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Visa
L1, L2 Visa
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L1B / L2 Blanket at Chennai Consulate
OFC Appointment: Aug. 3, 2016 at 10:00 AM
Visa Appointment: Aug. 4, 2016 at 9:30 AM
Visa Type: L1B Blanket for myself and L2 for Wife
Consulate: Chennai
Visa Status: Approved
Background: I am from Mumbai and I work for one of the largest service companies. Since I am not from IT background, I had to prepare myself in a little different way. This forum was very helpful in understating general questions and how to answer them as well. But, when I went through the whole forum, I found out that this is very much concentrated on IT professionals since those are the ones who often apply for L1 visa. I don’t know any IT language or don’t have a special knowledge of any IT skill. I also don’t work for any particular client. I work with multiple clients based out of head office of the company. I am specialized in designing logistics or supply chain of our client. My company has also developed global tools which I am specialized in.
Experience at OFC: I and my wife both stayed at IBIS City Center Chennai hotel which is very convenient to travel at both the places (OFC and Consulate). For OFC , we booked an UBER and reached on time. When we reached inside OFC first counter is where they check DS160 and compare the same with passport. I forgot to write my father’s name in given name section in my DS160 (Maharashtrians be careful. Please make sure passport name and name on DS160 matches). Lady told me that I have to make changes and come back again. Thankfully, there is a counter at basement where 2 ladies sit with computers to make these changes. They charge are enormously high (Rs.200 for change, Rs. 500 for new DS160). I remembered my security question and answer so it was just a change for me. There was a big queue and it took us 1 hour to make these changes. Both of us went back to first floor and completed the whole biometric process. Generally, if you don’t have any changes in DS160 then it’s a process of 15 min. Even if you have an appointment time given, I found out that you can go any time on that particular day before 5 PM.
Experience at Consulate: From IBIS, Consulate is a walking distance of 10 mins. I and wife both preferred walking to consulate in the morning after breakfast. We both decided to wear formals (Shirt, trouser and jacket for me and Wife wore a formal dress). Both of us reached there at 8:30 AM. Be ready to stand in a queue on the road side for 30 mins.
After going inside the consulate, one lady helped us for aligning documents together. She told me to pull out I129s and first page of I797 from three sets, which were provided by my US office. By 9:30 we were inside the consulate on the first window where we had to pay USD 500 as L1 blanket fraud prevention fees. Then we went to next window where fingerprints were captured. We then stood in a long queue for final interview window. It took us almost 1 hour to reach there on the window. While you wait there in queue, you can see people getting their visa accepted or rejected by Visa officers on different windows. It actually builds the whole tensions. But, don’t worry and be confident.
VO: Good Morning
Me: Good Morning mam. How are you doing today?
VO: Pretty Good. How about you?
Me: Good thanks.
VO: May I have your documents please?
ME: Here they are. (3 Sets of documents, DS 160 and Passports)
VO: Have you applied with us before sir?
Me: Yes mam. I had applied for F1 visa in 2006.
VO: So you work for YYYY X
ME: Yes mam.
VO: What is your designation in India and US?
ME: Gave her the answer.
VO: So what exactly you do?
ME: I told her my skills.
VO: So you will work based out of your companies head office or you will be located at clients office?
Me: I will be working from my company’s head office locates at YYYY in YYYY state.
VO: How much is your annual salary?
Me: told her the base salary and annual performance based bonus.
VO: So, how big is your team in the US?
Me: Around 15 people.
VO: Then why can’t they do your job? Why you need to travel there in the US?
Me: I told her that I am specialized in these skills and because of my experience in industry, experience with my company’s tools and educational background I got selected for this role.
VO: I got that part but why are you travelling why can’t your other team members do this job?
Me: My Company is growing 20% year on year and now our department is falling short of people and they need me to fulfill the required needs.
VO: Oh! So you will be just another body in the team.
Me: Yes mam, a body with special skills.
VO: Just give me a minute. (She went insider to discuss about my case with someone. IT took her almost 2 minutes to return to the window)
Me: Okay mam.
VO: Which clients you have worked with before and who are your customers in the US?
Me: Gave her the whole list of clients.
VO to My wife: How long you guys have been married?
Wife: 5 years mam.
VO: What is your wedding date?
Wife: Told her
VO: Was he (Me) fair to you last anniversary?
Wife: (Showing her diamond ring) Yes, he was…
VO: I am approving your Visa. Give me couple of minutes to stamp the I129s. I will keep your passport and one copy of I129 with me. You will require another copy at the port of entry and one copy is for your employer’s record.
Me: Thank you mam.
VO: Have a nice trip to US.
Me: Thanks and lot.
I think, it is very important to be confident. One needs to talk slowly and clearly. Visa officer wants to give you a visa. Just make sure that you are eligible for the same.
All the best for your interview.
Visa Appointment: Aug. 4, 2016 at 9:30 AM
Visa Type: L1B Blanket for myself and L2 for Wife
Consulate: Chennai
Visa Status: Approved
Background: I am from Mumbai and I work for one of the largest service companies. Since I am not from IT background, I had to prepare myself in a little different way. This forum was very helpful in understating general questions and how to answer them as well. But, when I went through the whole forum, I found out that this is very much concentrated on IT professionals since those are the ones who often apply for L1 visa. I don’t know any IT language or don’t have a special knowledge of any IT skill. I also don’t work for any particular client. I work with multiple clients based out of head office of the company. I am specialized in designing logistics or supply chain of our client. My company has also developed global tools which I am specialized in.
Experience at OFC: I and my wife both stayed at IBIS City Center Chennai hotel which is very convenient to travel at both the places (OFC and Consulate). For OFC , we booked an UBER and reached on time. When we reached inside OFC first counter is where they check DS160 and compare the same with passport. I forgot to write my father’s name in given name section in my DS160 (Maharashtrians be careful. Please make sure passport name and name on DS160 matches). Lady told me that I have to make changes and come back again. Thankfully, there is a counter at basement where 2 ladies sit with computers to make these changes. They charge are enormously high (Rs.200 for change, Rs. 500 for new DS160). I remembered my security question and answer so it was just a change for me. There was a big queue and it took us 1 hour to make these changes. Both of us went back to first floor and completed the whole biometric process. Generally, if you don’t have any changes in DS160 then it’s a process of 15 min. Even if you have an appointment time given, I found out that you can go any time on that particular day before 5 PM.
Experience at Consulate: From IBIS, Consulate is a walking distance of 10 mins. I and wife both preferred walking to consulate in the morning after breakfast. We both decided to wear formals (Shirt, trouser and jacket for me and Wife wore a formal dress). Both of us reached there at 8:30 AM. Be ready to stand in a queue on the road side for 30 mins.
After going inside the consulate, one lady helped us for aligning documents together. She told me to pull out I129s and first page of I797 from three sets, which were provided by my US office. By 9:30 we were inside the consulate on the first window where we had to pay USD 500 as L1 blanket fraud prevention fees. Then we went to next window where fingerprints were captured. We then stood in a long queue for final interview window. It took us almost 1 hour to reach there on the window. While you wait there in queue, you can see people getting their visa accepted or rejected by Visa officers on different windows. It actually builds the whole tensions. But, don’t worry and be confident.
VO: Good Morning
Me: Good Morning mam. How are you doing today?
VO: Pretty Good. How about you?
Me: Good thanks.
VO: May I have your documents please?
ME: Here they are. (3 Sets of documents, DS 160 and Passports)
VO: Have you applied with us before sir?
Me: Yes mam. I had applied for F1 visa in 2006.
VO: So you work for YYYY X
ME: Yes mam.
VO: What is your designation in India and US?
ME: Gave her the answer.
VO: So what exactly you do?
ME: I told her my skills.
VO: So you will work based out of your companies head office or you will be located at clients office?
Me: I will be working from my company’s head office locates at YYYY in YYYY state.
VO: How much is your annual salary?
Me: told her the base salary and annual performance based bonus.
VO: So, how big is your team in the US?
Me: Around 15 people.
VO: Then why can’t they do your job? Why you need to travel there in the US?
Me: I told her that I am specialized in these skills and because of my experience in industry, experience with my company’s tools and educational background I got selected for this role.
VO: I got that part but why are you travelling why can’t your other team members do this job?
Me: My Company is growing 20% year on year and now our department is falling short of people and they need me to fulfill the required needs.
VO: Oh! So you will be just another body in the team.
Me: Yes mam, a body with special skills.
VO: Just give me a minute. (She went insider to discuss about my case with someone. IT took her almost 2 minutes to return to the window)
Me: Okay mam.
VO: Which clients you have worked with before and who are your customers in the US?
Me: Gave her the whole list of clients.
VO to My wife: How long you guys have been married?
Wife: 5 years mam.
VO: What is your wedding date?
Wife: Told her
VO: Was he (Me) fair to you last anniversary?
Wife: (Showing her diamond ring) Yes, he was…
VO: I am approving your Visa. Give me couple of minutes to stamp the I129s. I will keep your passport and one copy of I129 with me. You will require another copy at the port of entry and one copy is for your employer’s record.
Me: Thank you mam.
VO: Have a nice trip to US.
Me: Thanks and lot.
I think, it is very important to be confident. One needs to talk slowly and clearly. Visa officer wants to give you a visa. Just make sure that you are eligible for the same.
All the best for your interview.
All Replies (1)
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