L1, L2 Visa

Hi All,
Thanks a lot for the rich experiance shared by people here.
My L1B got rejected in 2010 and I thought of applying again.

This time it got approved here are the questions asked to me-

VO - What is your Company Name?
Me - Answered

VO - What is ABC (Subsidery of the company)
Me - It is a brand of my parent organization and a 100% Subsidery.

VO - What is your application name?
Me - XYZ

VO - What does this do, explain me in simpler terms?
Me - Answered briefly.

VO - Why your application XYZ is so special?
Me - Explained as it was my company's proprietery application.

VO - How much time it took for development?
Me - Answered

VO - What was your contribution in this application?
Me - I had designed the application.

VO - Then what I am asking, laughed, Do you have a team?
Me - Yes I have team of N number.

Then the golden words came - "I am issuing you visa"

Thanks all the fellow members so much I am finally gonna make it to the US.

Hi All - I had my interview on Friday (3/13) and it was approved.

All the questions were the same as are mentioned on the website. Not a single new question. If you have good answers to the the questions that are here, you should be good.

Few comments/tips from experience:
Be confident. Speak clearly. This is probably the most important thing you can do during the interview.
Be concise in your responses.
Know your company well. They might ask you questions about your company to test your understanding.
Know your job profile really well. What is your specialized skill? Why do you have to go to the US? Can't they just get somebody there, train him/her for a few weeks, and fill the requirement? --- Prepare good, convincing answers to these questions, and you should be good.

Don't forget to pray. Thanks!

Hi all...thanks for immihelp members for excellent information on various experiences which really helped me to prepare for me case. Now its time to share my experience.

I work with a fortune 100 company based out of India for past decade. Have traveled several times to US on b1 and twice on l1b (blanket petition based visa which was approved few years back).

My blanket visa got expired in 2014 mid and I applied for another L1B visa based on blanket petition at Chennai Consulate in Sep 2014. After 5-6 questions, I was given 221g and blanket L1B visa was refused and my employer was asked to apply a individual L1 petition with USCIS.

Around Jan 2015 end (after 2 months of intense preparation), my company's attorney filed L1B Individual petition under premium processing, which got approved within 1 week....

In early Mar 2015, I scheduled the visa interview for stamping...Here are the questions:

me: Good morning Sir! How are you!
VO: Fine. Give me your PP

VO: Types something and asks for I-797 approval notice

VO: After 2 mins of typing in something, asks "Which division I work for in my company"?
me: blah...blah..use some technical terms

VO: Sir, I see that you have a rejection few months back, so please be specific and non-technical
me: Again say my ans in simple terms

VO: to my wife-whats your highest education, what do you do?
wife: Answers

VO: Sir, please visit counter 25 and show your documents and come back here
me: I am bit tensed and not sure what is going on

Return back to VO

VO: Sir, please provide your I-797 and PP

VO: Takes finger prints

VO: Sir, you will get you PP in few days

Me: Is the visa approved?

VO: I cant say that now sir as the system is not pulling your petition approval information. Once we verify your petition has been approved, Visa should be approved

Me: Thanked the VO and we left

Initially we were not clear on the outcome of the interview. Later I did some research and figured out that our approved petition from USCIS was not loaded onto PIMS system which is used by Consular Officers to determine petition approvals and grant the visa. But I knew this situation would be resolved very soon.

Now, within a week's time my Visa status in CEAC changed to Issued.

So my experience says that if you have a L1B approval from USCIS, visa interview is a formality and PP will be stamped with Visa definitely. Even if you fail in L1B blanket, dont lose hope and file a individual petition wtih USCIS and you will likely be granted approval if you have a stron specialization and case for internal transfer.

Thanks to this forum and all the members who have shared their prior experiences. It was immensely helpful to get all the necessary details to prepare for the visa interview.

Our L1B visa interview was scheduled on 27th Feb 2015 in Chennai at 8:30 AM. We finished our biometrics on 26th afternoon itself. We had prepared all the mandatory and supporting documents for our visa interview as mentioned in this website.

Except for the two sets of folders, we didn't carry any other stuff like wallet, jacket, cell phone. We kept the money in a zip lock and kept in one of the folders. If you intent to carry your cell phone, you can still keep it in a counter. Generally they made a fuss during the security check if you are wearing a blazer. It is enough if you are in neat formals. If you can, it would be better to leave your child with some family member, as they need not come. It is very tiring to stand continuously for 2 hrs and the child will definitely be bored.

1.On the day of the visa interview, we joined the queue at around 7:15 AM for our 8:30 appointment.
2. The single line keeps bifurcating into multiple lines based on your appointment schedule. A person from the consulate will check your DS Confirmation page (which will have a seal if you have finished your biometrics) & visa appointment confirmation.
3. Just about 5-10 mins prior to your appointment schedule, they will ask you to move ahead and stand in another queue which is near to the entry point
4. The security personnel will frisk you at the entry point. At this point, keep your DS confirmation and Current passport ready in your hand.
5. After finishing the security check, you can get inside and they will take your folders and will check. They will send you back if you have any CDs/Pen drives/Cell phones/Tablets. So be sure to leave them all back if you do not wish to waste time.
6. You will have to move to another point (after pushing a couple of heavy doors) , where they will take your passport and DS form and make an entry in the computer. They will put a sticker with some visa interview details on one of your passports. This will also contain a token number. Say L32 (depending on the type of visa)
7. After this you move further and join a place where there will be 3-4 queues. Join one of them
8. At the end of this queue, there will be a person who will guide you to one counter. At this counter, they will ask you for your finger prints again for verification and some basic details. After this you will be asked to wait (chairs will be available for your sit finally)
9. When you are waiting, one person will come and ask you to write your name and Passport number behind the DD (fraud detection fee) and he will collect all the three copies of your Form I-129S and passports and will tie it with a rubber band and will give it to you.
10. After sometime you need to go to another counter and give the DD
11. After this you will move ahead to the visa interview waiting area. You will have to look out for your token number in the display screen. Your token number will be associated with a visa interview counter. So wait for it to display and proceed to the queue.
12. Once your turn comes up, move ahead and greet the visa officer and be calm.

Below are the visa questions asked for L1B (no questions were asked to the spouse)
Us : Hello, Good morning !
VO : Hello, Good morning !

VO : Which company are you working for ?
Applicant : XYZ

VO : How long are your working for this company ?
Applicant : x years

VO : What is the specialized skills that you will be working on ?
Applicant : Answered

VO : Will you be working for a client ?
Applicant : No, will be joining my company office there.

VO : How long do you intend to stay ?
Applicant : x yrs

During this entire process, he was feverishly typing something in his computer and parallel checking stuff, he may not have eye to eye contact at all times, but doesn't mean you need to get worried.

After sometime, he went to get a new ink pad for the stamping. Then the Visa Officer mentioned that I am approving your visas and have a nice stay.

We thanked the Visa officer and left the consulate premises. In 3 days times, we got our passports back with the visa stamping to the collection center in Bangalore (this should be mentioned when you are filling the DS 160)

Wishing all the applicants best of luck. Do your preparations well and keep calm.

Thanks for this forum. This helped me to prepare for my case.

My Visa got approved on 20th Feb @Mumbai.
Following documents were requested to show:
1. Approved I797
2. Passport

Following questions were asked:
1. How long you are with YYYY (My Current company)
2. How do you qualify for L1

No other questions were asked and Visa got approved. There was no rush at consulate my appointment was @12:30 PM but I reached 1 hour early and they allowed me to go for PA. The entire process completed in 10-15 mins.

This forum was of immense help to me for my preparations and hence I would like to contribute with my experience here.

My application was for L1 at Chennai.

Let me start first with these general comments: - The overall experience is one of the most pleasant ones I had with in person interviews (the result only made it even better), be it the smooth manner in which the entire process was handled, be it the consular officers that seemed to be extremely patient and considerate, be it the VFS support staff. I can definitely say this with some authority, having attended atleast 4 other visa processes in person.

Now this is how the in person interview went:

VO: Yes sir, now I am ready for you

Me: Good afternoon officer, how are you today?
VO: I am good thank you and how about you sir?
Me: I am good too, thanks

VO: What does your firm do, please explain
Me: explained in 1 - 2 simple sentences

VO: Where will you be based out of in the US?
Me: answered

VO: Who will be your manager in the US
Me: answered the name, designation and his reporting hierarchy

VO: How long have you been with the company
Me: answered

VO: Will you have any direct reportees, if so, how many
Me: answered

The interaction lasted for a little less than 2 minutes. Thereafter, he stamped the 3 sets of documents and congratulated me, saying that my petition is approved and that I should receive the passport with a visa stamp in the next 4 - 5 days.

I was in and out within 30 minutes.

As many have already informed, at the expense of sounding cliched, I would like to say that 2 things are the key to success - confidence and preparation. Another thing to remember is that the VOs are there to only help us. They are performing a sanity check as to whether the person on the paper and the person they see are one and the same. While waiting for my turn, I observed that most of the VOs are very patient and pleasant.

I wish everyone on the forum good luck.

My visa was for L1A Blanket. During the interview, the Visa officer issued me 221g form stating that my visa should get approved in the L1A individual category. talk to your hr and get it re-applied in the L1A individual category.

wanted to understand what is the differrence between L1A Individual and L1A Blanket. in case the company does not process L1A Individual, what is the alternative.

Thanks to all those who have shared your experiences. It really gives great insight and helps preparing better.

All went well today today at the US Consulate.

Questions that were asked by the visa officer -

Q. Good morning sir. How r u doing today ?
Q. Which company you work in ?
Q. Who is your client ?
Q. Indian Salary ?
Q. US Salary ?
Q. For how long will you be in US ?
Q. What are you working on in India ?
Q. What are your specializations ?
Q. Please explain in more detail sir, so that I can understand the technologies !

Tips :
1. Prepare well for the interview, do mock answering in front of the mirror, as the questions are generally same.
2. Just be confident as you have already prepared for the interview and expected questions.
3. Be at ease and maintain slight pleasant smile.
4. Maintain eye contact with the Visa officer (they are good listeners).
5. Don't hurry with your answers. Answer clearly. Pause well in between and don't hesitate to ask for repeating the question (if you didn't actually hear or you need time to think)
6. Dress well and look smart. Don't over dress for L1B. Smart formal shirt and trouser is good enough. No need for tie.
7. Reach half an hour early for the interview.

Be prepared mentally for the Visa interview.
KEEP IN MIND THAT THE VISA OFFICER IS ONLY ASKING WHAT YOU ALREADY KNOW.
They might not be able to judge technically and can only judge by the confidence and how you present.
So present your self well and don't prepare something extra on the day you have interview.
Relax yourself. Keep it easy.

Visa approval also depends on the Visa officer, generally some visa officers approve most visas and there are some who reject more. DON'T SUCCUMB TO THE PRESSURE APPLIED BY BACK TO BACK QUESTIONS. Provide specific answers which you prepared.
My Visa officer was cool and patient, was willfully listening to all my answers and STAMPED my passport with a smile.

Good luck folks.

Hello Everyone,

I would like to thanks everyone of this forum for guidance and own experiences. Now, it's my turn to share my experience with you.

I went with my wife @ Chennai US consulate.
We have taken first slot of 7:30 am on 26thFeb15 hence reached bit early by 6:00 am and we are the first in the queue. So when at 7:15am the security check started then it is smooth and within 15 min we are moved from security check to token counter.

We are first for the day for L1B visa. Our petition papers are arranged by help desk person. Then again bio-metric is verified. On next counter we submitted our 500$ Fraud Prevention and Detection fee (DD in equivalent INR).

Next step is actual interview.

We were waited for 20 min for our number to get flash on screen.
When our turn came:

We both greeted officer, Good Morning Officer!
VO: Good Morning!

The VO started conversation in pleasant mood, he does not have writing pen hence went to take the pen.

After coming back, our actual interview started:

VO: What does your company do?
Me: Answered about my company's product ( YYYY ) and specific about domain we are in.

VO: What is exactly ( YYYY )
Me: Answered in detail

VO: Is this your first time of travelling to US?
Me: No. (As I went on B1 in 2013 So I explained about my short term visit in 2 sentences).

VO started reading I129S - Job duties section.
VO: How long you are working for your current company?
Me: Answered

VO: How many employees are there in your company?
Me: Answered

VO: How many are in your current project/team?
Me: Answered

VO: What is your role?
Me: Answered

VO: (Turned to my wife and asked) How long you have been married?
Wife: Answered

Then he stamped the documents and explained us that give one copy to your HR and one you will require at the time of traveling.

Total time of interview is 5 min approx.
and total time of whole process is approx 45min excluding 1.5 hours of waiting.

All The Best!!!

Hi,

I have a valid L1B blanket visa (approved till Mar'16) and my employer has decided to file a L1 Visa reclassification case with USCIS as my role has changed to Senior Manager and I am leading/ managing an important part of the organization.

I have received the I129 and L1A blanket petition and I am about to book appointment with Chennai consulate.

Quick Que: As I have a valid L1B visa and I am applying for a Visa status change under the same category, do I need to pay 500$ Fraud related fees again Or just the standard 190$ Visa fees?

Please clarify.

Thanks,
Gaurav