L1, L2 Visa

This forum has helped me extremely with all my questions to date. I wanted to share my experience with the L1B blanket extension.

Location: Chennai US consulate

Timeline:

VAC date: March 7th, 2021
Interview date: March 8th, 2021 morning 9 am- Visa approved
Visa application status:
    # March 8th evening - Refused( This is normal don't panic)
    #March 9th morning- Administrative processing
    #March 10th Afternoon - Issued
    #March 11th - Picked up my passport

Experience -

1. VAC Biometrics - This was simple. Be on time, they will let you in 10-15 min before your appointment. They will check your temperature and ask you to sanitize your hand. Will Call you to confirm your documents.
 Documents required- Appointment confirmation + DS160 form +Orginal passport.
Will send you inside for biometric- Ask you to sanitize and give them documents. Photo capture and fingerprint capture are done and they will stamp your DS 160 and put a sticker on your passport.

2. Interview: Reached 30 min before the appointment. They let you in 30 min before your appointment time. Will send you in and slowly you will move in the queue towards the consular. Everywhere there are circles to stand 6 feet apart.

The consular person asked if I am an L1B applicant and checked my documents (I-797, 1-129S, and DS-160). They asked me to pay my Fraud protection fee of 500$. I paid that using my US credit card. They stamp and give you a receipt. Take it and another person will tell you to wait and send you once the counter is available.

Once my chance came I went and greeted the consular. She asked for my documents(I-797, 1-129S, and DS-160) I gave her all of them. She as me the following questions:

a. Are you a fresh applicant OR renewal?
b. When was the last time you were in US ?
c. Are you married?
d. Were you in US in June 2020?
e. Which company do you work for ?
f. What my company does ?
g. What my roles and responsibility are?
h. What is my specialization and why cant it be done by someone else ?
i. What my client name is ?
j. My location in US ?
k. How many years did i work for the current company ?
l. If i call your client now how would they describe my work for them ? - I was a bit taken aback on this but I knew my client's feedback :)

Overall experience - She wanted to know each and everything about my specialization and if I still hold same level of role to approve the renewal. Keep your answer short, crisp yet descriptive enough for a layman to understand. They are really friendly and interested to know your work and you.

All the best :)