L1, L2 Visa

Just wanted to share my experience as this site has been extremely useful in helping prepare for my interview. My company filed for L1A blanket, I had an early morning appointment in Vancouver. My wife was also with me(she was going for L2).

Key points:

1) We carried one photograph each, but these were about 8 months old. The instructions clearly mention that the photographs must be no older than 6 months, so we had to go get new photographs. This was an oversight from our side, please do not neglect this rule as they are pretty strict about this.

2) Went through security, there is a different staff member that checks your documents for L1 applicants. She asked for only 2 copies of I-129 etc.(the attorneys had given us 3 packets, but we were only asked for 2). She went inside and came back after 10-15 mins, and arranged our documents and passports, with a rubber band around them. She returned all the documents that they did not need back to me.

3) We went upstairs for our interview and were called by a young VO(waited may be 10 mins in line).

VO: Please provide your documents.
Me: *hand over documents*

VO: Looks at the yellow slip for the $500 Fraud Detection Fee and says "You need to first pay this fee before the interview"

My wife and I go to the cashier and pay the $500 fee. Once we are back, we did not have to stand in the original line again and the same VO just called us again.

Me: Morning officer, how are you?
VO: I am great, how are you? (she was in a pretty good mood)

VO: (Points to my wife and talks with a humorous vibe), who did you bring along with you today?
Me: That is my lovely wife :-)

VO: So you are applying for L1 visa?
Me: Yes

VO: Who do you work for?
Me: I work for XYZ

VO: How many people report to you?
Me: XX

VO: How long have you been working with them?
Me: A little over a year, but I worked with the same company in US on H1B for 4 years

VO: So about 5.5 years with the company? (she seemed a bit concerned that I was applying for Managerial L1A with only 5 years experience)
Me: Yes, but I have a total of 11 years of experience

VO: Oh ok (no longer concerned)

VO: What is the highest degree you have?
Me: Masters

VO: What was your major?
Me: My major was XYZ. I went to Univ. of XYZ.

VO: Ok, so you studied in the States as well?
Me: Yes

VO: Tell me about the project you are working on?
Me: I lead a team of XX people and we are doing XYZ for our client. It is a $XYZ mil. engagement.

VO: Wow, big project then.
Me: Yes

VO: Where in the US will you live?
Me: I will be moving to San Francisco

VO: Wow, that's pretty cool!
Me: Yes, but expensive!

VO: True!

VO: What will be your annual salary in the US?
Me: $1X0,000 with about a $XYZ bonus

VO: Ok, nice.

VO: Can you please provide your marriage certificate?
Me: (trying to joke) Yes, our pictures on this certificate are terrible, so please bear with us.

VO: This is one of the better ones I have seen.

VO: (Looks at my wife) How long have you guys been married?
My wife: XYZ years

VO: How did you guys meet?
My wife: We actually met on Match

VO: Oh wow, I hope you guys did not use these pictures as your profile pics!
Me: No, we just used selfies!

VO: (starts writing on my I129) I will be writing a bunch of stuff on these documents and don't want to make a mistake, this is going to take 2-3 mins

*Awkward silence for 2-3 mins*
**VO goes away and comes back again**
***My wife and I are waiting giving each other a blank look***

VO: Ok, visa is approved for both of you. You will get an email when the passports are ready for pick up.

Me: Thank you, I was told that I will get one copy of the stamped I129 back.
VO: It will be included in the package that we send back.

Me: Thank you, have a great weekend!
VO: You too!

I think the trick in the Visa interview process is being honest with yourself, if your case is strong and you hit all the requirements, there is nothing to worry about(I know this is easier said than done, I could manage to get only a couple of hours of sleep the night before). If there are weaknesses in your case, work with your attorneys or do some research as to how to can articulate your responses in the best possible way. Please don't try to cheat or scam the system.

Do whatever you can to calm yourself down, feel confident and look VO in the eye while answering questions. If small talk, humor comes naturally to you, use that to your advantage, if not, do not try to force it.

Good luck to all of you, I hope everyone gets their visas! Happy to answer any questions.