L1, L2 Visa

Hi Everyone,

Before start want to point out one negative thing of this website, in experience page all the positive cases are there so seems like most of the L1 B are getting approved, but in actual ratio of rejection and approval is 60:40, That's what I saw when I went for L1 visa interview.

Here are the questions asked to me.

1) What is your company name

2) What is your salary in India?

3) What will be your salary in US?

4) What will be your designation in US

5) Are you going to work at client location
 
6) Who is your client?

7) What you will be doing for your client

8) Is tool is your companies own tool

9) How much your company charge for this tool

10) Why only you are selected for US travel?

11) Ok, give me a moment , your visa is approved .

But be careful and prepare well, keep in mind that no or less preparation means you are planing to fail. Visa process is 2 days process and very hectic one so prepare well to avoid failure

Hello Everyone,

Thanks for sharing your experiences as it was really helpful. Sharing my overall experience -

I went with my wife and 2 yr old kid for L1B Blanket and L2. As I reached only 10 minutes before my appointment so I went inside very quickly, but there was a long queue inside for visa fee payment, then Bio-metric and then final Visa Queue.

Whole process took around one hour inside the Hall.

Interview Questions asked -

1. Which Co. do you work for?
2. Will you be working for any client in the US?
3. How long have you been working with your current company?
4. What is your specialization ?
5. Are there any other people in your company with the same specialization skill set?
6. Are you developing the proprietary products you are specialized on?

In between the VO was looking at the computer and typing few things and at last she took almost 1 minute looking on the computer and after that the sentence "Your Visa Have been Approved" and handed over me the two I-129S forms.

I have seen couple of Visa rejections one of L1 A Blanket and reason stated that if you are a manager doesn't necessarily qualify you for L1 A Visa.

Thanks

Hi Forum Members,

I have a query regarding my wife's L2.
We had planned the travel for 1st August 2015 and hence filled her DS 160 with planned travel date as 1st Aug. Now, the date we got for interview is 14 Aug ( earlier dates not available).
We cannot change the DS160 now.
Does this hamper the chances of L2? What can be done at this point of time.

Please suggest?

I am not sure if this is right forum, but as this is most viewed forum, posting it here.

Many Thanks!

Thanks everyone for sharing their interview experiences. This forum has helped me alot.
My interview was on 15th July 2015 (little late to post my experiences :P)

I faced too many questions in a very short time.

Questions were -

1. Which visa are you applying for?
(I couldnt hear properly, so he repeated it "L1A or L1B ?")

2. Which company you work for?

3. What will you be doing in the US?

4. What is your specialization?

5. How will this help your client?

6. Will you be working from your client location?

7. Your company is a service provider company or a product company?

8. Are you married?

9. Will your wife also travel with you?

10. Why your wife is not here for L2?
(My wife has L2 interview next month in Mumbai - explained the reason)

Finally, the golden words - "I am approving your visa. These are 2 I129S, give one to your HR and one for your travel to US)

Regards,
BSD

Hi, I would like to share mistakes that I made on both the days, which you should avoid. As far as the interview itself goes, it was straight forward. The questions were similar to what others had shared based on their experiences. I will share my mistakes only.

1. Mistake on Day1 - Underestimated Chennai Traffic.
I had my biometrics appointment at 10:30 am. I gave 2 hours lead time and started from my home at 8:30 am, but reached the OFC only at 11:30am. My mistake, I underestimated the Chennai Traffic and also the fact that OFC office has been moved to a new location on Kodambakkam High road ( earlier it was at Cenotaph rd).
If you are living any where on OMR past Shollinganallur, please give 3 hours of lead-time to reach the OFC . Plan for the Traffic congestion in the morning Office hours.

What happened when I reached Late to the OFC ? I went straight to the security at the Gate and told him that I am late . The Security guard said that , It is fine as long as you have come on the same day of the Appointment. I was sent straight inside the building and didn't have to wait in the line outside. One benefit of coming late to the OFC. Went in at 11:30 am and was out by 11:45am.

2. BIG MISTAKE On DAY2 - Didn't Carry DS-160 Confirmation letter.

I had the appointment at 8:30 am for my Visa interview. Woke up early, got ready , checked the documents one last time, and sat had breakfast. I didn't realize that while keeping the docs back into the folders, DS-160 alone was kept outside by mistake. I started at 7am from home , thinking early morning the traffic will be OK and I can easily reach on time. I had called a Cab, and half way through the ride to the US consulate, I wanted to check the docs one more time. Now after we had traveled almost half way, I realized that the DS-160 is not in the folder. I couldn't call home to confirm if the DS-160 is at home, because I wasn't carrying the phone and drivers phone was dead. I asked the driver to turn the car back home as one important paper is missing. The driver gave me advice that I should have been careful.

Reached Home at 8:30 am ( my appointment time, I should have been at the consulate). I ran upstairs and found the DS-160 on the table , nicely kept on top. I picked it up and ran to the CAB and again we were on the way to the US Consulate. I reached the consulate at 11:00 am .I was praying the whole way..anyway , went straight to the Security and told him that I got late because of Traffic :)).. The security guard told me to go to the back of the line and just follow the procedure. As long as you have the appointment today, you are fine.

I went in, rest of the steps were normal. I was inside the consulate by 11:30 am and out by 12:20 pm.

Interview was simple - Got the VISA approved and thanked GOD on the way back.

Few Tips:
1. Don't panic if you are late . You will be accommodated.
2. Carry extra set of Photos (2) with you even if your BIOMETRICS was done. Some people faced this issue.
3. DS-160 confirmation letter and Appointment letters are must to enter the US consulate.
4. Always plan for Traffic.

Have fun..
THANKS for reading ..

Hi All

This is Vijaykumar. I am having L1 visa and my wife came to US as my dependent under L2 visa. I am Planning to apply L2 EAD for her.
my Wife have a plan to go to India on to continue her job till she get US EAD approved.I heard that EAD usually takes 45 to 60 days time , mean time can she go to india for her job and come back to US once she get EAD??? Please suggest.

Thanks & Regards
Vijaykumar

Hi, I got my L1 B blanket on 7th June 2014 and for more than a year i was not given onsite opportunity. because of which i had to move out of the concern. Can i travel to USA using my L1B Blanket visa which is valid till June 2017. are is there any way to change it to my current concern.I had put in lots of effort to get the L1 B Blanket specialization Visa.for me and l2 visa for my dependent.

Please carry a photo of ALL the applicants despite your photo taken at OFC. I had to run out to get the photo for my wife & me.

Question are usual.

How long have you been working for YYYY company ?

Who do you report to ?

What's your title ?

Director of what ?

What's your salary per year

Who reports to you ?

Where will you be working ?

Hope this helps you.

Hi

The weather was extremely hot and I had been to Chennai with my wife and 2 year old since they were applying for L2.

OFC on 16th

Appointment was at 2PM. We started from our Hotel at 1 reached the place by 1:55 and the security guy let us in. Went through a couple points where they verified the documents below.
1. Passport - Original (All 3 of us)
2. DS 160 - Confirmation page
3. Fees Paid Receipt
4. Appointment Confirmation letter

The whole process took 25 minutes and we were out.

Consulate Interview on 17th
The appointment was at 9AM, we reached by 8:20. There was a queue in front of us with about 20 people on the road. But it was moving in fast and we got in within 10 minutes. Went through several points of document verification and finally we entered the main building in 10 minutes after entering the gate.

There was a long queue of about 25 people but someone called for L1b blanket and asked us to break the line and come in. They helped to arrange I-129S and I-797 forms along with DD, Passport and DS 160. Thats all what they needed.

Since my 2 year old was with us, I was asked to break the line and go in front for 2 more counters. 1 where they give the receipt for the fees.

Finally they took us to the officer. He asked me just 4 questions to which I answered boldly and with confidence.

1, Which company do you work for
2. Since how long - (2.8 years)
3. Designation
4. Specialization
5. How did you gain this specialization within 2.8 years that they wanted you in the US.
6. Salary in the US.

He was typing all the while except for question# 5 and then after a minutes he said "I am approving your Visa and returned 2 copies of I-129S and said one will be send to the HR of your company ". He kept 1 copy and our passports. We thanked him and left.

The whole process took 35 minutes from the gates.

But now when i check the status shows Administrative Processing. Can anyone suggest what could be the reason.

Thanks.

OFC Experience:

I reached 10 minutes late but nobody questions it and whole OFC process has taken mere 15 minutes. The output of OFC process is to have a barcode sticket attached to passport's back and stamp on DS-160 Paper.
But my lateness is not an advice or should not take as fact, may be it just luck :-)

Consulate Experience:

In my Appointment confirmation letter the passport pick-up agency is VFS, so as soon as i entered in consulate VFC people greeted and arranged my paper. They arranged three copy of Form I-129S and I-797, DD, Passport, DS-160.

Once paid the DD at fees counter, the officer returned back the two receipt of payment and ask to go to second counter in same row where again biometrics are confirmed again with data they have taken in morning.

There are multiple counters and but to my surprise everybody has to stand and pass the document to officer while they interview the applicant. I seen one family get rejected for there VISA, which adds to my nervousness.

One unique thing which I seen in my case, the counter which I get allotted, there is one intern is standing and the officer who is sitting look like he is explaining each and every case and detail when he interview the applicants to that intern.

Finally moment came
The questions are as follows:

ME: Good Morning
VO: Greetings
VO: How long you are working with your current Employer ?
ME: YYYY Year and Months, with exact date since i was employed
VO: What is your Specialisation ?
ME: Started conveying story like how long relationship our company has with client..
VO: Stopped in between, and asked again what is your specialisation ?
ME: Now started about the project and how the proprietary technology our company is using for new project..
VO: Again Stopped in between and said, 'I am asking about your specialisation, You have used the till yet is 'We'?
ME: Now I state that i am the architect of the proprietary technology and building it from last 6 months.
VO: How long you need to travel?
ME: Two years.
VO: Why you need to travel for 2 years, when you have developed the proprietary technology in 6 month?
ME: Explained the implementation & adoption part which will take more time.
VO: Take these two copies of Form I-129S, you need to carry one with your passport while you go to US and another copy can be retained by your employer. Thank You !!

Within the moment I realised that my VISA is approved :-)

Moral of Story : No need to make stories, answer point to point.