Pay the fraud fee, and again wait in the queue (L1 blanket had separate queue).
• Then you are directed to the visa officer for the interview.

If you have questions, please reach out to me. Will be happy to give back to this community!