L1, L2 Visa

Today Morning i had my L1B PA at chennai consulate.My scheduled time was 08:00 AM,but i reached there by 07:30 Am itself.And to my surprise they allowed me in and i was waiting for PA by 07:30 AM.
 I saw three rejections from that interviewer and i was the fourth one to be interviewed.

Q: Are you from ZZZ?
A: Yes.
Q: How long have you been with xxx?
A: i am associated with xxx for the past x years and y months.
Q: How long have you been with the client yyy?
A:I am working for the client for the past x years and y months.
Q:What work are you goning to do for client yyyy in US?
A:I am going to implement zzzz tool for the client yyy.

Thats it........Golden words i heard.You will get your passport couriered to your company HR with in a week.And he returned me 2 petition copies with Approval and payment receipt-pink colored.

Tips:
 Keep yourself neat and wear formals with tie.
 Maintain eye to eye contact and tell your answers in one line.
Dont elaborate your answers unless you are asked to do so.

Regards,
Madan,
Chennai

Questions
"3. tell me about your company
18. which company are you working for"
"8. how long are you with this company
13. how many years with current company
21. how long in company"
"14. who is your client
17. who are your clients
28. what does your client do"
"4. What is your project
5. What exactly the project will do
33. whats your project"
12. Is it New Project
"9. how long are you in this project
20. how long in the project
22. how long with the project"
"2. what will you do in US
6. why you want to go
10. why are you going to US
11. Do you know who will apply for L1B Visa --> (start with specialization)
15. what you are going to do there
19. what is your specialized knowledge
24. whats your specialization
32. whats your specialized knowledge? What is about?
34. whats your role"
7. why you cannot work the same from offshore
Is there not an onsite person already for this project.
35. what are you doing here at offshore
"12. About your Salary Structure
23. whats your salary
30. how much you will get in US
"
"11. where would you be staying in US
26. where would you stay in US"
1.how long will you be in US
29. how long in this domain
16. what is your educational qualification
27. your total experience
25. how many people are in us for this company
2. What is u r company doing for Client?
5. What will be u r title onsite ?
13. Will you come back?

Interview questions that you will never expect.

Me: Good morning Maam. How are you?
VO: (No responce..very serious)
VO: What is you exp with company and client
Me: 3 years and 2 months
VO: (Looking at the documents carefully) Are you married?
Me: I am single.
VO: (doing something in computer nearly for 5 min.)
VO: What you would do in US?
Me: I am going there for project implementation.
VO: Which project?
Me: (Given the brief description abt project & company's proprietary tool)
VO: Is this project is devloped in offshore?
Me: Yes, I have developed it.
VO: then why you are going to us for implementation?
Me: (Given the valid reason)
VO: Why only lucky you out of 15 other people in your team?
Me: I have been trained on these tools and i developed this project.
VO: Wht will you do in implementation ?
Me: (Explained about implementation in 2-3 lines.)
VO: What's you salary ?
Me: XX,ZZZ thousand monthly (VO inturrepted me and said anually)
Me: XX lacs,XX thousand anually.
VO: What would be your salary there?
Me: XX,ZZZ thousand dollars anually.
VO: (doing somthing and typing somthing in computer)
VO: Sorry we can not issue visa to you. She gave me a form 221(g) with stamp and signature and asked to apply from US.

It took 15-20 min for interview and it was very worst exp.


RAMU CHUNDU my case is same as you. can you please help me out for further processing.
Cai i

Hi Friends,

I ??????? (fill in Got/Rejected)(Guess what might hv happened with the way the interview is going)my L1B Visa and want to share my experience with you as I felt that the toughest Visa ever had ( My opinion)when compared with so many ppl in this forum.
Note: Plzz do not listen to the ppl who say, L1 B interview is very simple and u will definitely get ur visa just like that...

My interview experience can be very helpful to u:

Me: Hi Maaam ( Interviewer is a Tough 30+ lady white..very serious as I have been watching her for around 20 mins):
VO: Hi ( with low and arrogant response...Pause for 2 mins as VO busy with Data entry...)
VO: looked at my Passport & asked..Wow u went to US on Business Visa?
Me: Yes
VO: What did u do there?
Me: Requirements gathering & KT with offshore...
VO: How long been with ur comp & Ur client?
Me: 35 months with my comp & as well with client as I joined as fresher
VO: Whoz ur client
Me: Gave my answer
VO: why r u going now?
ME: to work on my project to customize the tools Tool1, tool2, tool3 ...STopped by VO
VO: So, ur going there to work? So, R U going there to develope some code?
Me: No...I am going there to customize tools(1,2,3)...Stopped by VO
VO: So, ur just going there to customize a tool created by someone by just learning it?
Me: no..These are the proprietary tools of my company.
VO: So, someone from ur company developed these tools and u r just going there to customize them?
Me: I have been involved in the initial developement of these tools and I have complete knowledge on these tools.
VO: ( Directly looking @ my eyes as if to test if I am lieing) so, U R going there to customize the tools? not for coding...WHt exactly u customize and how do u do that?

Me: (Thought, I am gone and never get the Visa as I never expected these kind of cross questions..)I have to create an application that can be in sync with upstream..downstream apps...My tools have the flexibility to work with any kind of apps...I have to develope some pacth-up s/ws(Really do not know what I am talking at this stage but I am telling this response with lot of excitement buy looking into her eyes & loudly as if I am warrior struggling to win the race)...Blah Blah ( I really do not rememeber the rest of the explanation)...and finally stopped by myself

VO: Silent with unpleasant face & never satisfying expression...(I have already decided that I am not gonna make-up this time))

Me: ( AFter 1 min of pause & Silence) Given another chance..I can explain u better on customization ( Which I really dont know..)...

VO: (Very seriously)...Sorry..I am not gonna ask u anymore questions..I am waiting for my print paper...

Me: (Very dull & Excitement) Ok Maam ( I have seen VO wrtiting with as /12 & stamped on the papers that started with Re-----...Got little more worried whether Re-- mean rejection???

VO: Please give this copy of doc to officer during ur immigrtaion check @ US port of entry and another to ur Employer...and u have been issed a ( did not understand )?????

Me: (I did not listen to what she was telling but just observed that my passport was not there in the folder that she returned back to me...) and finally said thanks Maaam.

Lessons Learnt:
First Imp Point: Never ever listen to ppl who say the L1 B interview is very light & u will get the visa just like that ( as we never know!)
1. Please be prepared for the worst interview that u can never even imagine
2. Plzz do not use Code when ur going on L1 B visa
3. When u say something, look @ VO's eyes with confidence as to give them the impression that he is not lieing...Practice this habbit as it will not possible suddenly
4. Though the details ur going tell them are wrong..create ur own Virtual & logical application that makes reasonable sense to urself( this will help to answer any kind of questions)

Finally, thanks every one 4 reading my total & lenghty experience...

I consider it as my responsiblity to share my experience with you all .
I am surely 1 crazy case , As soon as I came to know that My company is going to file a L1B for me I started reading / gathering Information from this wonderfull site . I read all the 53 pages twice and took all the questions and practiced them like crazy . I must have did 150 Mock Visa Interviews .
So Guys Thank u so much for sharing all the experiences and special Thanks to moderators of this site which gave us a platform to understand and prepare for the Visa Interview.

I would like to share My Background with u so that it will help in comparison .
I have done my Graduation in BCA .
Certifications : MCSE ITIL CTP
Total Exp : 5.5 Years
Exp In present Company : 4 Years
NO MASTERS , My Graduation was of 3 years .

Myths Busted
- U wont get a Visa if u r graduation is of 3 years .
- U wont get u r Visa if u say I gonna work on Client Side

I wont pen down what exactly happened in Counslate as it has been already mentioned more then once.
Rather i will jump to questions

1. Since how long in this company
Ans- 4 years and 1 month

2. What is u r comapny doing for Client ?
Ans - BPO System Integration and providing total IT solutions

3. Who is u r client ?
Ans . ZZZ

4. What will u r role?
Answered in 3 sentences

5. What will be u r title onsite ?
Ans Consultant

6 . When u got married ?
Answered

Thats it !!!!!

No Certificates asked , No questions on Tool or specialized knowledge, No questions from my wife .

Points to ponder

* Please wear Business formals , these guys usually give u 5-7 minutes ... U r attire makes the first impression so be sure that it is formal . clean and ironed .
* Read u r petition well !!! In my case she only read my BEP letter carefully and questioned me from that only
* Visa is not u r right its on there discretion , be polite with the staff and you will be treated with respect in return . Dont try to bully around.
* Whenever u do a mock Interview, after the Interview always think and analyse u r answers and think if you would have been in VO's place would u have granted a VISA on those answers ?

Pray to God he is above all of us and has game plan for everyone.

Once again Thank You to all of u and Best of luck to future aspirants .

Regards

Forgot to add:

On that day it was cloudy and was too hot in mumbai. I was alone for L1A with my wife and luck. I had seen lots of rejections of L1B. Any ways best of luck to all.

Thanks

Deng Yuan

Dear Friends,

1st of all best of luck to those who are going to apply for visa. And sorry for delay in late posting of my experience. Right now in states with my wife.

Any ways my case was different from all i guess this might help others.

I am from x industry and applied for b 1 visa in jan 2008 got visa and went US in march 2008. at poe got visa for 3 months. i applied for extension after 2 months, on my I94 expiration date my application of extension was accepted. left US after 5 months.

after 2 months there was an emergency for me to come back to US as i had a conference and had to meet lots of deligates. so came back in oct 2008. at poe i was asked lots of questions but every thing was fine with me.

then went back after 3 months. and then applied for L1 and L2. allmost 18 mins interview. all simillar questions but mine were little different as i was changing the field. Well every thing was fine. Also my wife had traveled US in the same time frame. Our durations were for longer periods.

Forget every thing, be cool and confident. Remeber your parents and god.

u will lose if u are worried and afraid.

i had a real real tuff situtation which i will never forget. but be prepared. all will be fine.

Thanks for all who have posted their experience.

deng yuan

Thanks for everyone for sharing u r experience in this site...
i have attended my L1-B interview on october 9th
Upon reaching the counter she told me good morning, i too wished her.

She started asking the questions,

1. Who is your client?
     xxxxx

2. What do you do for u r client ?
   Told the activities xxxxxx.....

3. How many of u going ?
    I am the only one

4. From how long u r working with this client?
    More than 2 years.

5.What is u specialized skill?
    Told JCL, COBOL, DB2, IMS, mentioned about the certifications..

6. What is COBOL?
    told some thing about COBOL....

all the discussion went with smile on both the ends...
Then she told.. Your VISA is accepted, u will get the VISA in one week

Be..confident...
smile on u r face...
Drees in formal...

All The Best ...
Cheers.... :)

Dear All,

Today I am going to put my L1 Visa Interview Experience. My Sincere Thanks to all of you for writing your experiences.

First My L1-Blanket was refused (Not Rejected). Then Got L1-B Individual approved by USCIS and Got VISA Stamped at Chennai Consulate.

APRIL 17
=========

I am appearing for a L1-B Interview. One more person in the same project also appearing for the interview on the same day. His Interview is at 7:00 and mine is at 7:15.So we both went to consulate around 6:30 he immediately joined the queue, I Joined after some 15-20 min. (we were thinking about avoiding both going to same VO).around 8:00 AM i was allowed inside and all the security check and finger prints were done with in next 10 min. Then I was asked to sit for 10 minutes at the same place and then asked to go for 2nd Building for Interview. I went to second building and I sat there. There guides are calling the people waiting there based on their timings. I was there sitting up to 9:30 AM. Mean while my colleague came and said His visa is approved, I wished him. (With in the 2nd building. It's not so serous out there. We can talk with others, until you stand in the queue). Then after some time 7:15 people asked to stand in the queue. I was standing in the queue and observing all the VO's. There will only one Queue there. The same Queue will be routed to 4, 5 VO's. When our turn came, we have to go to the VO who becomes free. My Turn came and went to a VO.

Questions:
============

Me: Gave the Folder and said Hi, GM How are you sir,
VO: Fine (Very serious).
VO: How long you have been with IBM?
Me: 2 years 5 months
VO: is this your First Employment?
Me: Yes
VO: Can I see your marks sheets?
Me: passed my mark sheets. He saw the mark sheets carefully.
VO: what is your specialization?
Me: I started telling about the tools which we use in our application (TIBCO In concert, Rational ...).
VO: Stopped me... And asked what the IBM Proprietary tools you use are?
Me: Rational Software Architect, IBM Web sphere Application Server... (Planning to tell more and again he stopped me).
VO: what code Web Sphere will generate?
Me: (I was surprised. I am not expecting such a question from him). I took a pause of 5, 6 seconds (may be a negative point in my interview) and said that Web Sphere doesn't generate any code. It's an Application Server, we have to write the code and deploy (may be I Should not have used "WE”. always use "I").
VO: he asked me to put my fingers on the red Light for Finger Prints.

Finally he took a Blue Paper (221(g)) from his Rack and Ticked "Not Clearly approvable Section” and written the same on all the I-129s Blanker petitions... (I was not amused, I knew by this time. I am not going to get it). He teared my DS Forms and thrown away and he handed over me the Blue Form and said , I Don't think so your Company wants you to send to US. If they still want to do it Show this form to the concerned People (I am not sure I heard this correctly).

With a disturbed Face, I Said Thanks and came out of the Consulate.

I thought it is a Rejection but later realized that it is a Refusal and I Need to apply for L1 - Individual Petition.


==================================================================================================================

Next month I went and applied for L1 - Individual Petition for Premium and It took three months for my company to process and submit to USCIS. USCIS approved my Individual petition with in 7 Days and status was updated in the USCIS Website. Got My L1 Individual petition after 15 days and Ready for the Big Game again. This Lot of People told me that Since USCIS Approved the Petition, There is very slim chances of a Rejection (Rightly ...in Most Cases).

September 22nd : Again I Appeared for my Interview.
=================================================

This time we no need to book another Slot for Interview. We can go with the same HDFC Receipt and the BLUE Form. I went there and I was standing in the Queue. When the Queue reached the First check I Gave my Blue Form (221(g)) and also My Passport. He asked me “Have you come with a L1 Individual Petition? (I could barely hear him...everything is through a small window you talk to them. Bullet Proof Glasses). He repeated the question again and I said yes. I came with an L1 Individual Petition. He allowed me inside.

Even the people the Guides inside the First Building are not so familiar with 221(g). I went to the First counter he verified my previous Interview details for which I got rejection (I Guess) and written the Case Number of the Previous Interview on the DS Forms and VO Name I think who conducted my interview previously on the DS Forms. He asked me to sit and he said my Colleague will guide. Then a Lady came and She said I will send you to the VO Here in the First Building it self, and If he says he is not aware of this Visa category come to me I will send you to 2nd Building. But After some time she came again and went to the counter where he wrote my previous interview details and she told me to go to second building. (People in my office told me for regular it will happen in First building. When she told me to go to second building I thought luck is not favoring me again). I went to 2nd Building and sat there for some time. There is a Guide. She is moving the 10 PM People to the side where interview are happening. Since I don't have any time slot (221(g)) I went to her and shown the 221(G) Form she immediately told me to join the Queue. This time I could not find the VO which previously interviewed me.

Me: Handed over the folder, HI How are you doing Sir.
VO: Good Morning. How are you doing?
Me: Fine.
VO: asked me to put my left index finger on the machine. He shown me how to rub the swet to your shirt :) and asked me to rub my finger and put again (this time it worked).
VO: What's your project?
Me: I Just told my project name..... (He stopped me).
VO: How long you have been with this Company?
Me: 2 years 11 months
VO: How long you have been with this Project?
Me: Since beginning I was with this project .i.e. 2 years 11 months.
VO: Which programming language you use?
Me: (Since it is L1 visa. we should tell about tools and other stuff. I started telling) we use some specialized tools... (He stopped me).
VO: Which Programming language you use?
Me: JAVA (he forced me to tell ...).
VO: Finally he Said Your Visa is approved Sir. You will get the Passport in 7 working days.
Me: Thank you Sir.
VO: Have a Nice Trip!

Had some cool water in the same building and came out of the consulate.


Hope MY Experience will help the cases where L1-Blanket is refused by Saying "Not Cleary Approvable".

Dear All,

I am very much thankful to This forum. Really it is appreciated.

Just sharing my exp...

1. I went there before half hour. but they called me after 1 hr.

2. They only stand in this que or that q like that.

Now ?'s

Me.. Good Morning Madam How are you??

AC.. Good Morning!! I am fine .. How are you??(with cool face expression)

Ac Who is your client??

Me ZZZ

Ac .. how long you are in this company(where I am working)

Me ..22 Months...

AC.. How long you are in this project??

Me 1 yr..

Ac what is the purpose of visit??
Me... some reason I told
Ac..Ok .. you ll get the passport by courier..
Me thanks .. have a nice day..(lots of smile)

Please Note...

1. Dont Carry mobile
2.Be cool
3. place documents in order
4. when u r waiting for ur turn.. please see the environment.. where some cute kids ll do funny things.. superb ..
5. Make ur mind free
6. Wish them with good facial expression..

Success is yours..
Wish you All the best!!!