L1, L2 Visa

Hello All,

We are in a difficult situation and need your help! Me and my spouse are L-1B and L2 visa holder currently in the US.

Can someone please help answer the below questions:
1. What is the Grace period for L-1B and L2 visa
2. If L-1B visa holder loses the job, until when can L2 EAD holder can continue to work?

Thank you in advance for your time!

Hi All,

 I have a valid L1A visa (Stamped on Feb 13 2020) and am currently in India. Visa appointments for my dependents (on April 7 2020) got cancelled due to pandemic situation.
 I heard visa appointments are opening up across consulates. I am trying to book an appointment for my wife and daughter. But my employer says that consulates are still not open and they will book an appointment once consulates are open for regular operations.

 Have anyone been able to schedule appointment on Feb or March 2021?

Thanks

Hello All,

This forum has been my one stop for any question i every had, I have literally checked it everyday since last year and half. So i want to thank all the members.
My road to getting the Visa has been long and hard, so wanted to share the whole experience.

- My L1B-Blanket was rejected in Aug,19 under the "Not clearly approvable" clause.
- Filed for L1B-Individual with same support letters as Blanket in Sept,19 under premium processing.
- Got an RFE within 15 Days, Sent new support letters and the evidences of white papers written by me and replied to the RFE in Dec,19.
- Dec,19 end my L1B-Individual got rejected and the explanation was not enough specialized knowledge.
- Law firm told my manager to try got H1B, or try L1B for a different role after one year. But I knew I had alot of extra evidences which i can provide to them to prove my specialized knowledge.
- Convinced my manager (given that this can cost the company about 5k-10k USD) to ask the Law firm to go with Motion To Reconsider, given the low chances of decision reversal.
- Worked with an amazing person at the law firm (not the same people who files my individual and rfe) to collect all the evidences, I provided literally everything I could - Appreciation Emails, Evidences of Tools that i created, Evidences of projects that i was heading, List of bugs filed/fixed, Global Awards Won, Articles Published, PPTs and Bootcamps that i created, Connected Recognition received internally. (Provide all of this if you guys are in a similar situation, I would suggest provide all of these even for RFE, it was my first time and i relied on what the law firm said this was my mistake, just provide them everything make sure that they send it along. They wont take the pain to ensure your application stands out nor to they have the technical knowledge to do that, it can only be done by you).
- Mid Jan,20 we filed the MTR, along with all the above evidences, very strong support letters and market research.
- Mar,20 the case was approved by USCIS and the initial decision of rejection was over turned. (But embassies closed due to COVID)
- 12th Feb,21 I finally got my Visa appointment at Delhi Embassy.

Interview Exp:
ME: Good Morning.
VO: A very good morning, can i have your passport please.
ME: Sure, handed over the passport and the i797. Kept the CoC/Technet letter ready to slip in when VO asks me Company related questions.
VO: So you are here for your L1-Individual A right?
ME: No, I am here for my L1B-Individual.
VO: Oh sorry, okay. (Opens something on the system and starts reading)
VO: And how long have you been with Company XYZ?
ME: 4.5 Years.
VO: Shakes her head, and starts typing something.
VO: Please place your left 4 fingers on the scanner. (Keeps the passport in the pile behind her)
VO: Your Visas approved, Thank you. (returns my i797)
Me: Thank you so much.

While walking out, I was thinking to myself that VO did say approved right, and not refused :P

Post this the status of my visa was showing Admin Processing from 12th (which is normal, it shows that for 3 days), and got updated today to Issued on 16th.

So, it has been a very very long road leading to this and I have researched so much in the process, if you think I can be of any help to anyone of you I would be happy to help out :) This is a Ask me anything post, you can comment here and I'll answer it to be best of knowledge.

I hope the whole exp helps you out, if anyone of you gets an RFE be sure to include all those above mentioned evidences in there itself. The law firm may not ask for all of it, but be sure to make them add of all that in your RFE response. I learnt this the hard way.

As per the perpetration for Visa Interview questions be it any L1 visa you have to be prepared for 3 main questions:
- Q. What are your Roles and Responsibilities?
- Q. What is your specialised knowledge?
- Q. Why cant it be done from India?
Dont be too short with your answers and dont read a whole para either, make sure you get your point across because this is your only chance. Use muggle words wherever possible because the VOs are not technical and a lot of times may not understand some of the terms.

As for the documents, people getting an interview right now ensure that you carry your Technet/CoC letter because the PP is still in play right now. Once the PP is over post 31st March you dont need to have that.

The process at times can seem unfair and frustrating, because you'll see people with exact same skillset getting approved. But just keep at it, keep fighting and questioning there decision if you think you have enough to prove them wrong. Most importantly dont loose hope. I do really hope that everyone early waiting for there visas are able to get them asap and I do wish you well.

Thank You.

Hello All,

Firstly thanks to all the contributors on this forum which has immensely helped me in having many questions answered. Wanted to share my experience with all of you as way of Paying it Forward :)

L-1A Blanket rejected in Nov'2019 (thankfully if I think about it now). It was a very depressing experience since I had prepared really well for the interview and was confident of securing the Visa, but the VO thought otherwise.

My firm then filed my Individual petition under Premium processing in Dec'19 to which I received RFE in Jan'20. Now started another round of digging documents and preparing a very solid support letter. My attorney firm filed response to RFE in Feb'20. I received approval to my petition in Mar'20 and then started the long wait due to COVID.

Finally, after months of waiting I secured an appointment in month of Mar'21 at Chennai, which was cancelled by USCIS in 1st week of Jan'21. This further stressed me out since the next available slot was in Nov'21. But things changed around mid of Jan when I found slots in Feb'21 in Mumbai and rushed to block them.

Biometrics on 31st Jan in Mumbai - This went through very smooth and without any hassles.

Interview date: 09th Feb in Mumbai - The Finale!!

Timing was at 8.30am for which I reached the Consulate at 8.20am. On entering the center, was asked to keep I -797, Passport, Offer Letter etc in order. I waited with along with many others equally looking forward to complete the interview. I could see many approvals and candidates leaving the center with happy faces which got me calm and confident...I was called in for my turn.

Me: Good Morning Sir!
VO: Good Morning, How are you doing today? Could you give me your passport?
Me: Doing good Sir, hope you're doing well too.

The VO started pulling up my info and spent about a min reading through it.

VO: Where were you in June?
Me: Last year?
VO: Yes
Me: I was in India
VO: Which visa are you applying for?
Me: L-1A Multinational Manager
VO: What is your designation at the US firm?
Me: Answered
VO: Which office would be you working at?
Me: NYC
VO: What is your compensation there?
Me: Answered
VO: Could you give me your I- 797?
Me: I gave him the bunch which contained the CoC letter, Offer letter.

He read through just the I-797 and then started typing again and then said:

VO: Could you place your left hand on the scanner?
VO: Your Visa is approved, thank you and have a nice day.
Me: Thank You Sir! You have a good day!!

This felt unreal since it got over in under 5 mins while I was expecting the VO to ask multiple more questions as during my Blanket interview.

I received an SMS on 10th Feb that my passport has been processed and ready for pick up.

Few suggestions based on my experience:

1) Carry all documents along, such as offer letter, CoC letter (if your firm can provide), educational certificates, pay slips.
2) Read through your petition documents and answer exactly as mentioned in them.
3) Suit up for the event, it helps.

I thank all the contributors on this firm for their valuable suggestions and wish all Best of Luck for their interview. Do write back on this forum about your experiences for others to read and gain information.

Hello,

Today morning at Hyderabad,INDIA US Counsalate I had my L1A-Individual interview and everything went well too. The VO took my passport along with the US Chamber of Commerce letter. When I checked the status of my case in and found the below message as a pop-up. I am little worried as I don't understand this by seeing the status.

U.S. Department of State
NONIMMIGRANT VISA APPLICATION
Refused
Application ID or Case Number:
Case Created: 08-Feb-2021
Case Last Updated: 09-Feb-2021

A U.S. consular officer has adjudicated and refused your visa application. Please follow any instructions provided by the consular officer. If you were informed by the consular officer that your case was refused for administrative processing, your case will remain refused while undergoing such processing. You will receive another adjudication once such processing is complete. Please be advised that the processing time varies and that you will be contacted if additional information is needed. For more information, please visit TRAVEL.STATE.GOV or the website for the Embassy or Consulate at which you made your visa application.
For more information, please visit U.S. Consulate General Hyderabad.

Can someone help in this regard to clarify ?

I need your urgent advice on the below scenario.
Just want to give you a background on my case, my spouse is the primary visa holder L1, I am on dependent visa L2.
I arrived at US on Dec 30,2016 and got an I94 valid till Oct 31, 2017 and my visa was valid till May 30,2019.
But my passport got expired on Oct 31, 2017 which has the same date as my I94. I renewed my passport but missed to renew my I94 then which we
left with a gap more than 180 days.
Mean time without noticing this i travelled on vacation to India on June 2 ,2018 and was back to US on June 25,2018. I was issued a new I94 at POE, which is valid till June 30,2021. I dint realize the gap in I94 from ( Nov 1,2017 till June 2,2018 ) until a couple of weeks back now.
It was complete mistake on innocence.
My spouse’s office filled extension last year and it is approved. where as my extension is still pending with USCIS.

Though my current I94 is valid till june 30, 2021, but the gap in my previous I94 and the present I94 is the one which bothers me , is it something I have to get it rectified or since i am back in status now , this should not be a issue. what are the options I have here .

Thank you for this forum for sharing the Visa experience which helped to prepare for interview. So here I am sharing my experience.

So for the first time when I tried to book slots in Jan 20th, I was getting dates in November and on the same day Biden was taking oath for president. I just thought for myself as I am already getting slots so late and what more worse could happen? So thought to wait for few more weeks and root for Biden to change in Immigration due to Covid-19.

It worked! I got appointment on March 8 but I wanted to finish VISA process quickly so was checking earlier dates once in 2 to 3 days and rescheduled interviews to Feb 19 and then again Feb 8.

There are only limited slots getting open like 1 or 2 and not more than that and also be careful about over checking the website as it will block you after few attempts and will be unblocked only after 2 or 3 days!

So my Bio metric was on 02/07/2020 and Visa interview was on 02/08/2020

Question asked
1. What type of Visa are you applying for?
2. Have you traveled to US before?
3. Do you have any other US Visa?
4. Are you applying for first time to L1B?
5. Which city you will be moving to?
6. Can you tell me about your specialisation ? And question related to my specialisation.

Interview went for 10 to 15 mins and my visa was approved!

Based on the experience what I understood is, Interviewer really want to understand what exact work you have done or specialised knowledge you have acquired in the past and how’s it relevant in new team. If you have really done some good work then you will have experience to share and relate it to new team. Don’t tell anything which is very generic in your field as it not specialised skill and I don’t think interviewer will interested in it.

Hope my experience helps and Best of luck!

Thank you to the forum n the content, super helpful. It’s a ASK ME ANYTHING POST, feel free to ask me questions about the interview.

L1A blanket APPROVED on Feb 8@ Chennai

Profile
4.5 years work ex with current firm and overall 7.5 yrs work ex in industry

Interview questions

I forgot to greet him when I headed to counter but held composure

1. So your petitioner is abc ?
A: Yes

2. What is your office location ?
A: I said Mumbai
VO: in US ?
A: xyz

3. What is your designation ?
A: XYZ program manager

4.Which product/program will you be developing in the US ?
A: Smart device
VO: it’s already in the market ?
A: No it will start once I move to US
VO: So it’s like a abc device of xyz company ?
A: That’s correct

5. How many people in the team you manage?
A: 10
VO: all direct reports ?
A: Yes

VO: I hope you know the CDC guidelines for traveling and your VISA is approved

Some tips:
1. Prepare well to build confidence and look at immihelp interview experiences to get the feel of it.
2. Listen to the question carefully and give crisp responses
3. Respond with details only when asked
4. I was apprehensive if my US credit card (VISA) would work as I didn’t initimate the bank but it worked fine (I guess the amount was 500 only didn’t cause any issue)

Hi All,
My L1 individual petition was approved in Dec-20. I proceeded to book an interview in Delhi. Biometric was done on 5-Feb and interview is on 19-Feb. Experiences posted here suggest that they are considering visas for companies who are exempt from the presidential proclamation. I think my company isn't. Should I reschedule me interview to after 31-Mar?

Hello All,
 I wanted to share my experience
This forum had been wonderful and has helped me a lot.
My L1A blanket got rejected in Jan 2020 , Applied for Individual and got RFE and approved in June , got my appointment in Mumbai on the 4th and 5th
4th was the fingerprinting, simple process
5th feb 2021 was my Visa interview I was there with my Wife
This is how it went
ME / Wife : GM how are you doing ?
VO : Very well thank you , How about you ?
Me/Wife : Doing great
VO : Where do you work ?
Me : Answered xxx company
VO : What is your total experience
ME: XX years
VO : What is your designation ?
Me : Answered YYYY
VO: what is your qualification
Me : MBA
VO : Have you been to the US before ?
ME : Yes
VO : when was that
ME : last year in Feb for a week on B1
VO : to my wife : How long have you been Married
Wife : XX years
VO: do you have kids?
Wife : yes two and she mentioned their names and age
VO : what is your qualification
Wife : Answered
VO : took some time typing and said your Visa is approved .

Note: When I thought the interview would be easy I was grilled the first time and got rejected and this time I had prepared like creasy for this interview , but my questions was simple ,
So just be your self and do your best. Thank you all