L1, L2 Visa

Dear All,

First of all a sincere big thanks to everyone who have posted in the forum. Only because of your help I was able to to clear the L1B interview on my second attempt today on 14th June 2013.

I got L1B rejected last year in Jan 2012. My company asked me to apply for L1B category again and this time I was able to make it count.

Coming straight to the interview questions -

Me: Good afternoon officer, how are you doing today?
VO: Good afternoon, am fine how abt you.
Me: I am good sir. Thank you
VO : What is the name of your client?
Me: YYYY

He couldn't hear it properly, asks to spell it out for him twice.
Me: YYYY

VO: Your indian salary
Me: YYYY

VO: Your US salary
Me: YYYY

VO: I will not ask your experience with the client, experience with your company, services of your company. Give me crisp in 3 line what is your specialized skills. Remember only your skills not your company not your client.
Me: I have got expertise in YYYY which does ZZZ. (VO interrupting again and asks few more questions)

VO: Did you develop this tool?
Me: Yes I developed this tool. (confidently).

VO: Did you develop this tool? (Again)
Me: Yes I developed this tool using YYYY technology. (Make sure YYYY technology is not java, .NET, SAP, any database etc). It has to be niche and unheard of.

VO was taking some time, searching something on this monitor. After a while he stamped one I129-s form and wrapped it with the passport in a rubber band. This was the time I realize my passport is likely approved.

VO finally said those magic words that your visa is approved and provided me two I129-s forms for the HR reference.

Summary
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1) Good communication in English does help the matter. Must accept I was a touch nervous but my specialized skill superimposed it.
2) Quite depends on the VO's mood. My VO was not interested in initiating a conversation and came straight to the specialized skills. All answers should not exceed 3 lines, VO will anyways interfere to judge the knowledge. I see other VO's making candidate comfortable with them.
3) Specialized skill should be niche and very very rare in the market. Ideally one should have developed the specialized tool/product.
4) There are n types of people with n types of skills come to give the interview, there is no point distracting oneself looking at the other candidates.
5) This forum is enough to understand the psychology of specialized skills. One should do complete research of the skill as rare before preparing BEP and DS-160.
6) One should practice well and do good homework on the probable questions listed on this forum.

Hope this helps!

Again, thanks to everyone. I have a reason to smile and pat my back today :)

Thanks & Regards,
Abhishek