L1, L2 Visa

Hi,

My company has filed L1b individual petition on 1st June 2017 under premium processing. It is now 14 days already, I have not received any receipt or acknowledgment number to track my application. When asked my employer they say that due to premium processing, they might directly get back with the decision along with the tracking ID.

Can you guys share with me your views on this?

Thanks!

Hi

Can any one help me to understand what is the average time for the USCIS to respond on the L1A individual Premium processing.

Received RFE and submitted the same on 31st may and the status says that the RFE received on 1st June and its been 13 days and no response from them and 15 june is the last day for the clock to stop as its Premium Processing.

I am so glad that I followed this forum to prepare for my interview and thanks everyone for adding their experiences.
Mine is the following:
Consular interview was scheduled for 11:30am on June 9, but we reached 1 hour early and we were allowed to go inside. Surprisingly, there was no rush and our entire process from security to approval took only 15 minutes.

Here's my interview experience:

VO: Good morning guys!
WE: Good morning!

VO: So who is your petitioner?
Me: XX

VO: What is your highest qualification?
Me: XX

VO: Your salary in US?
Me: XX dollars

VO to my wife: How many years have you been married?
Wife: XX

VO: to my kids: what is your fav animal?
Kids: XX XX

VO looked at her computer and uttered the golden words: "Your visa has been granted, have a great trip!"

Hi ,

I am applying Visa in Sri Lanka in category L1 B Blanket and we prepare all our documents as we are going to work for client and in their location, but people from our company have got their visa, why this is considered not to mention, please advice

Hello all,

First of all, I want to thank all contributors on this forum for sharing their experiences. They were priceless and extremely helpful in my preparation towards the interview at the consulate. Just going through this forum in detail will go a long way in helping with the preparations.

Here is my experience.

Bio-metric and Consular appointments for myself, wife and kid were on the same day at 8:15 a.m and 11:00 a.m. respectively.

We reached the Bio metric centre (Good Shepherd building) at 7:15 a.m. There were a few applicants already waiting there. The security guard came at 7:45 and opened the gate and asked applicants for the 8 am interview to stand in-line. At 8 a.m. he asked the 8:15 a.m. applicants to join in. Phones are allowed inside – but they should be switched off. Nothing else other than the paperwork / documentation is allowed inside. If you are carrying a bag, there is a locker facility available on the ground floor (not sure of the charges). You walk up to the first floor where you again stand in a line based on your time slot. You are sent to the second floor where the fingerprinting happens. Here the appointment confirmation and DS160 application is scanned (make sure the bar code is clearly printed and visible) and then we were sent inside with token number. Watch for token numbers on the screen and proceed to the respective window. Ten printing is done here and photo taken after passport and DS160 verification. Stickers with details are pasted on the back of the passport here. Kids (I think below 12) are not mandated to get their fingerprints or photos taken. Since my kid was asleep, they just took her recent photograph (we had taken this a week back as per specifications) and used that. That was pretty much it.

We had breakfast, waited for a while in the cab and then went to the consulate around 10:15 am. I left the phone and other stuff in the cab (had a dependable office cab, so took the liberty). The driver pointed to a PCO, about 100 meters from the embassy where I could call him once the interview was over. We then stood in the line (had about 10 – 15 people ahead of me) and were quickly sent forward. One more document verification happened outside and we were then sent to the security check inside. Post security check we had to stand in line for document verification – was asked to keep the DS160, i129, i797, DD and passport in order. Only applicants are to be in-line. Dependents can sit near on chairs. Post this verification we were sent inside. Since we had a kid with us, we were given priority treatment everywhere – skipped all possible queues all the way upto the interview. It really helps – saved nearly one hour easily. Once we paid the DD, receipts were issued and then again fingerprinted. Within 2 minutes we were sent to the visa interview window (last window on the floor – so was a quiet corner away from people – so less stress). We waited for our turn – as an interview was in progress. This candidate’s visa got rejected. However I was not worried as each case is looked at differently. My turn came.

Questions asked for which I provided my responses (I had applied for L1A – Blanket). The entire interview was pretty straight forward and lasted for about 5 mins overall.

Q1: Good morning sir, can I have your passports and documents please.
Q2: So you work for company XYZ (a reputed company).
Q3: How long have you been working at XYZ
Q4: What is your designation
Q5: What would be your salary in the US.
Q6: Tell me more about what you will do in the US
Q6: Would you manage a team or do specific managerial activities
Q7: Which location are you going to – Why this specific location?
Q8: How long do you intend to stay in the US

Officer turned to my spouse and kid. Did not ask any questions to my wife, but asked my kid – How old are you? Officer was happy after the response.

The golden words then pronounced “ Your visa has been approved sir. Have a wonderful time in the US”. Approval stamps were fixed on my i129s and passports retained. We thanked the officer and left the consulate in a cheerful mood, despite the baking hot temperature of nearly 40 outside.

Overall an exciting experience. Some points that I followed which helped:

1. Prepared a detailed Q&A document with all potential questions and short, crisp responses in bullets
2. Took a few mock interviews in the office and at home – helped fine tune responses and avoiding repetition
3. Answered slowly and clearly and in simple words – avoided any complicated or buzz words - Give only strong points – rest they will ask if required – prepare for one liners mostly
4. Keep smiling, maintain eye contact and be courteous with the officer – they are nice human beings – they just want to check if you are a genuine candidate. Every case is viewed differently – so not to get worried if people around you are getting rejected. If you have a honest intent, applying genuinely, not hiding any facts and have all the right credentials – you should get the visa.

Once again, I wish to thank everyone on this forum for sharing their experiences. Hope mine will be useful too.

Good luck everyone!

This forum has been a great help, i had my Bio-Metrics on 22nd May 2017 and my interview on 02 Jun 2017 for L1A

OFC - I didnt know that i can carry my phone for Bio-Metrics so i left my phone in the car parked around 100 yards away from the OFC centre, if you are carrying phone to OFC make sure you switch off your phone before entering the OFC.
VAC - You cannot carry even you car keys inside, i parked my car in the opposite lane and handed over the keys to a nearby tea shop. Make sure you take a cab or an auto for the interview.

I made a mistake by not carrying my 4 months old baby on the day of interview and the applicants with kids are priorized and you can complete your interview without waiting for a long time. But in the end it was worth the wait. When my turn came, me and my wife proceeded to counter and the questions are as follows,

VO: Good Morning Sir
Ans: Me - Good Morning Sir, My Wife - Good Morning Sir, how are you doing today
VO: I am doing good, thank you for asking, Your passport please
Ans: Gave our passports and i797.
VO: I havent heard about your company tell me what they do ?
Ans: Answered
VO: How long you have been with this company?
Ans: 4 years
VO: What is your designation?
Ans: Answered
VO: Who do you report to ?
Ans: Senior Vice President
VO: Is he on your client side or your company ?
Ans: Answered
VO: How many report to you?
Ans: 4
VO: Anyone reporting to them?
Ans: Nope

To My Wife:
VO: How long have you been married?
Ans: 4 years and 2 months
VO: How old is your baby ?
Ans: 4 months
VO: You both must be having sleepless nights,

To Me:
          VO: Where are you going to stay
Ans: Answered

VO while typing in the system for few seconds and then the Golden Words "You Visa is Approved" and have a wonderful stay in United States
We thanked the VO and wished him a good day and left the consulate with happy face.

Note: Before me another applicant was so casual he was dressed in casual shirt and jeans and applied for L1 visa (not sure if its A or B) he was so confident and his visa was approved and i was dressed in formals (no suit), Dress code doesnt matter but make sure you are dressed in such a way that it gives you confident.

Important: Be confident and make sure you are thorough with your petition.

Thanks for this forum. It really helped a lot. Looking at pages in this forum will give good idea how to prepare for the Interview.

VO: Good Morning Sir
Me: Good Morning Sir ( I passed my documents)

VO: In Which company you are working ?
Me: I said my Company Name

VO: To which place you are travelling ?
Me: Told the City and State where my company is located.

VO: What will be your salary there ?
ME: **** * P/A

VO: What is your Specialization knowledge ?
Me: My Specialization knowledge is Integrating **** (my company name) Propriety application with Data acquisition tools to form one of the core component of Data Management framework. Where Data acquisition is to pull data from various DB sources. Will be applying Business rules while pulling the data.

VO: Any specific application you are going to support from U.S ?
Me: Yes. Its *** application. Its data is used for creating benefits plans for my organization products. It has Layer 7 security applied to the data. So it is offshore restricted. So i have to be in U.S. to support this deployment. ( V.O is convinced with this answer.)

VO: Have you already worked in this project from INDIA ?
Me: No. I have supported Other critical Projects which are not offshore restricted . As i said This project data is offshore restricted , so I have to support from U.S

VO: Any Specific client you are going to work for ?
Me: No to my Parent company. ( This is very Important because , any persons says Client location then L1 is rejected. I have seen 3 rejections in front of me)

VO; Are you married ?
ME : Yes.

VO: Is your wife travelling with you ?
ME: Answered.

VO: You VISA is approved. Make sure you carry one set of i129s with you when you travel.
ME: Sure . Thanks Sir.

My Advice is for any L1 Blanket Visa please don't mention word "CLIENT". Also do not use any Technology word like" Java, Oracle, Datastage, Linux" etc.

Make the sentence in simple words, Do not use too much technical words to VO. Then He will be asking more questions from your answers which you might not be prepared for.

  

Would like to share my experience for L1-A. I went with my wife and my kid. I booked the fingerprint and interview dates for the same day.

VO: Good morning
I: Good morning (Handed over the documents)

VO: How long have you been married?
I: We started looking at each other, trying to figure out the years. Meanwhile VO said "Yeah, Its hard to remember these incidences". I said "That question just cost me a ring" and we both laughed

VO: How long have you been in this company?
I: xx years

VO: How much is you salary in US?
I: xx $

VO: Will you be working at client's premises?
I: No, at company's HQ at xx city

VO: How may people report to you
I: xx people

VO: Who do you report to?
I: designation of my Manager

VO: And who does he report to?
I: designation of my Manager's manager

VO: (Question to my wife) Do you plan to work in US
My Wife: Yes, if I get a chance

VO: (To my wife) You need to apply for I-765
My Wife: OK

Finally the golden words, "you VISA has been approved"

Hello Everyone,
I had my L1B blanket VISA VO round on 02-Jun-2017. I had appointment at 8:30 AM. I reached on exact time and moved straight inside.
Following are the question asked during interview:

VO: Hello Sir (VO was young American man about 35 years old and professional. Calling me Sir :))
Me: Hello and passed three sets of documents along with passports(i traveled with my wife and daughter)

VO: After looking at the documents, how long have you been working in YYYY company.
Me: 3 years 8 months

VO: What is your compensation in US.
Me: answered (ZZZ Thousand Dollars).

VO: What do you do in Indian company.
Me: answered

VO: What you are going to do in US company.
Me: answered

VO: Will you be working from any client location.
Me: I will be working based out of our company headquarter.

VO: Continuously typing during whole interview and looked convinced and stamped I129S form with approved stamp (3 years validity). And golden words, Sir I am approving you VISA.
He did not ask anything to my wife and daughter.

Below are my conclusion points for strong VISA approval chances:
1. You have been working in your current company for Three years or more.
2. You have total experience of more than 8 years.

Above two points will showcase you as specialist. Sometime VO will not accept specialization answers if you are lacking in above two points and will cross question.
And if you are not able to give satisfactory answers to cross questions than you are gone.

3. Your parent company is a reputed company in US in its business sector. VO know my company very well(During my US B1 VISA interview as well).
4. You work based out of parent company and not for any client.
5. Your yearly compensation in US is a good amount (in six digit).

Above three points will show strong candidature to meet L1B requirements.

But these are not any written criteria but show strong chances of Blanket L1B approval. You can still get the VISA if you are confident while talking and explain things in your words.
No need to by-heart and answers, just practice about what should be the answer but do not prepare any verbiage because you will forget that during interview most likely.
If you will be traveling with your wife and kids than book all the appointment together. Standing as family also influence positively.

Disclaimer: Above are my personal observations and thinking not any written rules.

Again thanks everyone who shares their experience here which help everyone.

Hi Everyone,

Yesterday, my L1B blanket interview got denial and the VO asked me to apply for anther kind of visa and L1B blanket is not suitable for me. I'm thinking the reason is that I didn't convince him with my specialized knowledge or skills. However, the denial letter (white form) shows the denial under 214(b). Doesn't that for other types of nonimmigration visa like B1/B2?

I don't know what's the action to take now. Did the VO mean I should go for L1B individual petition? The Fragomen lawyer said L1B individual petition process is long and may be refused as well.

My husband now is in US with a J1 visa. Should I consider applying for J2 visa instead? I'm afraid that J2 will also be rejected due to my 1st rejection record with denial under 214(b).

Really appreciate your answers.