L1, L2 Visa

first of all, thanks a ton to immihelp.

Coming stright to the point on questions asked by VO.

Qs1- Company Name you work for?
Qs2- Client name you are going to work for?
Qs3- Your role
Qs4- Your visa type.
Qs5- Your Salary
Qs6- If you are the highest authority in this location/assignment.
Qs6- nbr of direct & indirect reporties

no qs to my wife, be confident and firm in your answers...though my wife said..i was not :-)...doesnt matter..it came through...all the best.

Day 1:- Fingerprint and photo (15 mins process)
Documents needed :-
Appointment Confirmation Page
DS160
PassPort
Try to come 1/2 before your time and they allow you to enter. Process is very seamless and quick.

Day 2 :- Interview with US Consulate (30 mins process)
Documents needed :-
Passport
I129S- 3 copies
I-797- 3 copies first page
DS160
Fraud Detection Fee Demand Draft (500 $)

Try to keep you interview in the morning and come 1 or 1/2 hour early.
Questions :-
1) Whats you salary ?
2) Where will you be going in US?
3) Explain your product or specialization like you will explain a common person .

in the end you will be given 2 Approved Stamped I129S.

Cheers.
 

Thanks for this forum for all the information.

My L1B rejected in Dec-2016.
Then my company applied for L1B-Individual in premium processing.
The petition filed in Apr-2017.Received an RFE in APR-2017.
Submitted the RFE response in June-2017.
I would suggest that you should take time while answering to the RFE.

1st try to understand what data is expected to them by discussing with you petitioner.
Provide all the possible evidenced to support your application.
e.g. all the documents/scripts/artifacts that you have created related to your specialized knowledge.
Also, you can provide all the email wherein you have received compliments/recognition from client/management.
Provide details org structure which clearly specifying your position in the organization.
Also, you can provide the comparison of the job duties of you and your peers.

After submitting the RFE response, approvals received in July-2017.

Then got the OFC and consular appointment on consecutive dates.

In an interview, the consular only asked few questions.

1. Which type of visa that you applied for?

2. Who is the petitioner?

3. Location of stay in U.S.?

Then the consular did something on this computed then said 'You are eligible for Visa'

Note:

Please prepare your cars with all the possible evidence supporting to your case.
Prepare yourself for the interview . All the questions are available here in this portal.

Thanks to the blog for helping me in making my preparations. Experiences by many would give us a clear path forward and help us in overcome our shortcomings.

Our Visa interview was on 17 aug 2017 .8:00AM Slot.

Main distinction between L1B individual and L1B blanket is that..
   In l1b Individual, USCIS have already scrutinised your case in depth and if they have approved, you have crossed 80% of the hurdle.
 In l1b blanket, the complete responsibility lies with the VO as the USCIS does not have your complete info or docs. Hence there is a heavy rejection in L1 Blanket(Be it a or b).

Questions asked

1. Who is your petitioner?

2. How much is your salary ?

3. Where are you gonna stay ??

4. Explain about your specialised skill ??

Then the golden words " your visas are approved " .Enjoy your stay .

For L1B individual, the VO should never sense doubt about our confidence and credibility. If you are confident, shall be a smooth one.Prepare well in advance, go through lot of cases.

Does salary plays a role in the visa approval. not sure how corporate calculates that but what goes in petition is less than what i have drawn in the last trip on L1B. Any thoughts?

Dear all,

My Interview was excellent and VO also seems to be convinced on the specialized skills. The interview lasted for 15 mins. Initial 10 questions were like some Rapid-fire round. I had over 5-8 minutes to explain the specialized skills clearly. To my Surprise, he have stamped on both of my I-129S as “Not clearly approvable”. VO Mentioned at the end, without handing over any slip – “Sorry Sir, your visa is not clearly approvable for L1 Blanket. There is no problem with your skills, ask your company to apply under a different category”

Not Sure what went wrong, Guys please help.

Shall I apply under L1A Individual now or L1B Individual?

Following are the questions asked:

1. Good morning Sir
• Very Good Morning Sir.

2. Have you ever applied for Visa?
• Yes, in October 2016 my B1 got rejected. I was handed over 216(b)

3. How long you have been in this company?
• 3 years 4 months

4. What is your highest Qualification?
• MBA in Marketing Management

5. What will be your designation?
• Business Development Manager

6. What will be your salary in the US?
• YYYY USD per month

7. Where will you be working in US?
• From our US Office - Livonia, Michigan

8. Do you know which category of visa you are applying for?
• Yes Sir, Its L1B Blanket Non-Immigrant Visa

9. How long you will work in USA?
• Three years.

10. Will you be working from your Parent company or from Client side?
• I will be working from our office. I may visit client sites for meetings as needed, but will report to <my company name> at all times, remain an employee of <my company name>, and <my company name> will be the company paying me, controlling my work, and making decisions relating to my employment.

11. What is your specialized knowledge?
• Explained

12. Can you tell me something about this technology?
• Sir, this Is not a technology, but this is our Proprietary Offshore Delivery model.
• Basically, we use this model to ….(explained briefly)
(Explained the model and had 5-8 minutes to explain this, without any interruption by the VO. I was very passionately explaining this and the VO was staring at me till the end)
 Response by VO - Good.

13. How are you going to implement this in the US?
• Explained…

To my surprise, VO Mention "Not Approvable", Reason mentioned : in the beginning of this post already...

Hi All

I had read the valuable inputs from everyone so thought of writing my experience

I had my interview on 16th 11:30 am.

The lady at counter number 21 took my interview

She asked me more than 10-15 questions

1. Which company
2. Are you going for client
3. What is the project?
4. Why you are chosen?
5. What will be your salary in US?
6. What will be your designation in US?
7. Have you done similar work for other clients?
8. Have you travelled for them? <This is where I think it went wrong, I said I did not travel but I was at client site in hybd india>

And then she said, I can not approve your visa

Hi, I'm hoping someone can help me. I filed for an EAD renewal, and 94 days later got a request for additional evidence. How long will it take to get the new EAD?
I had to stop working because I did not get my EAD on time.

Hello All,

My interview was on 4th August, 2017 @Chennai consulate.

Understand this - for Blanket cases VOs just have the info you gave in DS-160 and what they could get in their internal investigation. So you need to prepare well to prove your genuineness, in just 3-7 mins!!

I will provide my whole experience below. I will not provide the actual questions as that doesn't actually matters. You can go through this topic, you will get all questions ever asked or will be asked anyway!!

@Chennai:
1. Commuting in Chennai - Use Uber or some other vendor. Autos will charge you more.
2. If travelling through flight to Chennai - take extra identity proofs (for all passengers), other then passports, as you would need them while coming back if your visa is approved. Consulate would keep your passports in approval case.
3. The US OFC and US Consulate are very near to Nungabakkam Circle. Take hotel near to that.
4. Take umbrella if its raining season.

@US OFC:
1. It takes not more than 10mins to complete whole procedure.
2. Procedure - Security Check --> Documents Check --> Finger Printing --> Take picture --> Done.
3. You can take a File folder with documents in it. No electronic things with battery or storage allowed inside. Analog watches should be allowed, but don't take chance. Cellphones - don't take.
4. Essentially they need your passports, DS-160 forms, Appointment Letter. But there is no harm to carry all docs in a file folder.
5. They take picture of adults there only, no need to carry pics. Just carry the pics for young children only.

Thing to take care -
1. @UFC they will stamp your DS-160 forms. Don't loose them. You need to carry the same to Consulate.
2. Recommended - There should be at least 24hr gap between your OFC appointment and Consulate appointment.

Big Day @US Consulate:
1. Total time would vary. For me it took more than 70mins, when actual interview took just 3-5mins.
2. Chennai Consulate deals with all India's Blanket cases with all general B1s and other local cases too - hence expect a rush and lot of L1 Blankets.
3. Procedure - Security Check --> Documents Check --> Payment of L1 fee --> Passport Verification --> Finger Print Verification --> Actual Interview --> Done.
4. At Document Check, they will tie-up L1 applicant's DS-160, all the Passports (L1 and L2), three copies of I-129S and I-797(first page) and L1 Fraudulent Check DD together. You need to carry this along as-is till last step.
5. Payment section is most painful - there is a long queue for payment - just one counter. The other issue is with L1 applicants too, who bring cash (not dd) and then start counting it at the counter. That delays everyone. Personally i feel that consulate administration can handle this part better by having Cash and DD lines separate. Anyway, here they would take payment and give you a receipt back. Don't forget to write your details (Name, Passport Number, application ID etc) at back of the DD.
6. Rest all steps take 10mins inclusive of everything.

Preparation of actual interview:
There are two type of questions -
1. Straight forward Questions - How long you have been with the firm? How long you would be visiting US? To L2 - How long have you been married? L2 Kids - Whats your age?
Prepare above well so that you don't confuse the VO by any wrong answer.
 
2. Decisive Questions - Why your company needs you there? What if you don't go? What would you be doing in US?
These are the questions by which Visa officer would actually decide on your case.

1. Prepare your case strongly - as why you have to go to US.
2. You have a genuine case - so be confident about your case!!
3. Be confident, but not loud while answering.

You cannot control VOs mood. That's your luck part.
What you can control is to give clear, concise answers, so that there is no scope of confusion.

One last thing - if a young kid is accompanying you, you can take some candy to keep him/her busy!

Best of Luck!

My L1A blanket visa appointment was scheduled at 9am (for VAC biometrics) and at 11.30am for the interview. I had my wife and 1 year old baby with me.
My company prepared all the required docs and sent it in triplicate.
I reached the VAC in chennai at 8.15am. There is a small office downstairs where you can keep your bags and they charge Rs.50 for it (you are allowed to take your mobile phones inside though -- just turn it off) The VAC itself is on the 2nd floor of the building. Once inside, I was allowed to the front of the small queue since I had a baby. The folks there checked the DS160 and my passport and I was allowed inside where my fingerprints and photo was taken. The whole process took about 15 minutes and I was out by 8.40.
We took an auto and went to the consulate. Since our appointment was at 11.30, the person there did not allow us to go in at 9.30, even though we had a baby. So we killed some time around the consulate and returned at 10.15. We were allowed in this time.
No bags/cellphones etc are allowed inside, so you need to leave your bags with the small shopkeepers around that place. These are petty shops and not at all trustworthy, but there is no other option. I paid Rs.200 for this too!
Once inside, I was asked to arrange the documents (3 copies of 8 pages of the I129S, 3 copies of I797, passport , DD and DS160). During this I noticed that the sticker at the back of my passport, which they had put said L1b. I panic-ed because I was applying for L1A. When I asked they said that L1b meant L1 'blanket' and both L1A and L1B come under the same.

The next counter took the DD, verified the passport and fingerprints and finally I went to the queue where the interview happens. This was a very long queue on this particular day, but I went right ahead because of my baby.
VO: So, you work for <company name>
Me: Yes
VO: How many years have you been married?
Me: answered
VO: And just one kid? How old is he?
Me: answered
VO: what is your designation
Me: answered
VO: what is your location?
Me: answered
VO: What is your salary in the US?
Me: answered
VO: Please describe your role
Me: answered
VO: How many people will you manage directly in the US
Me: answered
VO: How many indirectly?
Me: answered
VO: Are you going to fly business class or economy? (jokingly)
Me: Mostly economy
VO: What! You should fly business
Me: Smiling
VO: You visa is approved.
Me: Thanks.

They did not ask my wife anything.