L1B to L1A_Functional Manager_Interview Centre_Experience

[Harsh Vardhan]

Hi All

Need your advice. I am in the US on L1B. My L1B expires in Early May 2019. The company has decided to file for L1A Blanket functional manager case. I have a few questions:

1. I am asked to file the L1A Blanket 6 months before the expiry of L1B. i.e. I have to schedule the L1A visa interview before 10th November. I was asked to go to Ottawa, Canada for the interview. But there are no interview dates available. The only option that I see right now is to apply from Chennai. Could you please advise if I should do that or wait to see if I get a better date in Canada?

2. What is this rule about 6 months? that the L1A should be filed 6 months before the L1B expires? Is this the case?

3. Is it possible to schedule the interview at two posts - Canada and Chennai, simultaneously? I will hav eto pay the fee twice, but is it possible to do so?

4. What is the success rate of L1A Functional Manager in Chennai? Any experiences? I do not see many posts about Functional Manager Case of L1A.

Thank you very much for your help guys!

[Libra_14]

1. I am asked to file the L1A Blanket 6 months before the expiry of L1B. i.e. I have to schedule the L1A visa interview before 10th November. I was asked to go to Ottawa, Canada for the interview. But there are no interview dates available. The only option that I see right now is to apply from Chennai. Could you please advise if I should do that or wait to see if I get a better date in Canada?

My vote is to go to Chennai & not wait for Canada.

2. What is this rule about 6 months? that the L1A should be filed 6 months before the L1B expires? Is this the case?

There is no such rule. But as attorney suggested its better to first change status, stay in that status for sometime & then get the visa stamped.

3. Is it possible to schedule the interview at two posts - Canada and Chennai, simultaneously? I will hav eto pay the fee twice, but is it possible to do so?

Yes, you can fill two DS160, pay fee twice & schedule at both post.

4. What is the success rate of L1A Functional Manager in Chennai? Any experiences? I do not see many posts about Functional Manager Case of L1A.

Based on my knowledge, blanket is 50-50, while individual approved petition has high chances for visa approval.

[Harsh Vardhan]

My vote is to go to Chennai & not wait for Canada.

There is no such rule. But as attorney suggested its better to first change status, stay in that status for sometime & then get the visa stamped.

Yes, you can fill two DS160, pay fee twice & schedule at both post.

Based on my knowledge, blanket is 50-50, while individual approved petition has high chances for visa approval.

Thank you. I got an early appointment for Calgary, so will be going there. Do you have any experience stories for L1A Visa in Calgary?

[Harsh Vardhan]

Thanks a lot for your reply. I have got the date in Calgary. Looking forward if anyone has got any experience there.

[to.srkr]

Queries

Thanks a lot for your reply. I have got the date in Calgary. Looking forward if anyone has got any experience there.

Hey Harsh, I am in same boat and my Attorney was asking me to schedule appointment in Jan 2019. Can you help me with your interview Experience. That would be helpful.

[sasvi]

Thanks a lot for your reply. I have got the date in Calgary. Looking forward if anyone has got any experience there.

I had a L1A visa renewed in Calgary. Stay in a hotel as close as possible to the Consulate as Calgary is very cold and they do not allow any electronics (including car keys) inside. Ensure the pictures meet all the requirements - they have asked us to take new pictures (this can be done in a small store in the same building) because they thought the white background was a little grey (I know, I know).

Security is very mean - you cannot take even a lipstick inside what is crazy considering you have to walk outdoors and temperatures are always lower than 0 F in December. So leave all in your hotel. We walked for only 10 minutes and this was enough to have frostbites since it is also windy and humid on the way to the consulate.

After security, you will get in and the consulate is very small. There is a line for a pre-screening, pay fees, etc. The interview was ok, very typical questions (job, role, degree, how long in the US, etc). Have all the documents with you - I noticed that Calgary is very detailed into the small items - they even made some weird questions such as expiration date of a blanket petition...they had to go inside and ask someone to get confirmation that there is no expiration date. Have your lawyer contact with you in case they decide to create problems where there are none... There is a small waiting room for your kids to seat a little bit - mine asked to change TV channel what they did.

We have asked to pick up passports in the Mail Service when we scheduled interview. In 4 days we had passports back. We were in Calgary for 7 days - during the weekend we went to Banff and Lake Louise. On weekdays, I was working and walking in the Skywalk to eat, see stores, etc. It was too cold to remain outdoors.

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L1B to L1A Enquiry

What happened to your case ? I have the same case and my attorney said i have to go for consular processing to file L1A as i have less than 6 months validity on L1B