L1, L2 Visa

Hi all...thanks for immihelp members for excellent information on various experiences which really helped me to prepare for me case. Now its time to share my experience.

I work with a fortune 100 company based out of India for past decade. Have traveled several times to US on b1 and twice on l1b (blanket petition based visa which was approved few years back).

My blanket visa got expired in 2014 mid and I applied for another L1B visa based on blanket petition at Chennai Consulate in Sep 2014. After 5-6 questions, I was given 221g and blanket L1B visa was refused and my employer was asked to apply a individual L1 petition with USCIS.

Around Jan 2015 end (after 2 months of intense preparation), my company's attorney filed L1B Individual petition under premium processing, which got approved within 1 week....

In early Mar 2015, I scheduled the visa interview for stamping...Here are the questions:

me: Good morning Sir! How are you!
VO: Fine. Give me your PP

VO: Types something and asks for I-797 approval notice

VO: After 2 mins of typing in something, asks "Which division I work for in my company"?
me: blah...blah..use some technical terms

VO: Sir, I see that you have a rejection few months back, so please be specific and non-technical
me: Again say my ans in simple terms

VO: to my wife-whats your highest education, what do you do?
wife: Answers

VO: Sir, please visit counter 25 and show your documents and come back here
me: I am bit tensed and not sure what is going on

Return back to VO

VO: Sir, please provide your I-797 and PP

VO: Takes finger prints

VO: Sir, you will get you PP in few days

Me: Is the visa approved?

VO: I cant say that now sir as the system is not pulling your petition approval information. Once we verify your petition has been approved, Visa should be approved

Me: Thanked the VO and we left

Initially we were not clear on the outcome of the interview. Later I did some research and figured out that our approved petition from USCIS was not loaded onto PIMS system which is used by Consular Officers to determine petition approvals and grant the visa. But I knew this situation would be resolved very soon.

Now, within a week's time my Visa status in CEAC changed to Issued.

So my experience says that if you have a L1B approval from USCIS, visa interview is a formality and PP will be stamped with Visa definitely. Even if you fail in L1B blanket, dont lose hope and file a individual petition wtih USCIS and you will likely be granted approval if you have a stron specialization and case for internal transfer.