L1, L2 Visa

Firstly I would like to Thank this forum for the vaulable information shared by other users. I would like to share my experience with other members so that it might be of some help...

My L1A individual and L2 for spouce and kid was approved on 5th Fen 2016. The interview got over even before we realised it was getting into a flow :-)

VO: Good Morning Sir!
Me: Good Morning Maam! How are you doing?

VO: Am fine Thank You!
VO: To my 5 year old son. Hello! young man what is your name.
My son: xyz... giggles and VO returns back a smile :-)

VO: Your name sir.
Me: XYZ.
VO: Your customer name?
Me: XYZ
VO: Your compensation?
Me: XYZ
VO: When did you join this company?
Me: August 2014.
VO: OK. 2 years... continues to giggle with my son who was in his own world and trying to figure out why we were exchanging such serious talks..

VO: Can i see you petition sir?
Me: I fumble a bit then..
 VO say, right there sir on top of your file.. I hand her the document. She glances though and types something in her computer.. and says.. mmmm this is L1 Blankeet....
Me: Maaam its L1A indivi.... ( she interrupts)

VO: Then she gives a big smile.. and looks at my wife Congratulations!!! Your visa is approved. she continues smiling at my son and says bye..

Me, wife, son: THANK YOU MAAM!!!

VO: She keeps the passport and says you will get a sms soon and the passport within next 7 days...

All the best to those applicants whoes visa is in process....
Key inputs: Go with a open mind, dress neat and clean, look straight while talking to the VO and do not forget to wear your smile:-) :-)

Hello All,

Thank you all for sharing your experience. My L1A blanket (without dependents) visa got approved on 4th February, 2016.
Before me, One L1B got rejected and one L1A with dependents got approved.

Below was my experience:
Vo: Good Morning
Me: Good Morning, How are you?
VO: I’m fine, How abt you?
Me: I’m also doing good
VO: So you work for ZZZ
Me: Yes
VO: Since how many years you working here?
Me: I am working since last 7 years 3 months
Vo: Its so long. That means you are enjoying in this company. And I heard that company is also doing good in terms of revenue.
Me: Yes, it is growing.
VO: Who is your client?
Me: ZZZ
Vo: So are you going to Washington state?
Me: Yes, I will be going to Redmond, Washington.
VO: How many direct reportees do you have with you in US?
Me: 4 direct reportees, 2 will be project managers and 2 architects
Vo: To whom you will be reporting to?
Me: I will be reporting to YYYY who is business relationship manager
Vo: To whom she will be reporting?
Me: She will be reporting to YYYY who is director of X-Y relationship (Here X is my company name and Y is client company Name)
Vo: That means he (Director) is kind of Vice president
Me: Yes.
Vo: Congrats, your visa is approved.

It was nice feeling to listen those words.

Hi all

I am just another member who has received immense help from this website and am grateful to all. Time to pay back!

My company applied for L1A blanket and I followed following steps :
1) Fill the DS-160 properly. I had committed 2-3 mistakes especially check if date format is dd/mm/yy or mm/dd/yy.
2) Make sure that DS-160 roles and responsibilities are filled in properly and that there are no mistakes. Consult lawyer. Be honest.
3) LNU, FNU i.e. people with no last name, first name etc don't get too worried as fill details as mentioned in the help etc.
4) Only once you are super sure that everything look ok must you submit the DS-160.

1) Once that's done pay the visa fees of 190$. Make sure you retains all screenshots, of pre-payscreen from visa website, pay screen confirmation from bank and any emails you receive. Not that they are all needed - but play safe.
2) Schedule your biometric preferably as VAC location closest to you and get it done 2-3 days before the PI.
3) Do not use moisturiser etc. when you go for biometrics. It keeps fingers moist and the finger printing an take longer.
4) Check the location of VAC properly if in mumbai as there are rickshaw touts etc who will bewaiting to extract money. Since you need to be tension free get proper information, may be print the location path from google maps and carry as no phone will be allowed.

1) At VAC, if you carry bag or phone in mumbai, which I suggest you do and use locker at the VAC location. They charge Rs 200/- which I feel is reasonable.
2) For VAC you only need :
DS 160
Appointment form
MRC fees receipt which is actually on lower part of the Appointment when you print the same.
Passport.
3) Nothing to be nervous about VAC at all. The staff are very friendly. Reach there only 10 mins before. No point is stressing out yourself or going there earlier. Just be cool and calm.

1) Do not forget the 500$ DD for fraud detection for blanket visas.
2) I have a hdfc account and I requested a DD online. It reached me in mumbai in 3 days.
3) Write down name and passport no behind DD.

1) Receive petition and read through it completely.
2) Ask petition to be sent one week before your PI.
3) Every day run through the petition twice. Once in the morning and once in the evening for a week.
4) Have answers ready in 3-4 lines in crisp english.
5) L1A people use words, scope management, time management, quality control, quality assurance, communication to stakeholders. Be truthful. Dont try to fool the VO.
6) Use words such as conflict management, plan, supervise and control etc for people management.

1) Some site says try - Om Vashatkaraya Namah :-) chant this 28 times a day. I guess, atheists, no harm in chanting!
2) Keep you PI preferably for morning in chennai.
3) I booked LA Woods hotel, an executive room and I have simply no complaints.
4) Drink bournvita/horlicks before you leave for interview. Pls do not go on an empty stomach.
5) La Woods to consulate in chennai is Rs 50-100/- by rick.

1) For personal interview I carried,
DS 160
Appointment letter
Photo (Not needed but play safe)
All originals
One xerox copy of all originals
Passport
DD
Petition documents
2) At Consulate they will ask to segregate :
DD
DS160
App letter
first 4 pages of I-1229S and first one page of I797 notice. So do not staple but arrange with paper clips and carry. Will make life easier.
3) Be calm, peaceful, motivated.
4) VO are very friendly and nice chaps.
5) Some VO was asking a little one, Hey lil angel whats your name? Another VO was speaking in tamil and asking an aunty in tamil, who lives in the US. A third VO was explaining to a candidate why the documents werent OK. They are friendly and nice is all I have to say.
6) I was asked the following :
Hey what does ZZZ in your co name stand for.
I knew it as I have been with the co for 8 years (overall exp 11.9 years).

Next, wat does ZZZ do?
I knew operating income etc, read some on wiki, it helps. There is also some info in the petition documents. know it all.

What is your role in India?
Answered.

In US? Asnwer and make it match to petition.

How many reportees - I was scary but spoke the truth.
Sir I am trying for an L1A and I have no direct reportees. Indirect yes.

How many.
Do not know specifically, will depend on project etc. Explain the TRUTH.
If there are no reportees - Say there are no reportees but explain why its still a managerial role.

Then came the golden words. "I am approving your visa but I need to do some paper work so please wait".

I had prepared damn well believe me. I spent a week or two just preparing for it.
I got my boss to do a mock interview by giving him all QnA.
Once you work hard on it, confidence come automatically.

All the Best! work hard, read through all the QnA posted by everyone, use the right words, read about your role, your companies responsibilities etc etc.
If you read 10,000 words you will be able to speak 100 words.

Do let me know if any questions as I wait for my passport to be stamped.

I am an Indian, employed with an IT major in India. I am currently deputed to Canada on a work permit (here for 4 months now). My company applied for a fresh L1 A blanket visa. Interview location is Toronto.

Steps:
1) Clear security at main entrance
2) You are guided to any of the first two/three (?) Counters for document check. Your current visa status in Canada is validated. You are given two slips with visa fee written on it (USD 500+4500)
3) Take the slips and go to 3rd floor to make the payment. You have an option to pay by credit card or USD bankers check. It should be in favor of U.S Consulate General - Toronto. You will get a receipt (two copies - one to submit to the VO and one for your record)
4) Back to ground floor for finger prints
5) Then you would be asked to go to next counter for the interview. Here are the questions I was asked:

Questions to me (primary applicant):

Did you travel to US before on a work permit?
How long have you been in Canada?
What role are you being proposed for?
What are your daily tasks?
Do you have authority to hire and fire team members?
Whom do you report to?
Are there any more people in the account above you apart from your reporting manager?
How much revenue do you control?
How many people report to you?
What is your total experience with XYZ?
What's new qualification?
How long have you been in Canada?

Questions to my spouse:

How long have you been married?
What's your highest qualification?
Do you have kids?
How long have you been in Canada? (My wife is on visitor/dependent visa)
Are you working in Canada?

Visa approved :)

Hello people,
My company is going to apply L1B under blanket for me and they have filed the petition with USCIS last month. It was filed and was recieved at the USCIS on 22nd of January 2016, so approximately how long does it take for the process of the petition? When can I expect a reply from USCIS?

Hi,

I am yet to schedule interview for L1-B Individual. I have a doubt.
While filling DS-160 form there will be question like "Have you ever been refused a U.S. Visa, or been refused admission to the united states, or withdrawn your application for admission at the port of entry?"

and i have selected "Yes" for this question since my L1-B blanket was rejected earlier. So i have selected "Yes" and given my comments.

Please let me know who applied for individual whether it is correct or not?

Regards,
Karthick. R

Day 1: OFC. All three of us went to 3 different counters
Questions asked to us were:
Name, Date of birth, place of birth, passport number(was asked to read from the document), where do you stay, what visa are you applying for.

Day 2: Consulate
We went to the Counter. Wished the interviewer.
Interviewer: So you are from XX company and 3 of you have come for the interview?

Qn to my wife: How long have you been married mam?

Turns to me and asks
Qn: So which visa have you applied for Sir?
Qn: Is this an individual petition or blanket?
Qn: How many years of experience do you have?
Qn: How long have you been working with your current company?
Qn What is your current designation?
Qn How many people will report to you in the US?
Qn: What is your designation in the US?

Turns to my wife and asks:
Qn: Mam, is this your only child?
Qn: What is your highest qualification?
Qn How long will you be staying in the US?

Turns to me:
Qn: What is your highest qualification?
Qn: What will be your salary in the US?
Qn How long will you be staying in the US?

Hope it helps.
Thanks.

Hi All ,

The questions asked were as below. No surprises :)

1. Name your organization
2. For Which client are you travelling
3. How many years of exp in current company
4. What is your specialization
5. When was this developed
6. Did you develop it alone
7. Did you use any third part platform
8. Have you implemented it for any other client
9. US salary

Interview was over in around 2 minutes

I applied for L1B 3 Yrs ago which was rejected. I reapplied and went for interview today.

I was told by the VO that since my visa has already been rejected in Blanket i cannot file (under same category and same petition ) and that i must file under Individual petition.

Reached US Embassy at around 10:45 (For 11AM interview) on 02/02/16,
There was a guy standing at gate he will verify appointment details and scan bar-code in appointment confirmation page and will send to security check.
After security check there is different line for Blanket Visa , a guy will check all documents and will arrange them in specific order , after that he will send to another queue for entrance to main building.
Once entered in main building , L1 Blanket visa applicant will be routed to separate line and will moved to a window for visa fee draft collection . After that will moved to window for fingerprint and will then moved to a hall for final visa interview.

Once reached , wait for your turn in line , guy standing there will tell you counter number for you interview.

Below is my interview conversation:

VO : Good Morning Sir , How are you ?
Me : Good Morning Sir , Pretty Good , How are you?

VO : Me good, wait for a minute , I will be back.
Me : Sure Sir.

after 2 minutes..

VO : Sorry for delay Sir , can you pass documents to me?
Me : Handed my Passport and documents which are already bundled in sequence initially at entrance gate to him.

VO : So you work for YYYY ?
Me : Yes Sir.

VO : What is your specialization?
Me : I am specialized in YYYY and so on .........

VO : Have you deployed any tool at you client side ?
Me : Yes Sir , I deployed YYYY and YYY to my client.

VO : So you are specialized in YYYY Hardware?(As my organisation is Product Based)
Me : Sir my specialization is in ZZZ

VO : So what's your specialization ? (Again!!)
Me : I am specialized in YYYY .......

VO : So what does YYY application does?
Me : Explained what YYY do and it's full form.

VO : What's your client name ?
Me : ZZZ.

VO : Oh , Ok in YY State.
Me : Sir it's in XYZ State.

VO : You work from which Location?
Me : I will be working from client location , XYZ.

He now started to type something in his computer , and asked me more about YYY application again.

VO : What YYY application does?
Me : Answered more about YYY.

VO : Can you spell YYY.(He was writing YYY in his computer)
Me : Y.Y.Y

VO : How long with this project ?
Me : Almost 4 Years.

VO : (Smiling) Now big question , How much will be your salary there ?
Me : Answered

Pick up my forms and stamp them and write dates on them..

VO : Sir , I am approving your VISA , here are two sets of I-129 , give one set to your HR and another for you. Have a great day ahead.
Me : Thankyou Sir.

The Key thing is confidence and never lose hope . All the best to all who are seeking US Visa.
Please let me know if need any help on how to prepare I will be more than happy to help.

Thanks