L1, L2 Visa

My L1A Blanket got approved along with three L2 applicants (;wife and two children below 14 yrs of age... yes I took them along despite not required to because I feel it helps the overall cause to go as a family); at the Chennai consulate on 6th Feb morning slot

This site has been of great great help without any doubts.

Honestly my reasons of success could be attributed as follows (;listing them down so that everyone can relate to and can strategize and prepare accordingly);

MOST KEY - US Salary (mine was above $1X0K above);
MOST KEY - Clearly knowing and crisply explaining; no. of Direct & Indirect Reports in US and offshore, 2); Roles & Responsibilities in US along with why you are best fit
MOST KEY - Documents and Paperwork
MOST KEY - Remain COOL
MOST KEY - Luck
KEY - CONFIDENCE
KEY - Knowing all experiences thru immihelp.com
CRITICAL - ATTIRE (;I wore trousers, formal shirt and formal jacket);

Let me share the Biometrics day

1) Appointment was at 9:30am. We reached at 8:40am. Kids were troubling after a while.

Suggestion #1 - please reach only 15 mins before your slot, no use reaching before that. People not from same town should ensure their hotel is right near so time to reach can be predicted with a lot of accuracy.

2); Went inside for Biometrics, My wife and younger child was asked to go separately and me and my elder child separately.

3) simple 5-7 minutes process and exit DS-160 checked along with Passport

Please remove your old passport and keep it in your folder. They will ask you to do so

Visa Interview Day

1); My appointment was on 9:15am. I reached at 8:40am.

Please please please reach just in time. You have to wait in the queue on the footpath. No use. Please reach just in time.

2); Entered inside, folder was scanned, pockets were emptied and checked.

3); L1A table girl asked to give 3 sets of first 7 pages of i129s along with one page of i79 petition.

4); walked ahead, into a separate building connected internally

5); was made to line up in queue for Fraud Detection Fee and Border Security fees

6); Was made to go to counter 16 where she took primary applicant (;mine); passport and asked me to place left had four fingers on the biometric machine (;verification);

7); Was made to go to counter #18 (;this was the VI counter);

Stood with my dependents behind the white line while a VI was happening which i could hear.

The person before me L1A Blanket was rejected and he was asked to contact his HR to apply under a different category.

My turn came -

VO: Please come
Me: I walked ahead to stand just at the counter in front of the VI officer (;male);

(My hearbeats were uncontrollable and all time high)

VO: Hi Sir, Good Morning
Me: Good Morning Officer

VO: Could you please give your passport, fee receipt, i129s along with i797
Me: Sure, should i give all 4 passports?
VO: yes please

(he was looking and typing on the computer, then moved his chair to the right and started going thru my i129s. This whole took 1-2 minutes where I counted 1-10 repeatedly to cool down);

VO: So how long have you been working with XYZ?
Me: Almost 2 years now

VO: What is your designation at XYZ?
Me: Answered

VO: What would you exactly be doing in the US for XYZ?
Me: I would be leading a $1XXmn+ engagement with a very large client of XYZ, called ABC as a P&L owner primarily driving sales and business development.

VO: What would your salary be in the US?
Me: Answered
VO: Hmm! (;nods his head a little bit in affirmation, which is why I said in L1A blanket salary is very key, i cant say whats the right level, but 60K-70K-80K etc are low);

VO: How many reportees would you have?
Me: 24

VO: All in the US?
Me: No, 6 Direct in US; 6 Indirect in US

VO: How many indirect reportees would you have?
Me: 18, out of which 6 in US, rest in India

VO: What are the titles of the people reporting to you directly
Me: Answered (I had a firm crisp answer to his prepared);

(Then the Golden words were spoken;

VO: Ok Sir, I am approving your Visa, I’m going to keep one copy along with your passports and handing over two copies to you, please give one copy to your HR and one copy you have to show at the port of entry in US. Thank you
Me: Thank you officer, appreciate!

No questions to my wife, my kids. Was a very straight faced guy, no glimpse of smile at all and on top of that he rejected the guy before me. Did not See even my support letter. I feel they have already made the decision before the interview to a large extent

Went outside thanked each and everyone in the consulate whoever i met, the security guards etc etc

Caught an auto, we fitted ourselves, chanted my religious hym, took the auto guys mobile and called my dad!

Guys prepare well and know your application well and please please go thru immihelp experiences as they really let you know the questions trend which prepare you very very well.

Guys, US is not the end of the world, so don’t be overtly stressed, but if you really wanna be there, please prepare well. It’s not that difficult as it is made to listen or see. So just be cool and be confident and make sure that your application is in proper shape and you are applying the right category of VISA

Cheers and all the very best to all of you and thanks immihelp, tons of hugs to you guys!