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Visa
L1, L2 Visa
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L1 Individual Approved after Emergency Request
Previous Visa: L1 Blanket expired in Nov-2019
Current Petition: L1 Individual, approved after premium processing in the US by USCIS for two years. It is legal for the candidate to work in the US on the approved petition. If they leave the US, they will need to come back with a passport stamp. It is therefore, beneficial to travel to India and get the visa stamped, preferably 2 months ahead of visa expiry (you'll understand why in a few).
First appointment: I had to cancel my first appointment at Chennai as I booked it as an L1 Blanket. This is my third L1 (first with another company, second blanket with current employer, and third current L1 Individual). I called customer care to check if I can still attend, they asked me to cancel and reapply.
Learning 1: Please talk to your Lawyers, HR and be certain about visa title. My approved I-797 does not distinguish, L1 visas, just says approved L1.
Second appointment: I now knew my correct visa. The ustraveldocs page asks: “are you applying for the same visa as the last visa?” I chose, yes (wrong!), and it became a drop box scenario. I appeared at Delhi VAC and was told to apply again for biometrics and visa interview.
Learning 2: Take time to fill up the application. Understand all fields.
Emergency appointment: Note that at the VAC they just marked my case as a no-show. I did not need to re-spend the money; the appointment window opened 24 hours later. For the emergency appointment, I explained why I needed to back in the US (I shared it with my HR and they created the request on the company letterhead), and attached my approved I-797 and I129S. Any untruths, half-truths can permanently affect your ability to work in the US. If you do not have pressing needs, wait for the appointment. Next day Chennai Consulate approved my request. We appeared for biometrics in Delhi and interview I booked I requested in Chennai. I chose Chennai instead of Delhi (my family home) because they had the first available appointment. All others were in Jan or very late Dec.
Learning 3: Prepare for an emergency request, in case you have incomplete documents etc. If done well ahead, you can be at the Consulate in the next 2-3 days.
Biometrics Delhi VAC: Delhi VAC is on the Metro station. Do not bring bags, phones etc. We arrived in an Uber and travelled back in an auto. We arrived at 8 a.m. for an 8:30 appointment, got in the queue, our passports, DS-160s were scanned, and on the back, an RFID type sticker was put. Please read the RFID, it shows your data such as interview date, any errors can cause delays. We were out at 9:15 a.m.
Chennai:
• We stayed at The Park, Chennai. It is a 5-minutes’ walk from the US Consulate in Chennai.
• We arrived outside at 9:30 a.m. for a 10:30 a.m. appointment. A bus stop is next to the Consulate and there were autos. Total bedlam. We stood in the heat unnecessarily. Better to arrive 15-20 minutes prior and you will directly get into the queue.
• Bring only printed docs, passports, cash, cards, etc. in a clear plastic folder.
• There is an ATM in the waiting area as well if one needs to withdraw cash.
• We waited about 30 minutes for fingerprint scanning. Take out only passports.
• Queues now start separating L1-blanket petitioners get priority. All others go in one large group.
• This gets taxing as you can hear Officers ask questions on a mike. My remedy, I prayed.
Visa Interview: Questions
• What is your Title?
• Where will you be based?
• What is your compensation?
• How many years have you been with Amazon?
• To my wife: Ma’am please confirm your date of birth.
Note: As I mentioned my L1-individual, petition was already approved. This is also my second L1 visa (first Blanket, second Individual) with the current employer so they may have enough data on me. Our visas were approved. They kept passports.
Here are the questions I had prepared for:
• Who is the Petitioner?
• What do they do?
• Salary?
• Location?
• Title?
• How many reportees?
• How many indirect?
• Role and responsibilities?
• How are you involved in business decisions?
Other questions I heard (unsure of visa types)
• How many directs will you have?
• What are their titles?
• Who do you report to?
• Where are they based?
• What is your job?
• Why can’t someone else do it?
• One person had to pay SEVIS fee, his company hadn’t done that.
More than anything else, I’d recommend reading this forum multiple times. I found it extremely helpful. Thank you to all who have contributed.
Current Petition: L1 Individual, approved after premium processing in the US by USCIS for two years. It is legal for the candidate to work in the US on the approved petition. If they leave the US, they will need to come back with a passport stamp. It is therefore, beneficial to travel to India and get the visa stamped, preferably 2 months ahead of visa expiry (you'll understand why in a few).
First appointment: I had to cancel my first appointment at Chennai as I booked it as an L1 Blanket. This is my third L1 (first with another company, second blanket with current employer, and third current L1 Individual). I called customer care to check if I can still attend, they asked me to cancel and reapply.
Learning 1: Please talk to your Lawyers, HR and be certain about visa title. My approved I-797 does not distinguish, L1 visas, just says approved L1.
Second appointment: I now knew my correct visa. The ustraveldocs page asks: “are you applying for the same visa as the last visa?” I chose, yes (wrong!), and it became a drop box scenario. I appeared at Delhi VAC and was told to apply again for biometrics and visa interview.
Learning 2: Take time to fill up the application. Understand all fields.
Emergency appointment: Note that at the VAC they just marked my case as a no-show. I did not need to re-spend the money; the appointment window opened 24 hours later. For the emergency appointment, I explained why I needed to back in the US (I shared it with my HR and they created the request on the company letterhead), and attached my approved I-797 and I129S. Any untruths, half-truths can permanently affect your ability to work in the US. If you do not have pressing needs, wait for the appointment. Next day Chennai Consulate approved my request. We appeared for biometrics in Delhi and interview I booked I requested in Chennai. I chose Chennai instead of Delhi (my family home) because they had the first available appointment. All others were in Jan or very late Dec.
Learning 3: Prepare for an emergency request, in case you have incomplete documents etc. If done well ahead, you can be at the Consulate in the next 2-3 days.
Biometrics Delhi VAC: Delhi VAC is on the Metro station. Do not bring bags, phones etc. We arrived in an Uber and travelled back in an auto. We arrived at 8 a.m. for an 8:30 appointment, got in the queue, our passports, DS-160s were scanned, and on the back, an RFID type sticker was put. Please read the RFID, it shows your data such as interview date, any errors can cause delays. We were out at 9:15 a.m.
Chennai:
• We stayed at The Park, Chennai. It is a 5-minutes’ walk from the US Consulate in Chennai.
• We arrived outside at 9:30 a.m. for a 10:30 a.m. appointment. A bus stop is next to the Consulate and there were autos. Total bedlam. We stood in the heat unnecessarily. Better to arrive 15-20 minutes prior and you will directly get into the queue.
• Bring only printed docs, passports, cash, cards, etc. in a clear plastic folder.
• There is an ATM in the waiting area as well if one needs to withdraw cash.
• We waited about 30 minutes for fingerprint scanning. Take out only passports.
• Queues now start separating L1-blanket petitioners get priority. All others go in one large group.
• This gets taxing as you can hear Officers ask questions on a mike. My remedy, I prayed.
Visa Interview: Questions
• What is your Title?
• Where will you be based?
• What is your compensation?
• How many years have you been with Amazon?
• To my wife: Ma’am please confirm your date of birth.
Note: As I mentioned my L1-individual, petition was already approved. This is also my second L1 visa (first Blanket, second Individual) with the current employer so they may have enough data on me. Our visas were approved. They kept passports.
Here are the questions I had prepared for:
• Who is the Petitioner?
• What do they do?
• Salary?
• Location?
• Title?
• How many reportees?
• How many indirect?
• Role and responsibilities?
• How are you involved in business decisions?
Other questions I heard (unsure of visa types)
• How many directs will you have?
• What are their titles?
• Who do you report to?
• Where are they based?
• What is your job?
• Why can’t someone else do it?
• One person had to pay SEVIS fee, his company hadn’t done that.
More than anything else, I’d recommend reading this forum multiple times. I found it extremely helpful. Thank you to all who have contributed.
All Replies (1)
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