L1, L2 Visa

Went for L1 interview and the officer approved I-129 and asked if I was traveling and I said yes, he then handed me the below instructions, but when I login I don't see the option - what could I do? How long does it usually take for this option to become available.

The officer told you that you are otherwise approvable, but you need your passport immediately for travel? No problem. We are returning your passport to you today and administratively refusing your application.

When ready to return your passport, please log on to your account at https://ais.usvisa-info.com/en-ca/niv and select the "consular section instructed me to send more documents" option. Follow the instructions and return your passport to us to continue processing your application.

Hi All,

Firstly, Thank you for this greatest forum where we can see the visa experience for each category. This gives confidence about the current visa process.

I would like to share my experience as well.

I travelled to Chennai on 29th Jan 2025 and landed in the evening around 4pm. My biometrics(Chennai VAC) were on 30th Jan 2025 @11:00AM and visa appointment was on 31st Jan 2025 @11:00AM.

Biometrics:
1. For biometrics, Hardly it is a 15 mins process to complete. I reached biometrics entrance by 10:30am and security person verified my appointment time and allowed me inside. I see lot of people waiting outside and may be the *** for others or their appointment time not turned up. Once I visited the entrance, security person diverted me to first floor and they asked me to stand in a line for 5 mins and later they sent us to one more floor up where the actual process commences i.e, document verification for this we need visa appointment confirmation page, DS 160 form new + old(If you have), current passport. The team will do the verification and validation and they put the docs in the order and club them using a band. After this, they will add two stickers at the back of passport one is latest DS 160 form application id with barcode and second one about your name and passport number. After that, Need to join an another queue - where there are multiple counters ahead, they may send you to one of the counters where they will capture the finger prints, left four fingers and right four fingers and followed with left and right thumb and also they will capture your photo. Finally they will do the stamp as VAC Chennai with the current date on the DS 160 form and the same paper need to carry for visa appointment.

2. Next Day, i.e. 31st Jan 2025, one of the biggest days in my life(Visa Appointment). Literally, no sleep the before night. I wore a blazer, I carried all the supported documents in the transparent case folder. No mobiles were allowed. I reached venue by 10:30 AM and shown visa confirmation page to the security and they allowed me. After that, one person will proceed the system check for your details and then they will allow you inside the main door and there the metal detector and baggage scanning will go on. After that, we need to go into the next place where the documents need to be arranged in two sets i.e, 1. I129S and Blanket Petition Document first page, Current passport and back side of the DD (need to write passport number and the name). They will arrange this into an order and rubber band them. After this, they will move to another building inside, where the DD submission counter will do the verification and the generate the receipt. This may take some time because some people in the queue may be having issues with their DD and they will do the credit card payment or debit card payment (make sure international transactions are enabled). While standing in this queue, I can see the people coming with happy faces and luckily haven't seen any sad faces at all and absolutely no crowd. Once I received the receipt and moved to the next counter where they proceed the system check for my DS160 and others. They have done the validation, and then finally asked me to join in the visa interview queue. I have see only two counters were open, I was asked to wait in one queue where the lady is interviewing one person and their visa got approved and while other counter done with their visa and they got approved and I moved to that counter. Here is my experience with visa officer

1. Me : Good Morning officer, How are you?
    VO : He said "I am fine"

2. Me : I have passed my documents (He scanned my DS160 bar code and I think my data reflects on his system)
    VO:He asked are you for applying for L1A
    Me: Officer, I am applying for L1A blanket"

3. VO: "Which company are you working for"
     Me: XYZ

4. VO:what is your designation in US"
     Me:XYZ

5. VO: what is your salary in US?
     Me: Answered

5. VO:How many reportees will report to you in US"
    Me: XYZ

6. VO:Do you do "Hire and fire authority"
    Me:Yes/NO

7. VO: He asked how many reportees for you in US ?
     Me: As said, again repeated the answer

8. VO: are you married -
     Me: Yes,

9: VO: Kids?
       Me: Answered.

10. VO:Why they have not joined with you now ?
       Me: I have explained the reason and said they will join with me in the couple of months in US.

11. VO: Finally, they asked me to scan the four fingers and while doing this he stamped on my DS160 form and the golden words from him as "Congratulations, I am approving your visa" Please show this to immigration authorities while travelling. Happy Journey.

What a moment this that was! where people can see the happiness which cannot be bought.

I went for my L1b (Blanket) Visa interview. Travel to US is planned in July 15, 2025 (mentioned in my I-129s as well). VO gave 221g White Slip (with a note to come back within 90 days of planned travel to USA) and returned passport. Anybody else know about this restriction? I previously thought you can apply for Visa for travel in next 6 months.
One more thing, she did take my fingerprints of left hand at the end of the interview. Passport returned.

Folks - Can you please tell me if i can take photo copies of my work permit documents to prove my legal status in Canada. I actually lost my permit documents.

Thanks to this community for sharing their experiences. This has definitely helped me a lot. I went through most of the post here till 2022. I ll try to cover some information which is not covered by other posts here.

This is the 2nd time i'm applying for L1B VISA, last time was in 2013 and it was approved as well.

I had scheduled my bio metrics on Jan 5th(monday) and VISA interview on 6th (Tuesday). I had submitted my DS-160 on Dec 13th itself. I had arranged all the required documents, original certificates, paystubs, etc. We need to carry all the documents in a transparent folders.

One week before the interview I was checking all the documents and I found out that I had entered my salary info in the DS-160 wrongly. MY DS-160 was already submitted, I was taken aback. During my last visa interview time(2013) my wife’s DS-160 there was one correction. VAC staffs had asked to get it corrected. I remembered that, I checked the FAQ’s in the US consulate site where they have mentioned that DS-160 can be corrected after submitting. There is no need to change the appointment date for the same.

*So in case of any changes to DS-160, you always have a chance to edit it. Just you need to carry both the DS-160s*

I stayed in Hotel Savera which is quite near to the consulate. I started from blr a day before and reached Chennai by 2pm.

Next day my biometrics was scheduled at 12pm. I started from hotel in a ola taxi and reached the venue at 11.10am. I though since I had a kid with me they ll allow immediately but that was not the case. That day there were lot of applicants. There were two lines, one for the drop-offs and other for the normal one standing on the road. If you are early security ll say go and stand on the other side of the road, come when time is up. I waited till 11.45am and went to the security but still they denied saying 11.30 appointment people are still waiting u come at 12pm. Then some how I convinced them at 12pm saying we have kid we need to go. He allowed.

*Please don’t come to the venue very early, try to come on time that is more than enough. *

Once we enter, it hardly takes 20mins and you will be out of the building. In VACs they ll ask you for some basic details like name and DOB to cross check the application.

Docus required for VAC – Biometrics
- Appointment confirmation page
- Original Passport
- DS-160
The staffs will bundle these documents and put one sticker on your passport. This you need to carry for the interview. They ll not ask for any other documents, but you can carry if you want just in case of any corrections.

Jan 7th – VISA interview. – 10.30am appointment

I got up early had a light breakfast. Got ready by 9.30am and was trying to be relaxed. Got an Auto and reached the US consulate at 10.20am. to my surprise I didn’t see any queue, not even a single applicant outside. There will be one staff out side the consulate, he will check the appointment document, he checked and asked me to go in.

1st stop : security check. One lady had brought on lipstick along with her, they asked her to throw it out. I didn’t carry any electronics items not even my car keys. Just the documents. So hassle free security check.

2nd stop: Documents collection. Here one staff will ask you to give 2 copies of i-129s, 2 copies of i-797, DS-160 confirmation , DD for anti fraud fee and your original passport. They ll bundle and hand it over to you.

Now you will be directed to the next building where the VISA interview ll happen.

3rd stop: Anti fraud fee DD will be checked here. I had addressed the DD to “American consulate general’ place Chennai. It worked. Dont forget to write your full name and passport number behind the DD. The staff checked and asked me to remove the extra tags in the DD, both the sides of the DD there will be tag holes for printer. I removed it carefully better to take care of these at home than the last minute. Here I was handling all the documents of myself and dependents in the counters. Dependents were asked to be seated.

4th stop: I-129, documents check. It’s a different counter next to the DD counter. I could see the staff was checked my Petition number against her screen. All ok here and was directed to the next one.

5th stop: Interview. I could see around 15-20 people standing in the queue here. Completely pin drop silence here. That is where all the nervousness builds up. Since we had a kid the staff asked me to bypass the queue and go to the front. Here I could see the counters for interview may be around 5-8 counters. 3 applicant in each counter and they ll be called for the interview one by one. I was asked to stand in one queue where the VO was a lady. She was asking questions to the applicant. I could easily hear those as they will be communicating via a mic and speakers. We can here all the interview questions. I got to know from those question that the applicant is working for one of the TOP company is the US (one of the FAAMG). Don’t know here I can take company names. The VO’s question was “The work which you are supposed to do in the US, why cant an American experienced IT professional do it” I had prepared for this question and lady was trying to explain slowly. I thought better to concentrate on my own interview than this and started seeing somewhere else. By now I was asked to move to the next counter where there were 2 applicants before me. 1st one the interview was on and the question was “what is your salary in the US”. Applicant answered it and from the other side “your VISA is APPROVED”. Next one was a visitors VISA and same basic questions and here again “your VISA is approved”. I was thinking hopefully I hear the same words. Meanwhile in the next counter the interview which I talked earlier ended by saying “your VISA is denied and please contact your HR ”. Menawhile the officer called me.

Me: Good morning Officer
VO : Good morning . Please pass the documents

VO: Are you applying for L1A or L1B VISA
Me: I took a sec and said L1B. I was fully nervous and I cld feel that.

VO: What is your role in the US
Me. I said something else than my current role and immediately corrected it. Nervous again.

VO: So ***** is your role (re confirmed)
Me: YES

VO: What is your salary in the US ?
Me. I said in Indian number system instead of US where I used one lakh instead of one hundred thousand. VO was ok with that.

VO: Which place you are going to in US ?
Me: specified city and state name

VO: You were there earlier ?
Me: Yes

VO: What do you do in your role in US ?
Me. I had prepared 4 points for this questions and ended for saying 3. VO was ok

He asked My wife to come forward. I took over my kid from her.
VO to my Wife: are you working ?
Wife: No

VO to my wife, please place your 4 fingers in the scanner and by this time I understood that my VISA is approved. VO asked me to place my fingers on the scanner and said “your VISA is approved don’t forget to get your I-129s stamped at the immigration”. Said Thank you and we left the place. I saw the time it was 10.50am. we reached hotel by 11am.

Things to follow. In your appointment documents Do’s and Don’t’s are mentioned. Just follow that. In case of any doubts try to clarify it in the US consulate website FAQ’s. I think most of us are nervous, prepare a list of questions, practice it repeatedly because the questions might sound new even though its known basic info, you might blabber during the interview because of the environment there. Be confident .

VISA interview on 7th and i received the Passport on Jan 15th. I had opted for Premium delivery but still got it late. i had contacted the US consulate customer care they mentioned that it takes 7-10 business days excluding weekends and holidays. This might be the reason.

Standard Auto charge: 200rs to any nearby hotel to VAC or consulate. Don’t book taxi, if the distance is small they ll not come and not cancel the trip also. This might delay.
Everyone were wearing a formal attire, I suggest ladies to be dressed professionally as the girl who got rejected was wearing a salwar. Better to be dressed professionally. What is destined to happen will happen do your best.

Firstly, Thanks to this portal and the people for sharing their experience. I felt like, i also need to contribute to this portal by sharing my experience.

I have scheduled my Biometrics and Consular appointment on 05 Dec 2024 and 06 Dec 2024 respectively in Chennai. I have reached Chennai a day before (04 Dec 2024) and checked into Accord Metropolitan Hotel, which is 2kms from both Chennai VAC (Biometrics) and US Consulate.

My Bio-metrics appointment was on 12PM at Chennai VAC. I have reached the location by 11:30AM. Mobile phones, Bags, smart watches and any kind of electronic goods are not allowed inside. So, i have kept everything in hotel and just took the documents.

Required docs in Biometrics,
1. Original Passport,
2. Appointment Confirmation printout,
3. DS-160 Confirmation Page.
That's All. Nothing more. Don't carry all the i129S, i797 and etc. Nothing required. I see many people carrying whole bunch of documents, don't know why.
They allowed me inside at 11:30AM, Process just takes 10-15 mins max. I am out and reached back hotel by 11:50AM (My appointment was 12PM, lol)

Next comes the big day, My Appointment was at 10AM. I have got ready by 8AM and started arranging my Docs in order.
I have started from hotel by 9:30AM and reached consulate by 9:40AM. Again, no electronic items allowed inside. Just a digital watch and your hotel key can be taken.
There was not much queue at the entrance, they have checked my appointment Confirmation letter and allowed me inside.
First there will be a security check, just like At the airport, you have to keep everything in a tray and they will scan you.
Next you will enter another room where one person will be sitting and he will ask the type of Visa, if it is L1B VISA, he will give a checklist in which order you need to keep your documents.

Documents order:

1. 2 copies of i129S ( All pages)
2. 2 copies of i797 ( only First page)
3. DS-160 Confirmation Page
4. DD for Anti-fraud Fee and write your name and Passport number on the back of the DD (Or) Ignore if you are carrying Credit which has International transaction enabled for
    42000
5. Original Passport

He will verify all the order and asks to proceed to Consulate Building. After entering Security will ask you to sit and wait for Anti-fraud fee payment. Here it took good 15-20 mins waiting for me, as many people were in line for the payment, and some are having issues with their DD and credit cards. So, please wait patiently here and wait for your turn. As I wait for my turn, i see many applicants (L1B) were happy while leaving as their Visa got approved and few were (F1) sad as their VISA didn't get approved. Try to keep your cool here, as humans it is quite natural to get nervous, but keep it together and maintain your cool.
The person who takes the payment is chill and talked everyone out to cheer them while they pay. after the payment, he will ask to go to the next counter.
At this counter, your documents will be checked and verified for correct petition number, DS-160 details, i129S details and passport.
After the verification, they will ask to proceed for the interview.

Here it comes.

As I reached near the Counter, The VISA officer in that counter was talking to her colleague and she took 3-5 mins as I was standing and waiting for her. But that's Ok,
finally, she near the counter and apologized for the delay.

Me: Good morning, Officer (Passed the documents through counter window)
VO: Good morning.
VO: How long have you been working with your organization?
Me: gave exact experience with years and months.
VO: What is your US Salary?
Me: Gave the exact number
VO: Can you tell me about your Specialization?
Me: Explained about my specialized skills in 2-3 sentences and explained how I have used it in my project.
         (In half-way through my explanation, VO stamped on my i-129S and wrote the VISA expiration date. I have understood that my visa is approved.)
VO: Keep your left hand 4 fingers on the scanner.
VO: Your VISA is approved. Do not forget to show this form (Stamped i-129S) in immigration when you travel. You will receive your passport through courier in 7 days.
Me: Thank you, Officer. (With all smiles on my face)

That's all it took for me. I was very nervous and Anxious before the day and while waiting for my turn because my Student Visa got rejected twice back in 2012 at the very same consulate. But Now I'm professional with vast experience, I did manage to maintain my cool while answering VO's Questions. That helped me.

Things to remember, it’s safe to carry extra set of documents, but apart from the above mentioned you don't need to carry anything else. But please carry, your educational certificates, Experience letters and paystubs. because you never when VO will ask for which document. it's better have all originals with you.

I see 95% of the L1B Visas are getting approved, because we professionals and possess specialized skills.
So, take a chill pill and attend your interview with confidence.
All the best for your interviews.

Thanks.

First of all, i am really thankful to all the people who shared their experiences on Immihelp. I would like to share my experience for L1B blanket Visa interview @ Chennai on 12th Nov 2024.
I already have a valid L1B visa, which was approved in March 2024 and was valid till March 2027. However, since the blanket petition was expiring on 31st Dec 2024, had to reapply with new petition.
I had my biometrics done at Mumbai on 3rd November. Although it was Sunday, the center was operational. The biometric process is quite simple. Just carry the passport and DS160 confirmation. It took merely 15 mins to get through.
Now coming to the big day.
My L1B consular interview was scheduled on 12th November at Chennai. Thanks to God that i checked the weather beforehand and carried an umbrella. it was pouring on that day in Chennai. My appointment was at 8:30. I stayed in Kings Park hotel which is just 5-10 mins walk from consulate.
I started from the hotel at 7:45.
At the entry there was a long queue and all the applicants in the queue were of 8-8:30 slots.
After verification of Visa appointment letter, the security staff let me in.
Inside, there is a counter where a person asked the Visa type. On telling L1B, he gave me a pamphlet in which the documents to be presented were mentioned.
1) Two sets of I-129S and I-797
2) DS160 confirmation (carry the one which is stamped at OFC)
3)DD for fraud prevention fee.
He put rubber bands on the document sets and asked me to proceed to next building.
At the entrance of the next building there was provision to keep the umbrellas.
On entering the building, i was asked to join a queue for DD submission.
Unfortunately, my DD was not legible and the officer at the counter respectfully rejected it. I was carrying credit cards as a backup and paid the fees (inr 42000) using the CC.
The officer provided a receipt stapled to my Documents and then i was sent to another counter, where after some verification i joined the queue for the actual interview.
The interview went as below:
Me: Good Morning Officer, How are you doing today?
Off: I am well thanks, how about you?
Me: I am fine too thanks.
Off: So , how long have you been working for XXX (My company)?
Me: 17 Years.
Off: Well, that is a pretty long time.
Me: Yes, it is.
(She stamped my I129S after first question itself, so i knew that the Visa was approved, the following questions were just formality)
Off: What will be your salary in the US?
Me: XXXXXX USD. ( Be sure that the salary in DS160, I129S is matching and tell the same to the officer)
Off: Tell me something about your expetise?
Me: I explained it in two lines (no technical jargon)
Off: Your Visa is approved. You will receive your passport after stamping. "Safe travels"
Me: Thanks you vey much, you have a nice day ahead.

Thats all.... it lasted for less than 2 minutes.
Key points:
1) Try to book a hotel close to consulate to avoid travelling hassles.
2) As far as possible, reach Chennai a day in advance and get an appointment for next day early morning. (This is my feeling that officer is generally in good mood early in the morning)
3) Carry pay stubs, ITR, Degree certificates, letter from your company corroborating length of your employment. Although i have never been asked for any of these documents (in my last three visa interviews), it is better to carry them anyways.
4) Do not carry mobile, smart watch etc. I did not even carry keys or wallet, just carried some loose notes and CC in my shirt pocket.
5) No need to wear a blazer, but dress formally.
6) Keep our answers short and to the point. If in doubt, ask the officer to repeat he question.

When i was waiting for my turn, i was observing the other interviews and almost all the Visas were getting approved.
So be prepared and all the best for your Visas friends.

My biometrics was on Oct 7th, 09:30 AM, and I reached OFC biometrics one hour before. The guards outside the gate were arranging the queues based on appointment time. There were normal security checks and we were allowed inside. Inside there was also a long queue and a security guard checked our appointment letter and asked for our passport and DS-160 confirmation page. As my daughter is with us, they give us priority and are allowed inside. I had some edits in DS-160, so I took both the new and old DS-160 confirmation page for reference. They see both old and new DS-160 and add stickers to our passport with the new DS-160 number. After that they have taken our fingerprints and photo, and added stamps in the DS-160 confirmation page.

Note - If you are traveling with minors, you have to take at least 2-3 US VISA size (2 inch X 2 inch) photographs. Make sure their head, eyes, nose and ear is clearly visible. In my case, I have to take a new photo of my daughter as her hairs are covering her forehead. They took Rs.300 for 6 photos (1 sheet). There is a provision of a private locker (Rs 50). Phone is allowed in switch off mode. When initially waiting outside the gate, suggesting to carry some hand fan or hard paper.

Next day on Oct 8th, 8:30 AM I have a consulate appointment. I was there on time. At the gate they verified the appointment and passport of all of us. Next, we entered a room where a lady gave us a template and said to arrange documents in the order which is mentioned in the template. 
Passport of all - primary and dependent.
Stamped DS-160 confirmation of page (primary applicant only)
2 sets of i129S (all 8 pages)
2 sets of i797 (first page)
$500 anti fraud fee (Credit card or demand draft)
They make a bundle of this ask to go inside.
The immigration team has suggested paying through Credit card and carrying a demand draft as a safer option. In the last option I also took some cash. After submitting the anti-fraud fee and paper verification, I was added to another queue for the final interview. As my daughter is with us, they give us priority and are allowed in front of the queue. There were different counters having different VISA category interviews; the consular was asking the questions behind the glass. 
My turn came, I was with my wife and daughter. We greet the officer with a smile and greeting - Good Morning, Officer. He replied good morning and asked for documents. I passed the documents from the counter below space. For a minute he verified the data looking into screen and then started questions:

VO: Are you here for L1B?
Me: Yes officer.

VO: Which company are you from?
Me: I am from XYZ company.

VO: What kind of company it is?
Me: Briefed 2-3 sentences about company.

VO:  How long are you working for this company?
Me: I have been working in XYZ Company for 5 years and 2 months.

VO: Who is your client?
Me: My client is XYZ

VO: Where are they based?
Me: They are in Seattle. (Then he looked into his screen for 6-7 seconds)

VO: How long will you stay?
Me: I will be there for 3 years.

VO: What is your specialisation?
Me: I hold specialisation in two of the XYZ company proprietary tools (mentioned tools and their brief). I have been working in these tools since inception and am a core team member. (He again looked into his screen for approximately 10 seconds)

VO: Place your right fingers in the scanner.
Me: Sure, Officer.

VO: Looking at my wife? Mam, could you also please place your right fingers in the scanner.
Wife: Sure, Officer.

VO: Your VISA is approved and you will get your passports in a week.
Me: Thank you officer.

He stamped on one set of i129S, saying your VISA is approved and gave it to me. He said a smiling bye to my daughter. No questions to my wife.

We came out with happy faces. Got the passport with VISA delivered in the next 3 days.

Note - Please check all the pages of i129S and i797 carefully. Anti fraud fee demand draft should be of current exchange amount on that date. One person in front of my queue has created the Demand draft of a higher amount, but the person collecting the anti-fraud fee did not take it and said they don't even take 1 rupee extra. Credit card is a preferred way, make sure you have enabled international transactions with no limit or limit greater than $500. Take all the required documents with yourself.

My case:
Sr Engineering Manager in a small US based IT services company with development center in India, I am with the company for 3 years. Company size: approx 400

I received my I797 approval in early July.

My interview experience:

VO: Please provide your passport and I797 approval
Ans: Provided

VO: So what do you do at your company?
Ans: I lead the cloud team. I also strategise—VO cut me across here

VO: How long have you been with your company?
Ans:3 yrs

VO: What’s your highest qualification?
Ans: B.E (Hons)

VO: What’s your US salary?
Ans: Gave him the number

VO: Where will you live in US?
Ans: Provided the name of the state only

VO: Your visa is approved, safe travels :)

Visa arrived on the 5th day after the interview day.

Interview slot at 09:30AM
Reached center at 08:45AM
I was let it at 09:00AM

I was out at 10:30AM

The entire experience was close to perfect. Good seating area outside the consulate. Lockers available nearby.

Got I-797B approval under individual petition in the last week of July.
Questions:
1. What is your designation in the US?
A. CXO

2. How many people do I manage from the US?
A. 10+

3. Which city will I live in?
A. XYZ

Asked marriage certificate for my wife. And then asked her to verify her fingerprints, and then mine were verified. Visa approved.