L1, L2 Visa

Hello,

First and foremost, I would like to thank this website and all the people who posted their experiences of their visa interviews. It helped me a lot for my preparation.

I had my PA at the Chennai US Consulate yesterday. Was a bit late in reaching the Consulate, but spoke to the security there and got the token after showing my web appointment letter and the DS-160 confirmation letter.

After a physical check, was let in, where first all my documents were checked followed by a metal detector test and another physical check. Then went in through the second door to enter the initial processing area where had to wait for some time before my token number was displayed on the screen. Went to the designated counter where my documents were checked and rearranged as required. Then I was sent to another counter where my finger and thumb impressions were recorded.

Next, was told to go to the Visa Lobby where had to wait for some ten minutes before my token number flashed on the screen. Went to the cashier counter where the officer received the two demand drafts and issued receipts for the same. Then was asked to go further inside, where again waited for five minutes before the screen showed my token number and the counter number 21. Went towards the counter and stood in the queue. A couple was being interviewed at the counter. One more candidate was to be interviewed before me, but since he was not there, I was called.
I greeted the officer politely. He greeted in return and asked for the document folder. Then the questions followed:

VO:Which company do you work for?
Me:I work for YYYY

VO:How long have you been working for this company?
Me:I am with YYYY for the past Y years Z months.

VO:In what way are you specialized?
Me:Gave the answer which I had prepared. Told my total experience and that my entire experience has been for the same client YYYY. Told that am specialized in an XYZ product and have been working on it since its development stage. A few more sentences about my specialization followed.

VO:What is the product?
Me:Explained about the product in a single line answer.

VO:Were you involved in the development of this product?
Me:I gave an affirmative answer and convinced him that I am the only person eligible for the US assignment.

VO:What is your annual salary in India?
Me:Told my current salary in thousands (this is important, all figures should be answered in thousands).

Then the much awaited words followed. "I am issuing your visa and you will get your passport within 7 days".

I thanked the officer and quit the counter.

My learnings from this experience :--

After God's grace/luck, the second most important factor, as many have already said in the previously posted experiences, is confidence. Eye contact is also important.

The questions are standard, so the best thing to do is to prepare the answers of all of them in advance and practise them as much as possible.

I wish you all the very best for your interviews. Be confident and do not fear or become nervous. Maintain eye contact and answer the VO's questions to the point.

Just asked three questions:
1. Why do you want to go to USA?
2. Earlier ur B1/B2 visa rejected, how is it different from this?
3. How long you are with the company?

Thats it. He said ur visa is approved and will get in a week's time.

Thanks to Immihelp.

Hi,

I have attended the Visa Interview with my wife. Below are question asked to me

Me : Hi, Greeted her.
VO: Greeted me

VO: How long you have been working in this company?
Me: xyz no. of years.

VO: What is your specialized knowldge?
Me: Explained my specialized skills in company proprietary tool

VO: What is the name of the tool?
Me: XYZ Tool.


No question asked to my wife.

Then she was typing and stamped something and said your VISA is approved.

Thanks to immihelp and to people who posted the comments.

Interview on 30th Aug 2011. 9.15 AM.

I have been reading experiences of all the other people on this forum. It definitely helped prepare better for my VISA interview.

I was asked only basic questions.

1. Which company you work for?
2. What does your company do?
3. How long have you been with this company?
4. Whom do you report to?

I have to appear for L1 B Stamping interview in Chennai on Sep 8th.

Can someone please help me with the questions.

Regards,
Latha

Hi All,
I have applied for L1 visa and submitted by documents for attorney for petition 1 month back, how long it take to verify them and give the petition date if every thing is correct .

Hi,

Let me first thanks all for contributing valuable information in this forum.

Attached pls find below all the questions along with my reply to Consular officer.
---------------------------------------------------
Q1- How many years of experience do you have in your current organization?
1 years 5 months

Q2- How much is your total experience?
Around 14 years total experience out of which 11+ yrs in IT

Q3-Who is your client?
My current organization's parent company in US. I explained here that I will be working for an in-house project for our US parent company. I think he notes down the client name in his system.

Q4-For how long you worked for your US parent company?
I worked on the systems & tools which employees across US and India shares.So, in that way worked for 1 yrs 5 months for US parent company.

Q5- Again, he asked if I have worked specifically for any project for US parent company?
I said ‘No’.

Q6-Whats your special skills?
Here I started with my training and expereince upon my organization's tools,methods,techniques and methodologies like Process management tools suite & Productivity Enhancers tools.I said our company has have more than 50+ home grown tools/tehniques/methodologies for various platofrms however I have experienced in only few of them which is relevant for me.
I stressed upon only those items which were mentioned in my interview support letter.
Similary I talked about various technical tools which my organization developed.
I explained how my experience in my previous employer’s home grown systems helped me to learn these tools in faster and effective manner.

Q5-Tell me about your project?
Explained the project details

Q6-There will be so many ppl available in your organization who would be trained/experienced in proprietary tools,then why r you going?
I said its not only proprietary tools using which someone can do this project.We have developed softwares which Oracle/SAP has not provided as part of the vanilla product of Ebusiness Suite applications.I will be working on the development of those components.So you need both of these knowledge.

Q-How long would you stay there?
As of now plans are for 6 months,Then he asked ..after that possible extension.I said “Yes”.

Q8-Have you been to US before?
Yes.

Q9-Where in NY?
Yes

Q10-How long you worked in US?
3 years

Q11- Whats your Indian salary ?
I told him my annual and monthly indian salary in INR.Also, told him per annum indian salary in dollar terms.

Q13- Why your wife is not coming along with you?
I said she is already in US.

Q14-Is she an US Citizen?
I said No.She is working on H1B for client XYZ in Boston.

Q12-Where will you work in US?
Sunnyvle,CA in Parent company's Head Quarter
 
He started laughing..and said.Wow, it’s a Coastal Marriage. I also smiled with him  .

Then he said, I am approving your visa.You can take these 2 copies of I-129.One for your reference another one you need to provide at the port of entry.
I wished him thanks and great day ahead and walked out.

Total duration of interview :About 25-30 minuites.
-----------------------------------------
Tips: As other members have contributed..
- Always keep the eye contacts.
-Infront of me, 3 visas were rejected.Do not get panicked when you see rejections in front of you.Take a deep breathe and divert your attention somewhere else.
- Do not argue with them.
- Prepare the inteviews with your friends/in front of mirror before coming for the final interview in consulate.That helps.

Best of luck !!

First of all, thanks to immihelp and all the people who posted their experiences. That was immensely helpful in my preparation.

Following questions were asked:

1. For how many years have you been a manager?
A: 3 years

2. How many years with the present organization?
A: 1.5 years(this was managerial)

3. What was your role in the previous organization?
Mentioning the managerial experience of the remaining 1.5 years was the key thing here. I did that thereby ensuring consistency in my answers.

At this step, he picked up the I129 copies and did something.
This distracted me for a few seconds because I was observing the VO's actions since he was not looking at me. Please avoid this by keeping your eyes fixed on the VO's eyes even if he/she is not looking at you.

I thought the interview was over but more questions followed:

4. Do you have the authority to hire & fire?
5. Why are you going to the US?
6. who is your client?
7. what is your educational qualification?

VO looked up twice to see if I was maintaining eye contact. And then, the golden words followed.

All the best,
PB

Our L1B and L2 visa was approved at the Chennai Counsulate this week. We thank immihelp immensely for guiding us. Our interview was slotted at 8.30 and we reached by around 7.30.

After the biometrics we waited too long for our turn. There were people who were getting rejected. We just ignored that and kept looking at the screen above us and kept cool. That is the best way to crack the interview.



Here are the questions

1. Why are you going to US?
A: I have been working on a project with my client for the past xx months using my company's proprietary tool xyz.

2. Who is the Client?
A. The client is ABC (Guess the VO knew it and nodded the head)

3. What is the tool that you are working on and what is your specialisation?
I am working on XYZ tool which is my company proprietary tool. Explained her what I intend to do and convinced about my skills

4. What is your salary in US?
A. ABC$

5. What is your designation in US and India?
A. I would be working as XYZ in US and currently I am ***

6. So how many of you are currently in this designation? ( I clarified with whether they wanted the number of *** people in the company or project)
A. I am not very sure how many are working in the company but I am the only one who has created this tool.

No questions were asked to my wife. After this the VO just typed something in the computer and wrote something in the form and said that 'YOUR VISA IS APPROVED'.

My suggestion to all those who have their interviews:

Ensure that you are confident and keep the eye contact with the VO even though they would hardly look at you

Most of the questions are quite similar to what is written in immihelp.

I would suggest you reherse very well before going to the counsalate. My wife posed questions like the VO and she kept changing the words till the end. This actually helps because you get the confidence.

As suggested it is better to avoid technical details. Explain what you are doing in very simple language and stick to what your petition says.

Following questions were asked by Consulate:
 
Q1: How long you have been with ZZZ?
Ans: X year and X month.
 
Q2: are you Analyst programmer?
Ans: Yes
 
Q3: How many people in this level?
Ans: I don’t have the exact count but around…. She interrupt me and
 
Q3: it’s more then one?
Ans: Yes, ….

Then she told me I don’t want more discussion on that, there must be many people with same skill set at your level so according to US law you don’t qualify to go on Blanket L1B you should apply either for Individual L1B or H1B.