L1, L2 Visa

Hi,
I recently appeared for L1B Blanket visa and here is my experience. I had read a lot of questions from this portal and now its my turn to add some. This is solely my observation and take on the interview and many would disagree with me.

Visa: L1B Blanket
Location : London, UK on 11th Feb
Status : Approved for the full term. I have also received my passport

Few things that helped me get the visa
- Prepare a list of question by going through this posts and create a master list with all your answer
- Keep your answer short and crisp. Practice a lot even if chances are you will not be asked all question. In my case it was almost none.
- Dress as general. If in UK dress in suite, if in India dress in formal. Do not look isolated from the crowd. By now you must have got what I wanted to say.

Try to slip in information to VO in a smart way even if it not asked explicitly but again smartly. Do not overshoot but take advantage where ever you can
Few things that helped me and I used it to my advantage.
- Total Number of years of experience that you carry. In my case >12 yrs. So in case question is how long you are with YYYY Company, you can say I have been with YYYY for past X yrs but overall I have YY yrs experience.
- Any earlier US visit. In my case I earlier had a H1B with which I was in US for 6yrs.
- Any other Onsite location where you have worked. Like during explaining your specialized skill mention that you have implemented or worked on YYYY in other location as well.
- US Salary if more than 100k

This is how my day went on the visa interview.
Arrived at US consulate in London at around 7:50 AM for an 8:30 AM appointment. It was a bit chilly in London so be prepared to face the Mother Nature. There was a quite a line and we (me, my wife and my 2.5 yr old son) had to stand outside for more than 45 mins before we were inside the embassy which was a bit warmer ?.
In London US embassy document collection and Visa interview are on the same day as opposed to India where it’s a 2 day process as I read from this portal. Once inside the embassy you will arrive directly at the reception where you will get your ticket number which is your reference for document collection and visa interview.
We arrived in the main lobby and were sited before we were called for document collection (this was within 15-20 mins after we got our ticket number). Then we went to the window with all documents out of which only 2 sets of I129S and 1 I797 was asked for. Then I and my wife were 10 finger printed and asked to wait for visa interview. Then I was asked to deposit $500 for the fraud detection charges at certain counter. When I asked how long it would be to get to visa interview he said depends on how many such applications are there. At this point the document collector kept all my documents along with passport and other I129 and I797.
I went and deposited the USD 500 at a counter and hang onto the receipt. We waited for more than 50 mins before our turn came for the visa interview.
Here is how it went.
Me: Good Morning. How are you?
VO: Good Morning. I am good, how about you.
Me: I am doing pretty well. But the weather is not so friendly today.
VO: Hmm, So which company you work for?
Me: ZZZ
VO: How long have you been working with this company?
Me: I have been with YYYY for past X years, with overall IT ex of 12+ yrs.

Then VO turns to my wife who is carrying our little one who is asleep.
VO to my wife: Is this your son.
My Wife: Yes
VO: Checking the application as his(my son’s application is not there as he is a US citizen). What nationality he has,
My Wife: US National
VO turning to me: Is this your only child.
Me: Yes, and one is enough to trouble.
Me, VO and my wife sharing a laugh.
VO: I have 2 son and I can understand. So is it for specialized skill or Manager.
Me: Specialized skill
VO: Which location.
Me (With a smile): Las Vegas
VO: Hmm, nice place.
Me: Yes my son was born over there.
VO: So you have been in Vegas before.
Me: Yes, I was in LA for 4.5 years and then in Vegas for 1.5 yrs
VO: Ohh. What is your specialized skill?
Me: I specialized in xyz, and this does this that blah blah some thing that I had practiced earlier. By then I can notice he writing a similar deposit slip (that I got from fraud prevention deposit).
VO: Are you ready to pay the visa fees 4500?
Me: Yes, (with a confused state as I was told by our immigration that visa fee is 2250). I though the visa fees was 2250.
VO: No, as per new rule we are asked to collect 4500 instead.
Me Okay. Getting the slip from him
VO: Once you deposit comeback straight to me and no need to wait.

Went to deposit counter and deposited the amount and came back.
By the time I reached another elderly person just went to the window crossing me. I would see that VO noticed me but I didn’t interfered. After the elder person was done I went to the window with my slip.

VO: Sorry about that.
Me: No I can understand. (Handing over the deposit Slip)
VO: Your visa is approved you can expect your document in 5 working days.
Me: Okay. Are we getting I129S copies back
VO: No you will get everything in the mail. Also here is your deposit receipt. You would be needing it.
Me. Yes, I would be requiring it for sure (with a smile)
VO: Thank you and have a nice stay in US.
Me and my Wife: Thanks a lot. Have a nice day.

The visa interview above happened in 2/3 mins apart from the waits in between.
Few advice that I think other would have also said
- Keep smiling
- Be confident
- One from my side, involve smartly in slipping in information that you think would help in getting the visa approved.
Best of luck to all of you.