L1, L2 Visa

Has anyone recently entered the US as L2 Spouse with the updated i94 that allows work authorization ? USCIS website was last updated in November, so wondering if anything has changed since then.

We hold the following visa and its current status:
L1/L2 - Applied for extension/renewal in June 2021. Currently with USCIS.
L2 EAD : Expiry date Feb 2022
i94: Expiry date Feb 2022.
EAD Category Code : A18 ( Based on being an L2 spouse of an L1 nonimmigrant )

Once we receive our L1/L2 renewal/extension ( hopefully before our i94 expires) , I am planning to apply for L2 EAD renewal immediately.
As per the new rule about L2 EAD 180 days auto extension, can I continue to work with the L2 EAD receipt notice and get 180 days extension?

What if it gets delayed and get our L1/L2 extension after our i94 expiry date , Can I still be able to get the 180 days auto extension with the L2 EAD receipt when filed?

Attended L1B Blanket Visa Interview in Chennai on 6th Jan.

I was allowed to enter around 45 mins before my appointment time. At the front, they have a board that says which time slot they are allowing now.

When I entered they asked to arrange 2 sets of my I129+I797, DS160, and My Passport.
He took everything and put a rubber band around it and gave it back to me. I did not bring DD. I paid by card (BTW I also had cash with me just in case the card did not work. Also make sure you have enabled international transactions on your card else it won't go through). I also saw one ATM inside which I think you can use to withdraw cash.

After that, I was directly asked to go inside.
After a while, my turn came and the visa officer asked me for my documents. He returned my copy of the MRV receipt (which they attach to your DS-160 after paying the Fraud detection fee) and then scanned my passport.

He directly asked me if I am going to work for Nutanix. To which, I answered yes.
He asked about the Job location.
He asked about my salary.
Asked my highest education -> I said Bachelor of Technology and he asked In? to which I replied Computer Science and Engineering.
He asked how long I have been working with Nutanix and then asked me my total experience.

At last, he asked me what is my specialization to which I started replying but in middle, he started replying to someone else inside so I got confused and stopped talking. (Maybe I should have kept talking here.)
He looked at me since I stopped and then asked me to repeat myself.
I replied in 2-3 sentences about my specialization.

He typed something for 20-30 seconds on his computer and said my Visa is approved and returned me one set of stamped I129s.

Hope this helps.

Hello,

Apologies if this is the wrong forum to ask a question. I kept seeing VAC appointment availability but have been struggling to find a consular interviews in January/February. Yesterday I saw an opening in October 2022 and booked it. Are my only options now to go for an emergency request, cancel the appointment or wait till October'22?
Even with the new announcement L1 Blanket does not seem to be exempted from an in person interview, any ideas if more interviews might be available in January or February and if the system will allow me to reschedule?

Any help is greatly appreciated

Thanks,

Hi All,

I am holding a L1B Individual visa, my petition was approved on Sept 2020 and was valid till only Nov 2022 because it took almost 9-10 months to get it approved through normal processing with RFE. I got my Visa approved in Jan 2021 with validity till Nov 2022. Since then I am trying to travel but because of these Covid situations my travel plan is not finalized yet and every time it is being postponed, because my client want me to travel only once their offices are opened.
I am being little spectacle because of this current Covid situation, if I did not get a chance to travel to US till Nov 2022, will it be possible to file for extension for my L1B if yes when?
Somewhere I heard I need to be in US to file L1B extension. If someone please answer this that would be a great help.

Thanks,
Kapil

Hello, Everyone!

Mine is a question rather than an experience. Please pardon me if this is not the right forum to ask.

My company is planning to send me to the US on L1B Visa (mostly probably blanket). While I am excited to go to the US, I am a little skeptical about the current Covid situation and the availability of Visa slots. I am hearing that the latest available slot is somewhere in Sept/Oct 2022. Is that true? Can some one here please help me check this and is there any way that I can check this myself? (my processing is not yet started and I currently do not have an account in cgifederal)

I'm sorry if my question is too naive, I am new to all of these and hence struggling a bit. Also, this information is helpful to me because I have another offer in India which is pretty decent. I'm just afraid to lose it waiting for US Visa considering the current situation.

Thanks in advance!!

Hi, my wife was the primary applicant for L1A blanket. Me and our 6 year old daughter accompanied her for the interview on 16th December.

- Our appointment was at 10 am, we reached at 9:45 and were allowed to enter straight in.
- After security check, we went to a desk where we arranged our documents.(They asked for only 2 sets of I129, I797)
- We then went straight into the interview building, we were asked to skip all queues (Not sure it was because of L1A blanket visa or our daughter)
- After waiting for 5 mins, my wife went and paid the 500$ fee
- After another 2 mins we were asked to stand in front of a counter for the interview
- Below is how the conversation went, it was a lady officer and she was very cheerful and smiling. We were confident but a little nervous.

VO - Hi, good morning
Wife: Good morning
VO: (Looking at my daughters mask) Oh nice, there are cars on your mask. So cute!

We all had a nice laugh

VO: Please hand over your documents
VO: (After a min) Please handover passports of your family as well
VO: Which visa are you applying for?
Wife: L1A
VO: Have you travelled on an L or H visa before?
Wife: Yes, on an H1 before
VO: have you been in India for a period of 12 months after that?
Wife: Yes, I came back in 2014
VO: Which city are you travelling to
Wife: NYC
VO: What will be your designation
Wife: Manager - Product Development
VO: How many people do you manage?
Wife: I am a functional manager so I will manage multiple teams but they don't report directly into me.
VO: Got it, and what is the budget for the project?
Wife: 5M USD

(After this answer the VO was convinced, and I knew she will approve it)

VO: How old are you? (to my daughter)
Daughter: 6
VO: So thats like grade 1?
Wife: Yes, she is in Sr Kg now
VO: And sir you work in XYZ? (to me)
Me: Yes
VO: Great your visas are approved, safe travels!
Wife: Thanks Officer, have a good day

We entered the consulate at 9:45 and exited at 10:15!

We were confident of getting the visa, but we never thought it would be this smooth!

Thanks a lot to people in the forum for helping us.

First of all, thank you very much for all the inputs and experiences shared on this forum. Many of them were very useful.

I went for L1A blanket visa interview in Chennai along with L2 petitions for my wife and 2 kids.

I had VAC appointment on Dec 9th at 11:30 AM and consular interview appointment on Dec 10th at 9 AM.

The VAC experience was rather straightforward. You can carry mobile for VAC interview, but need to keep it switched off. VAC is on 1st/2nd floor of the building. You have to take stairs.

The handling was very cordial. Initially documents were checked and all DS-160s were placed in respective passports. Then we were led to the biometrics windows based on the ticket number given at the first window. Here DS-160s and passports were verified. Some basic questions were asked like full name and DOB. Then photos and biometric data was collected. We had to bring passport size photo for our 1 yr old son but the one we brought was not accepted. They need a 2X2 photo but we took the same photo we used for his passport application, which was not appropriate. The good news was that the reviewer told us that we could take the right photo directly to the visa interview. Fortunately, on the ground floor of the same building there is a center for photocopies, photographs, etc. We took his 2X2 photo right there and left. The whole experience was probably around 30-40 min.

For the visa interview we went around 30 min early at 8:30 AM. There was a line outside the consulate and we were sent to two levels of lines outside the building before we entered it. Then there was an airport style security checks. Everything was ok except that we had a small bottle of hand sanitizer with us which they did not allow. But more importantly, they will not dispose it themselves. They asked me to go out and throw it well outside the building which I did. Then I went back into the building skipping lines.

After the security check, we were led into a room where a lady wanted documents placed in a certain order - 3 sets of I129s, first page of I797, primary applicant passport and primary applicant DS-160. Then we were led towards a second building. There was a long line with social distancing. But curiously (and fortunately!), L1A visa applicants were asked to skip the lines and directly proceed towards the visa interview windows and sit. After sitting for maybe 5 min, the attendant asked me to go and pay the visa anti-fraud fee which I did at a corner window (specifically for this). I paid with credit card and returned to the sitting area to my family. After another 5 min or so, we were asked to stand in line right in front of the window we were all the while seated. The earlier interview going on was also on L1 and it was approved and then it was our turn. The interview went as below:

Me: Good Morning
VO: Good Morning
VO: Can I have your passport please
Me: (I gave my earlier set I had prepared)
VO: Can I have rest of the passports as well
Me: (I gave the passports of my family)
VO arranged the passports, I-129s in certain order and started looking something on the computer and typing.
It must have been 2 min where he worked on the system without talking anything (but it looked like it went on forever!)

VO: So how long you have been working with XXXXX
Me: 3 yrs 3 months sir
VO: Of these how long have you been a manager
Me: 2 yrs
VO: What is your salary in US
Me: 1XX,XXX + Variable Pay
VO: How many direct reports in your new role
Me: I am asked to hire 5 reports sir
VO: How many indirect reports
Me: 9
VO: Total how many reports in your next role
Me: 14 sir
VO: Do you have hire and fire authority
Me: For direct reports, yes.

Then he typed something on the system and asked me to verify my biometrics

Then he spoke to my wife and asked her about her highest qualification which she told him. He seemed to glance at the monitor to verify. Then he verified her biometrics as well.

VO: Your visa is approved. But (XXXX) your son's photograph is missing
Me: (getting ready to submit it)
VO: Oh I cannot accept it here but go to window XX and submit. Please do comeback after doing that.
VO handed all passports back to us.

Then we went to the other window, submitted the photo and my son's passport. the photo was scanned and returned. I think the info was uploaded on the system. Then we returned to the original VO window where another family was being interviewed for L1B and eventually theirs was approved.

Then we again went to the window

Me: Hello sir
VO: Hello, There you are again
Me: We submitted our son's photo (and handed passport)
VO: (checked the system) Can I have all the passports please for stamping the visa
Me: (handed over)
VO: your visas are approved. you are set to go. safe travels.
Me: Thank you sir. Have a nice day.
VO: Thank you and you too.

Some comments:

1. Be well prepared. Being confident is important and confidence will come from preparation. I had prepared 2 1/2 pages of potential questions and my replies and practiced multiple times.
2. Be confident when you speak. take a deep breath(s) before going to the window.
3. Understand beforehand what the visa requirements are and how your application addresses them.
4. Dress professionally and comfortably. I wore a neat shirt and trousers, shoes etc. I did not wear blazer as sometimes at visa interviews it causes some discomfort (from my past experience with another class of visa)
5. Be friendly without being unprofessional.

Hope this is helpful!

Good Luck!

This forum has helped me a lot to prepare myself for questions and possible answers in my case. I also got some tips which I'll share at the end of my post.
Place: Chennai
My Biometrics was scheduled for 1st Dec 9AM and my visa interview was scheduled for 3rd Dec at 11.30AM.

Biometrics was pretty straight forward. We were in and out in less than 15 mins. (Phones are allowed here but have to be switched off)
Documents: Passports, appointment confirmation, DS160 confirmation, photos for kids

Visa appointment: We reached the Consulate around 11.10 and were let right in after looking at the appointment confirmation page.

Routine security check once we were in (Phones are not allowed here, not even smart watches)

Then the lady asked us to arrange our documents in 3 sets for I129S and I797 and keep the passport, DS160 (primary applicant only) and fraud fee of $500 at the top of the stack.
My wife and I sat down on a chair and arranged that neatly in less than 5 mins after which she checked and asked us to move on to the next building where the actual interviews were going on.

Please note: There are washrooms and drinking water provided here.

My wife was asked to sit, while I was asked to go to another counter to pay the fraud fee and get a receipt. Since I was the only one at the counter, that took less than 5 mins too.

There were only 3 windows open that day, one was focusing on F1 only and others were generic. After paying the fee, I handed over my file to my wife and used the bathroom and had a glass of cold water and came and sat beside her again.
Little did we know, we both were sitting right in front of the VO who was going to interview us, which we realized when the guy mediating pointed us to the counter.
He asked me to wait in a circle for my turn and my wife was asked to sit and join me once my turn comes.

There were 2 young girls at the counter and both their parents were in the US on L1/L2. Not sure which parent was what.
They had come for their L2 stamping. They were being asked questions about the name of the company their parents work and they locations, etc. I wasn't directly looking at them or the VO for obvious reasons and acted like I was checking my file for all the documents in order ;) Their visas are approved and the VO asks me to come up.
I look back at my wife and ask her to join me and we both walk together towards the counter.

Greeted the VO good morning and how are you doing today? (VO sipping water and greets back as she swallows the water/smiles)

Questions asked and my replies:
VO: Future designation in the US
Me: Senior Project Manager
VO: How many direct reportees?
Me: 2 managers and I have budget to hire 2 more managers as the project is ramping up
VO: How many years with your company?
Me: Total 8 yrs
VO: Have you been on a H or L visa before?
Me: Yes, I have been on H1B for 6 years before
Then she made sure I have completed more than 12 months outside the country – I confirmed I’ve been here for the last year and a half
VO: City and state where you’ll be working?
Me: Replied

VO to my wife: Are you a homemaker
Wife: Yes
VO to my wife: How old are your kids?
Wife: They are 10 and 8yrs old

Golden words: Your visas are approved, you should receive your passports in a week. Safe travels!

Me to VO: Thank you and have a nice day officer!
VO: Thanks, you too!

When we stepped out and looked at the time, it was 11.35AM (my appointment was at 11.30AM). My wife and I were obviously overjoyed as we took an auto back to our hotel. I stayed at the Courtyard Marriott by the way which is 10mins away from both the VAC and Consulate.
As far as documentation goes, I had taken support letter from my organization, marriage certificate, 3-4 photos of the wedding, kids birth certificate, last 6 months payslip, India tax returns and Form 16, 1040 for US tax returns for 2020, resume, offer letter, etc; but wasn't asked for anything.

What I read previously on this forum for L1A was to leave your hairs undyed. I have a few graying hairs on the side, which I left as is :)
Also, I borrowed a suit and tie from my friend which also helped me with some brownie points I guess

Since my interview was on Friday, the status for me was showing as Administrative processing all weekend and on Monday (6th Dec) afternoon the status changed to Issued.
I got my passports by Blue Dart at my home in Mumbai Tuesday (7th Dec) afternoon. I paid 650 per passport / 2600 total.
Visas stamped on all 4 of them until Dec '24.

I hope this experience helps.
Be confident in your answers and take a deep breath while walking to the VO and keep eye contact at all times even if the VO is staring at her computer, typing away.
Lastly, I repeat that your attire matters. I saw folks wearing jeans, T shirts, chappals and sandals instead of shoes, etc which does not look professional obviously.

All the best to all of you!

This forum has always been helpful for every visa interview i have attended.

Here is my experience for interview scheduled for my family of 3(myself, spouse, kid).

Biometrics - Dec 5th, Chennai:
Documents required was recent passport, DS160 confirmation page, Appointment confirmation page, photograph in case of any kid
Was done with entire process in 10 minutes.

Consular Interview - Dec 6th, Chennai:
VO: Can i have your passport?
Me: Handed over passport.
VO: Is it L1 blanket or individual
Me: Individual
VO: what will be your salary?
Me: XXX,XXX USD
VO to spouse: What is your highest qualification madam?
Spouse: Answered
VO: Your visa is approved!

We said Thank you! and left counter.