L1, L2 Visa

my L1A blanket got rejected at Chennai. then my company filed L1B individual and i got RFE. can i abandon the L1b individual and apply for L1B blanket. When my L1A blanket got rejected the VO told me to reapply under L1B blanket. So can i reapply under L1B blanket?
is there any norm or precedent at the consulate that if blanket l1A is rejected i cannot reapply for Blanket L1B?

Hi ,
     Below is my experience during my L1B visa interview. I was very confident during interview and it was going smooth. He was typing a lot before asking new qustions.
Though visa officer in the end , put stamp ‘not clearly approved’ on form.

Me : Good morning, How are you?
VO : Good morning , Can you pass documents and passport please.

VO : Which company you are working for?
Me : I have been working for ZZZ

VO : How many years that you have been working for this company?
Me : 4 years

VO : What is your designation?
Me : Senior Engineer

VO: What is your salary?
Me : ZZZ$ per anum

VO: How many employee YYYY has?
Me: ZZZ

VO: How many branches in US ?
Me: Total YYYY branches

VO: Where will you going in US?
Me: I will be going at cedar rapids, IOWA.

VO: What are there in Cedar Rapids?
Me: There are high end tools and FPGA lab setup over there to validate our product.

VO: Is it client location?
Me: No , it is our company’s location

VO: Are you working for client?
Me: No , I won’t be working for client

VO: What is your specialized knowledge?
Me: I am having specialized knowledge in Verification Intellectual Property development using high speed technology YYYY . In my 4 years of experience, I did work on several projects using this technology and currently I am developing tool which is VIP having these high speed technology ZZZ. This product will be used in semi-conductor industries to ensure functional correctness of very complex hardware design like high end graphics processor , Display controllers , memory controllers etc

VO: Who is Intellectual property? ( I didn’t understand this question and told him that its ZZZ’ IP)

VO: Are you building specific chip?
Me: No , we are building YYYY based VIP

VO: How will you check functional correctness?
Me: Before chips goes to foundry, It is in piece of code , there we are verifying.

VO: Are you from quality engineer ? ( After this he left his chair and went. Came after 5 min)
Me: No , I am not.

VO: What are the application of these product?
Me: As I said , this will be used in hardware peripheral which are connected to motherboard like graphics processor, memory controller , SSD

VO: Are you targeting for specific application?
Me: I said , Yes

VO: Which application?
Me: High end graphics processor

VO: Where will the graphics processor be used?
Me: I said , it is for high graphics gaming applications

VO: Is it specific to console?
Me: Yes.

He was asking so many questions, he took around 25 min interview.
I dont know what is going wrong over here. He was not convinced what i am specialized in.

He might be thinking that i am quality/testing engineer who checks product quality. But I am ASIC and FPGA verification engineer. VO might have taken 'verification' keyword as software testing. I personally think due to this misconception , he did not approve visa

He put stamps on I129S 'not clearly approved'.

Hi, I went for my L1B extension along with my wife.
Day1 : Biometric. We had mistakenly attached our old DS160 with the appointment, so we got it fixed while we went for biometric. It was pretty quick and pretty well managed.
Day 2: Interview. The queue this time around was not a long one. We went in about 15 mins. The wait after that is long. I guess we waited for some 30-40 mins before reaching the window. Greeted with smile. The questions were pretty straight forward:
Q1 : Is it L1B or L1A?
Q2 : What is your job location?
Q3 : What is your salary?
Q4 : Explain a real world application of your product.
Q5 : Is it a propreitory product?

To my spouse :
Q1 : How long have you been married?
Q2 : What is your highest qualification?

I guess you need to believe yourself,prepare well and rehearse. It would go well. Pay attention to formation of words/sentences. English is a funny language and a pause here and there can change the meaning of the whole sentence.
You should know what you are doing and why are you going there, if you are convinced, so would the officer.
Best of Luck!!

I had my visa interview on 12th July (Biometric- 3.15PM) and 13th July (Consulate - 9AM).

Biometric-
Please note that Mobile phone is allowed inside. You would be asked to Switch it off , but you can carry it inside the VAC.
The process is very simple inside. You need to stand in the queue as per your interview slot.
The required documents are DS160 confirmation page, Interview confirmation letter and Passport.. (That's all). Take the documents in a transparent folder as bags are not allowed inside.
After initial verification of your documents is over ,
you will be issued a token number (pasted to your passport's outside cover) and asked to stand in a queue. The token number would be displayed in monitor and you can go to the counter when your turn comes
to give your biometric test and then your photograph will be taken in the same counter. The whole process takes around 2 minutes.

Consulate interview:
Nothing is allowed inside apart from your documents. Even you will be asked to remove you watch. Digital watches are not even allowed.
My interview was at 9AM. So I reached the venue around 8.15AM to see around 200 people are already in the queue outside the consulate office.
The verifying officer allowed me to get inside directly as my interview was at 9AM. (Intentionally I did a polite inquiry whether I should stand in queue as my interview slot was at 9AM and the queue was too long)

After getting inside, all L1B visa applicants are asked to arrange the documents in this order.
I-129S (8 Pages) + I-797 (1st page) (3 sets)
DD of 500$
Passport..
These are the only documents required for your visa interview.
Other documents are not required, unless the Visa officer asks you to explicitly show to him. Given the duration of interview is so short,
this would be most unlike event, but for safe side its better to carry all the documents which are mentioned in the site.

You need to visit to three counters before you get in queue for your actual Visa interview.
1st counter: Submission of DD and get a receipt for the same. The officer will staple the DD's acknowledgement to one set of I-129S.
2nd counter : The officer will ask you for your passport only and make some entry in the system.
3rd counter : your finger prints would be taken again . (kind of biometric)

Once these formalities are done, you will be asked to the queue where people are waiting to give their actual visa interview.
After waiting for 20 mins , I was asked to go to a particular counter, where another interview was going on . You should be able to hear the conversation on the nature of questions gettting asked.
Once the other person's interview got over , the Visa officer shouted Next.

Me: Good Morning Mam.
VO : Very good morning, how are you?
Me: I am good Mam, how are you?
VO: I am good too, than you.

VO: Which company do you work for ?
Me : I am working for company xxx for a period of xx year and zz months.
VO: (stopping me in between), please answer to the point what was asked for. (I realized I should not have told the number of years)
Me: Ok sure Mam.

VO: Whether you would be working at our parent office Or at Client place?
Me: I would be working at the end user site for some time to support them during the implementation phase of the project. (Intentionally I termed client site as end user site)

VO: So you would be working at the client location. Who is your client.
Me: We are a product based company and there are many clients who are using our proprietary product. (I tried avoiding my Client name by giving this answer which obviously she didn't like)

VO: (In a bit irritating voice) Please tell me the client name for which you would be working .
Me: The client name is YYYY.

VO: (I believe she goggled my client's name ) What your client does?
Me: They are into etc. etc. field and they are the one of well known retailers xxxx through out the United states.

VO: Which product you have specialized knowledge?
Me: I explained her on the nature of the product. (She was aware of the product as she would have already heard the same product name from many of our company's applicant)

VO: How much customization was involved in this project?
Me: This is our company's own product and no customization specific to Client was done. The customer YYYY and many other profitable retailers around the world
would be using this product.

VO: What would you be doing at the client site?
Me: I would be supporting the implementation for our product during integration testing. I would be supporting only our own proprietary product using my specialized skills of this product and
I would be reporting to mr MMM who is a technical Architect during my tenure.

VO: How long would you want to be there in US?
Me: I would be entering the U.S for a period of 4 to 6 Months and would be back to India to resume my normal duties after my assignment is over.

VO: Did you directly deal with your customer during the development phase?
Me: No, I was never involved in any kind of discussion with the customer. It was the onsite business manager and design leads who were responsible for dealing tihe the customer.

VO: How long you have been working with this product?
Me: I am working on this product from the day I joined the organization.

She started typing for more than 2 mins in the system. I was worried as I felt the interview didn't go that well and it was not in the same expected zone based on which I was preparing for couple of weeks.
The questions were mostly client related and I was forced to tell my Client's name (which I believe is not a good thing).

After 2 mins of so, she started stamping on all of my 3 I-129S copies. She kept one and returned the other two saying
I am approving your visa, All the best!!

I said Thank you so much mam. You made my day.
My suggestion would be: Be honest on what you are answering and try to be as confident as possible.
We may not always get the standard set of questions, so be prepared. Wishing you all the best.

Firstly wanted to thank each and every one who has updated there experience in this portal which is really an helping tool to prepare for the interview.

My appointment was at 10.30 AM and I reached just 30 min before and the security allowed us to go inside before the appointment timing.

I went along with my wife and carried lot of document which they dint asked me to show but better to carry the same without fail. Below are the list of documents

1) Form G-28, Notice of Entry of Appearance of Attorney
2) Form I 129S (3 originals);
3) Letter of support (3 originals);
4) Form I 797,
5) DS 160 Nonimmigrant Visa Application Form
6) Passport-sized photograph;
7) Passport of all the applicant
8) Receipt for visa application fees.
9) DD – INR 34,000 (US$ 500 X 68)

we entered inside after the security check and reached Helpdesk they asked to organize the document in below order and keep the pending document inside the cover which need to be shown on demand.

I-129S (8 page), First page of I797 and passport – 3 sets

Then we move forwarded to the payment counter (DD 34,000) and after paying the same, got the receipt for the same then joined the interview queue , there the real pressure started :)

My big tension was that i'm not into technical profile like software engineer and works in SCM field.

Interview question as below,

VO: Good morning guys
Me: Very good morning Sir

VO: Which company you works for
Me: YYYY X

VO: How long in the company?
Me: 4 years 8 months

VO:What is your qualification?
Me: BE in mechanical scope

VO: where you will go in US?
Me: Florida state

VO: You said something?
Me: I said Florida state is my work location

VO: O Ok, I heard WA
Me: I said no, our company HO is at WA but my work location will be in FL office (as mentioned in my I-129S)

VO:OK, What is your specialization?
Me: I’M specialized in planning, forecasting and SCM using company proprietary tools such as ZZZ, YYY, ZZZ and also worked on optimizing the tools which helped company to plan the inventory more accurately in a cost effective way.

VO: what’s that forecast you do?
Me: Customized company products which is required to support customer orders.

Then he started typing something for 2-3 min

VO: O you already had one Visa?
Me: Yes I had C1/D visa where I obtained while working in ship but never get a chance to go US and visa is expired as of now(I declared the C1/D visa detail in DS160)

VO:Why did you changed the job
Me: I was not too inclined to the shipping job, so I quit the same after an year and stared working in SCM profile.

Then Question to my wife,

VO: how long you got married?
Wife: 1 year 6 months

VO: What is your highest qualification?
Wife: answered

VO: Any kids
Wife: answered

 
Then again he started typing something and finally he said I’m approving your Visa and Ill keep the passport’s with me and pls take back 2 copies of I-129S (with the seal of approving) and make sure you submit the same while entering to US. Have a nice day

Some of the tips I wanted to recommend based on my experience,

1. For out station candidate - Try to take nearby hotel so that you can reach the place by walk on time instead of depending on CAB/other vehicle for transportation.
2. Just note down the question from past 2 months input from this portal and be prepared for the same, No need to worry on other questions.
3. What is your specialization ? why you going to US ? why only you? are the most important question for L1B Visa interview. So be prepared for strong justification which should convince the VO.
4. Don’t watch the counter when you are in a queue , since you will get more tensed after seeing lot of rejection cases (based on my experience and I experienced the same)
5. Keep your mind cool and just think your case is very genuine and there is no way of getting rejected.
6. At last believe in your favorite god and pray him for positive outcome. :)

All the Best

Hi All,

Thank you so much everyone for sharing your experiences here. This forum has helped me a lot in understanding the Visa process and concentrating on the key information only. Now its my turn to share my experience and help other. Hope the below information helps you. Best of Luck.

My L1B Visa appointment was scheduled on 10th and 11th July @ Chennai Consulate.

Biometric Appointment:
My appointment was scheduled on 10th July 15:30, I reached the biometric centre at 14:00. The mobile phones are allowed but should be switched off. The centre is located on first floor. First we were asked to stand in queue as per the appointment time. There the guy asked us to show only, DS160 confirmation page and appointment schedule letter. Then we were directed to go to second queue, here one lady scans the Barcode on the DS160 confirmation page. After this we were allowed to go inside the Bio-metric room. Here they ask for DS160 confirmation and Passport. They will check the name and other details should match with Passport and then allowed to go to next counter, here they pasted the Barcode sticker at the pack of the Passport and provided a token number. We then directed to stand in queue and watch for the token number and counter details displayed on the screen. Once your token number flashed on the screen go to respective counter, here they will ask for preferred language, take your photograph and will register your finger print information. Also will stamp your DS160 confirmation page. And you are done. Please follow the instructions as directed. The whole process will take only 10-15 mins.

Visa Interview:
For the interview preparation, please make note of the questions as described on this forum, prepare your crisp responses and practice them. Writing down the Answers by-hand will help. But you should follow your preferred way. Be confident, and cool. And everything will be okay.

My VISA interview appointment was scheduled at, 11th July @ 11:30, I reached the consulate at, 10:00. The security guy allowed me to join the queue, and they ask for Passport at the Gate. Please do not carry any Bag/wallet/Smart/wrist Watch/ Fitness Band and/or any metal on the body/pockets. I have only carrying my folder and was wearing my wrist watch but security lady asked me to place it in my folder. Then after the security check, we are allowed to stand in queue where we were asked to arrange the document as,
1. 8 Pages of 129, First Page of I797 likewise prepare three sets
2. DS160 confirmation page, stamped at the Biometric centre.
3. Passport (Old/New all)
4. $500 DD for anti-fraud fee.

Given the documents as directed above, the guy bound a rubber band and prepared three sets and given the document to me. And asked to join the queue at the back building. Here the security guard allowed applicants to enter the building as the space available inside. After entering, L1B candidates asked to come aside and we were asked to wait in queue for DD deposit. After DD deposit got the receipt and asked to go to another counter here they take the passport and again the biometric information recorded.

After this, allowed to stand in final queue for Interview round. There are about 40-50 applicants in the queue before me.

At the Interview window, I was waiting for my turn as the VISA officer(lady) was busy with another candidate. (Wait for your turn at the line drawn and do not go forward even though the applicant before you is finished, just go only when you are asked to come forward.)

Following are the questions asked to me:

As soon as reached the interview window. (Take a deep breathe here and cool down all your emotions.)

VO: Documents please.
Me: Provided the document from bottom of the window. Also greeted her with “Good Morning, Mam”

VO: Which company you will work for?
Me: YYYY X Solutions.

VO: How long you have been working with this company?
Me: 4 and Half years.

VO: Which location in US you will be travelling?
Me: Omaha, Nebraska.

VO: How much is your US salary?
Me: YYYY X Dollars per annum.

VO: Are you going to work for any specific client?
Me: No. I will be working for my Parent company.

VO: What is the Project you are going to support? (One of the prepared)
Me: I will be working on the Online Account Management System. (Stopped me in between and asked next question)

VO: What this application used for? (One of the prepared)
Me: The OAM application allows Credit card users to manage their card account portfolio, securely over the internet. Users can easily enroll into the system, View account balance and statement information, Pay credit card bills online and more.

She was continuously typing while my interview is going on. At the time, I finished my answer for the last question, she has already stamped my application and writing the date. My fingers are crossed, cause not very much questions asked as I prepared for more.

Then comes the golden words, “Sir, your Visa is approved”.

I think, overall my Visa interview was straight forward and simple. But believe me it is so exciting process. Enjoy the process follow the instructions properly, be prepared and confident. This will ensure everything will be good.

Some simple Advise for the new candidate as mine.
1. Go with formal outfit, shirt trouser and leather shoes. Formal Blazer will be good addition but not necessary.
2. Get shaving done before going for interview.
3. Be prepared for the questions and make sure you should provide answers that resemble you are going to work for Parent company/ Same company not for any specific client.

Thank you now. Hope this information helps you.

Once again Best of Luck for your interview.

My company renewed its blanket petition (I-797) and I was asked by attorney to get a new stamping even though my VISA & I-94 was still valid for two more years

I took my wife and my son to the interview and this is how it went.

VO: Are you applying for L1-A or L1-B?
Me: L1-A

VO: For how long have you been in this company?
Me: xx years and xx months

VO: What is your salary?
Me: xx dollars

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

VO: What are their designations?
Me: xx are a, yy are b and zz are c

VO: What is your work location?
Me: city, state

VO: Who do you report to?
Me: Designation of my manager

VO: Who does your manager report to?
Me: Designation of manager's manager

To My Wife
VO: How long have you been married?
Wife: xx years

VO: What's your highest level of education
Wife: xx degree

To my son (I guess this was just for fun)
VO: How old are you?
son: xx years

VO: With whom are you here with?
son: with my mom and dad

I am so grateful to this website for providing me the required information, it really helped me get through the interview.

VO: How long have you been with this company?
Me: 3 years
VO: (Kept on looking at his computer) Where were you working before this?
Me: Prior to working here, I completed my MBA, before which I was working in ** company.
VO: Ok, so work then MBA then back to working
Me: Yes
VO: What is your specialized knowledge?
Me: Spoke about the tool that I have designed and worked on and how this tool is helpful. What is in this tool and the industry (**) it caters to? (Make sure this answer is well prepared)
VO: Repeating from my above answer, so this is for this industry (**)
Me: Yes, this particular industry (Repeating the full form of the industry)
VO: How long have you been working on this tool.
Me: 2 years
VO: How many people are you working with, you have a Team?
Me: I have 2 other people who support me
VO: Who uses this tool?
Me: I gave the same answer that I gave above (this answer was again a repetition of the industry this tool is designed for and I guess he was making sure that this is not for one specific client)
VO: So, basically who is using it, has it been sold to anyone yet?
ME: Yes, we have sold it to “n” customers and I will be supporting internal teams who work for these customers. (He looked convinced after he heard this answer)
VO: Are you married?
Me: Yes, and my husband is also working in ** USA

Friends,

This forum is a blessing for people appearing for any kind of VISA.

Will cut the crap and come to the point.

Me: Good Morning, Maa'm. How are you doing today?
VC: I am doing fine, how are you?
Me: Doing good. Thanks.

VC: Tell me about your company.
Me: Explained in 3 sentences. Simple english, not many buzz words.

VC: Your VISA application is for specialized skill or managerial position?
Me: Managerial

VC: How many reportees would you have, direct & indirect?
Me: Answered in a single sentence.

VC: Is any of your reportees a manager?
Me: Answered in 3 words.

VC: Who do you report to?
Me: stated designation of my boss

VC: Who does that guy report to?
Me: stated designation of my boss's boss

VC: What would be your salary in the U.S., annually in dollars?
Me: Stated the figure.

VC to my wife: Are you working, Maa'm?
My Wife: No, Maa'm

VC to my wife: What is your highest qualification?
My Wife: state her highest qualification

VC to my wife: what do you specialize in ?
My Wife: after a bit of thinking, stated a sub-domain.

VC: Ok, Sir, Maa'm your VISA is approved. (To my Wife) You may take care of your kid now and sit back ( My kid had been running around all the time ). Sir, you please wait here while I complete the paper work.

The questions asked by VC are very elaborate and un-ambiguous. Most of the answers are single words.

Thanks to the community again and best of luck to every applicant out there!

VAC:
Went to VAC at Begumpet (Near US consulate – Airtel building road- you will find pointers to Gowra Grand) with DS 160 form and appointment confirmation. There are lockers outside PSK in Begumpet where we can store cell phones etc if needed. We can park two wheelers in Queens Plaza (by checking with Guard) or parking near Gowra Grand(as per pointers avbl). They take photo and stamp the DS 160 in VAC. Mobiles are not allowed. Hence store it in bike/car/lockers at PSK.
Location of VAC: Left of PSK Begumpet. Please ask guards for US fingerprint. They will guide you.

Interview:
My appointment was at 10:30 AM. I have reached Chennai consulate by 10:00 AM. There were hardly 10 members in the line. They are allowing half an hour before appointment. Please take a note of security regulations and carry cash only in pockets/small file folders. No purse/cellphone etc will be allowed.
After going in, we are supposed to segregate the 8 pages of I129 and first page of I797 separately as 3 copies. Better to take binding clips if possible. Remaining documents, you can store separately. Please mention visa category to support staff so that they can direct you appropriately.
I was directed to second building where there is a line of 40 people. We were then directed to fees payment counter where I had provided the demand draft for $500. They gave the receipt. Then I was directed to the counter where they verified finger prints and passport.
Then we go to visa interview line. A total of around 60 applicants were there in front of me. There were counter numbers 26-35 in which people will go for final round. There are specific windows for L1B Visa and support staff will guide us appropriately.
Documents to be carried: Passport, Appointment confirmation, I129 3 copies, I797 (first page) – 3 copies in one folder.Give these to Visa Officer. Remaining all documents as told by your company in another folder.
Questions asked:
1. So – you are a Manager or a specialized knowledge professional
2. What is your specialized knowledge? – Answered about the client specific tool that I developed
VO starts typing....fingers crossed
3. Where are you going in US – Ans. Tell your location from I129
4. Are you going to work for client or your company? – Ans. I am developing this tool as specialized tool for my company. It will be deployed for multiple clients in same sector
5. Why only you and not others in your company?
6. Whom will you report to ?
7. Where will you be traveling in US?
8. What is your Salary?
Then the VO uttered golden words : “Your Visa is approved” . I am returning two I129 to you. Give one of them at port of entry. Please note: Chances of rejection are high if we say we will work for client