For visitors, travel, student and other international travel medical insurance.

Visit insubuy.com or call +1 (866) INSUBUY or +1 (972) 985-4400
Visa

L1, L2 Visa

All Experiences
Fields marked as * are required.

Subject is required.

Comment is required.

By submitting this post, you agree to Terms of Use.

Experience is successfully added.

L1B Blanket + L2 for Husband - Approved at Chennai
I am so thankful for this forum for all the help and information on the interview. It helped me greatly to prepare not just for the questions but also mentally. Now is my turn to give back to the community and so, here is my experience with the visa process.

Logistics – We stayed at The Park which is diagonally opposite to the embassy and about 1.5 km away from the OFC. Let me tell you this, the hotel is subpar and perhaps gets people only because of the embassy.

Nov 29, 2022 at 8AM - OFC
We reached about 7:30 AM and were let inside. There were a number of people standing outside who had appointments in the afternoon (people have way too much time!) Just reach out to the guard and he'll let you in. The process was pretty smooth, although long. It took about 30-35 mins but that would've been much shorter given the start of the day wasn't delayed. We waited for about 20 minutes in the first queue and then another 10 mins in the 2nd queue. A lady checked DS160, appointment confirmation and passport details. Stuck a sticker on the back of the passport which had details of the DS160 and appointment. The actual biometrics process took only about 5 mins. DS160 was stamped post-taking biometrics.
 
Nov 30, 2022 at 10AM - Interview
We reached at the Embassy by 9:15AM. There were, again, a lot of people again with interviews later in the day. We reached out to one of the embassy people there and they let us go to the 1st queue. In between a guard asked if we have any electronics (mobiles, watches, tablets etc. - you aren’t allowed to take anything and there isn't a place to keep as well). Took about 15 mins in 1st queue where the embassy guy checked for the passport, stamped DS160, and yesterday’s sticker on the back of the passport.

We, now, stood for more than half our in the second queue before we were let in the embassy. Meanwhile, it was post 10AM. Inside the embassy, a guy will help with organizing the documents i.e., 2 copies of I-129, I-797, passports and DD (Fraud Detection Fee of $500 – we chose DD as that’s the quickest – Embassy’s website states the exchange rate and I suggest everyone to take DD rather than cash/card).

Then, we moved to the second building of the embassy. There is going to be a big queue which is for F1 visas, but if you tell the people there that you are for an L1 blanket, they make you jump the queues. I submitted the DD (took less than 5 mins to do that) and my husband was asked to stay behind. Post getting the receipt, I stood in the L1 interview queue and in 2 mins was asked to go to the interview window wherein I stood second to the person being interviewed. I called my husband to stand there with me.

My husband and I stood behind the interview window and the interview lady was noticing us and our body language while she interviewed the guy ahead of us. I could hear her as she cross-questioned him to clarify her understanding – he did get his visa approved. Then came our chance for the interview. This went as follows:

Me: Hello! Good Morning
VO: Good Morning! Your visa category is L1A or L1B
Me: L1B for me and L2 for my husband
VO to my husband: What’s your qualification [my husband and I were bit shocked given she asked him first]
Husband: Answered
VO to my husband: What do you do currently?
Husband: Answered
VO to my husband: You can either now hang out at the back or can go and wait outside.
Husband: I’ll hang out at the back
VO: Your company name is XXX?
Me: Yes
VO: What does it do?
Me: Started explaining and I had gone through only half of the answer and she had stamped my I-129. She then cut me off.
VO: What’s your specialization?
Me: Started explaining and she started typing in the system. She again cut me off even before I had reached to half of my answer.
VO: Seems like a glorious XX job.
Me: Explained why it isn’t a glorious XX job and how my specialization mattered and how only a handful of us are there and can do this.
VO: It seems very interesting what you do. [I was very happy listening to this]
VO: Your designation in the US?
Me: Told
VO: Your salary
Me: Told
VO: Your visa is approved. Safe travels
Me: Thank you! Have a good day
VO: You too!

This entire conversation was only about 3-4 mins max. She handed me the green slip and my husband and I left very happy.

Let me tell you this, it DOES MATTER the way you are dressed and the way you carry yourself. They can see you from head to toe (including shoes) when you are standing 2nd for the interview – My husband and I had formal pants and a shirt with formal shoes (he didn’t wear any suit etc – we thought that would be too much).

I could see that she was already pretty sold on my application given that she didn’t even know what my company did and this perhaps goes to the fact that we dressed up properly and carried ourselves with confidence. Although, there were several others who were dressed shabbily or maybe not as uptight and got the visa.

I Lastly, I did see many rejections (one super pissed-off guy) but don’t let that hassle you as your application is unique and you should know what it entails. Be honest and confident in your answers.

Best of luck!
All Replies (0)

Insurance

Disclaimer: Please note that the experiences presented are submitted by visitors to our website. Individuals’ experiences may vary, and you should interpret each individual’s experience at your own risk. Do not make a decision solely based on an experience posted here. We do not endorse any individuals’ experiences, and we are not liable or responsible for consequences stemming from your use of the information presented within any individual’s experience.