L1, L2 Visa

Hello Friends,
Case: L1-A Blanket Petition.

Like all I was very tensed, I went to consulate at 11:45AM, where as my interview was scheduled at 12:30PM slot. I was stand in for around 2:30 hours. After that went to security check and then documents pre-screen counter-took around 1 hour.

Then turn to finger print area it took around 1 hour.

Finally the interview turn, the councelor was very cool and he asked me the following questions:
1) Since how long you have been working with XYZ company?
2) Why are you going to US?
3) What do you do in XYZ company?
4) How many people will report you at US?
Incase of L1-A, in my case I am not a people manage I am into Functional. I said no one will report me as I am in to functional.
5)How long you have been working for this project?
6) To whoom you will report in US?

At last the golden words " Please keep these I129 forms with to enter into the port of US"

'Enjoy the Tension'

All:
Before reappearing for the interview I have gained enough confidence from this forum. Its time to share what happened to me earlier and now -
I had visited consulate in the last week of May'07. Here's the excerpts of Questions -

Me: Hello Mam !
VO: Hello

VO: you work in CAD ?
Me: Yes Mam.

VO: Is it used in avionics ?
Me: (I was surprised to hear that) NO

VO: What will you be doing there ?
Me: Explained my work

VO: Is it used in heavy motors ?
Me: yes. Gave some examples

VO: Is it used in Defence trucks ?
Me: I don't know, I work in commercial side.

And I guess, here's the catch. She used word 'Defense' and i said 'I don't know' probably gave me 221(g) for administrative processing.
Also, I thought later probably I started selling my product to the VO :-) or my answers were like that. I guess I should be restricted to my work rather than showing her that I am brilliant and know everything.

I was give pending letter, pink slip and was asked to send an email with questionnaire and CV. I took 3 weeks to send questionnaire to them. And I got their reply in next 2.5 weeks that clearance is recieved in my case and come anywork day at 9:30 am.

This time I was much confident (as I already have gone thru this wonderful forum) was maintaining smile on my face and my body language was also positive.

This time VO simply asked me - When will you be travelling sir?
I said in another 2 weeks.
She said ok your passport will be couriered to you.

That is it. So, my learning was to speak less and be confident about YES and NO. If anything related to defense or sensitive area be sure in your answers.

I got interview at 12:30 on 25th Jun Chennai Consulate. Reached Consulate at 12:05 and able to get inside only at 12:45, even though queus was not long, security staff only opened the door at 12:45. Once into the building Security check happened. I carried all my documents in plastic bag. No Hassel there. Then got into first lobby. Document check happened. At VFS counter they kept my folder and asked me to wait. After approx 1 hr, they gave me the folder with a receipt of 21K and kept the DD for fraud detecion fee. Then again I have stand in another line to get into VISA Lobby. At 2:30PM we were inside VISA Lobby. There was a long queue for finger printing. This went also wihtout any hassel. After that waiting in queue for VISA Interview. Then get into BEP queue. VO was really cool. He asked me following qs

1. How long you have been working in current company?
2. Which project you are working for?
3. How lon you were working in this project?
4. Are you going to work in the same project in USA?
5. Are you married?
6. Any kids?
7. is your wife also going to travel with you?

Then comes the golden word.."Your VISA is approved"

What I feel is VO is basically try to find out If you are going for the same project on which you were working now and showing your specialised knowledege. If you are saying you are working for project XYZ for past N years and going to work on the same project in USA then thing may be less complicated when it comes to prove specialised knowledege skills.

I got immense help from this site. The Qs covered in this site is comprenshive and covers all aspect of L1/L2 VISA Interview.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH all CONTRIBUTORS.

Thanks
Som1980

I am working in the Delhi office of a US-based IT firm and have 7 years of IT experience. I hold a valid B1 visa and have travelled once on the same to New York.

I went for an L1A (Blanket) interview on 22nd June 2007 at the New Delhi consulate. The interview was at 8:15 AM but, I was already inside by 8 AM thanks to the BEP status.

I had to wait for around 25 mins before I was interviewed. The interview was short and the standard questions were asked:

1. Where am I going?
2. Who is the client and what they are into?
3. What is my current role in the India office?
4. What will be my role in the US office?
5. How many people will report to me in US?
6. Do I have hire-and-fire authorities?

I answered all these questions confidently and the VO immediately stamped an approval on the I-129S and returned it to me.

Suddenly, he asked me when I got my last US visa. When I told him the date on which I got my B1 (June 2006), he checked something on his computer and told me that my case will go in for Administrative Processing and would require 6 weeks at the least. He returned my passport but kept all the other documents with him.

I returned heart-broken. But, after going through the experiences of people who have faced similar Section 221(g) processing, I started feeling a bit more relaxed.

Today (26th June 2007), just 4 days after the interview, I received a call from the US Embassy that my case has been approved and I should come and submit my passport for stamping. My joy knew no bounds and I immediately rushed to the embassy and deposited my passport.

There was no interview today. The guy at Counter 5 received my passport and uttered those golden words ---- your passport with the visa will reach you within a week.

Background:

I work for a product company based at California. My case is a one-way transfer to the US on the same project that I am working on. I have a valid B-1 visa on my passport. I have traveled four times using the same.



Visa interview experience:

My L-1B blanket (BEP) visa interview was scheduled for Jun 25 (2007), 12:30 PM at Chennai consulate. I reached the consulate by 12:25 PM. There was no queue outside and I was allowed in immediately. I had to wait for 45+ minutes in a line to get my documents screened. DS-156, DS-157, Passport, HDFC receipt, USD 500 DD for L-1B blanket along with some more documents were retained at the screening counter for issuing the receipt for the L-1B blanket Fraud Prevention and Detection Fee. I got the documents and Passport with receipt back after 45+ minutes. I was allowed inside the visa lobby around 2:30 PM. By spending around 30 minutes in the queue, I got my finger printing done. I was called for the visa interview around 3:20 PM. My appointment was scheduled against BEP category. Here comes the transcript of the interview.



ME: Good afternoon, officer! How are you doing? (Smiling)

VO: (Smiles) Good. Thanks. (Collects the documents)

VO: (Immediately) How long you are working for XYZ?

ME: N years.
VO: (Silence... goes through DS-156, DS-157, I-129S for about a minute)

VO: How long you are working for UVW product?

ME: From the beginning, I mean N years.
VO: Is this product internal to XYZ?

ME: Yeah.
VO: Does it mean that you are not working for any client?

ME: Yeah.
VO: What is your degree?
ME: MNO specialized in PQR.
VO: (Silence... imprints seals on I-129S and takes around a minute)

VO: (Smiles) Are you married?

ME: Nope. I am single.

VO: Your visa is granted and you will receive your passport through courier.

VO: Your visa is not valid before MM-DD. Don't travel before that. Make sure that you produce these documents (points out I-129S) at your port of entry.

ME: Thank you, officer! Have a nice day!

VO: (Smiles) Thanks.



I was out of the consulate by 3:30 PM.



Note:
I was not asked about my product and specialized knowledge. I was a bit worried about this before the interview because, the details were too technical to explain (R&D project). I assume that the VO got it from my cover letter. He was spending some time to read that. I was not asked for any other documents. However, I was carrying my offer letter, degree certificate, mark sheet, experience letters, relieving letters, payslips (12 months), bank statements (6 months), IT returns (3 years) and photographs showing me inside and outside the office. I assume that the visa officer was convinced with whatever he saw. It might not be the usual case. It is good to carry all specified documents as you don't want a visa refusal or pending in sake of a missing document.

Disclaimer:
This post is just to share about my visa experience. This post may contain my personal opinions and don't take any of my opinions granted for your case. I am not talking behalf of anybody (especially my employer) in this post. I can't be held responsible for consequences or whatsoever that arise due to this post. Please contact an immigration expert if you want clear guidance about your case.

Dear members

I need help from you guys.

Last week my L1B visa got rejected and officer wrote special software skills not required for this project gave me blue paper by checking 122(g). Iam planning to apply for Individual.


can any one help me abt
Can i apply for Individual.
questions they ask me about previous rejection when i go for L1B Individual .
If VO ask for why my visa got rejected earlier what should I say.

Please help if any one got any idea on this.

Dear all,
    My PA was on 21st May .I was very nervous and was trying to keep my mind cool.

They Have asked me 7 qusn
1)How long you have been with this XYZ company?
2)What all the specialized skills you have?
3)How long are you in this domain?
4)Is this you company specific?
5)Who is your client?
6)For how long are you with this client?
7)What are you going to do there?

I answered all the qusns very confidently and I got the visa...
Try to give your answer with in 1/2 line .Beacause they 'll only give you 1/2 min for the Q/A section.

Hey frndz this is a very helpful and cool site. I am feeling very relax now ....

All the best to all of you.

Thanks ,
Smita

Hi
This is a good forum for people who are applying for US Visa.
Typical tips:
1) Donot please/request/ask sympathy from the councellors. Always be confident & straight forward.
2)Be specific to questions
3) Donot carry Mobile phone with you.
4) Bags are not allowed. So carry big plastic covers with you to hold the documents as you have to stand in the queue.
5) During interview do not show them an evidence that you will join some other work after going to US.

Thanks
Kumar

I went on BEP from my company.BEP is Business excecutive program.A special relationship between the company and the consulate.

Mostly these cases will be approved .But still basics are the same.

1.Prepare well for standard questions.
2.Be confident
3.Have good knowledge about your company and client.

above all US VISA is not everything in life.So done be/show your desparation to get one, it will work the other way.Be calm and composed and meet it with mind alertness.

all the very best !!!

Dear All,

This forum is very useful. Jus go through as much theards you can. I had L1B - Blanket PAI on 17 May 2007 and i got my visa approved. Questions i faced are

1. How long u have been working with XYZ (Current Employer)?
2. Other companies which u worked for and tenure?
3. Which client ur working for?
4. What u ll be doing in US?
5. How long u ll be working there?

I have jus gone thro this forum n questions were useful. Jus have answer ready for questions given in the forum.

My appointment time was 10:45 AM but i was interviewed around 2:45 PM. So dont get tensed if its get delayed and if you may to wait in queues.

My Suggestions: Dont think to much to answer, have presence of mind. Have smile on your face,Dont get tensed, you may have to wait in long queues for hours. Jus be patient, have faith in God. Visa is yours.