I'm sharing my experience to help others get ready for the process.
If your organization has blanket approval, you need to go to Chennai VAC, which is important information you won't find on the internet.
For your hotel accommodation, I booked Taj Connemara. Don't book hotels very close to the consulate; they can be expensive. The hotel had a swimming pool, and my son enjoyed it.
When it comes to transportation, be careful with Chennai auto drivers; some of them might try to overcharge you. I suggest booking hotel cabs if you can afford it. If not, you can negotiate with the auto drivers. My OFC appointment was at 10:30 PM, but my auto driver dropped me at the interview location, so I had to hire another auto to get to the OFC location. It was my mistake!
During the OFC process, they will take your photograph, and you can ask them to update your latest DS 160 on your application if you've made last-minute changes. In my case, I had to update my DS 160 on the application.
Regarding documentation, your immigration attorney might give you a lot of documents, but on the interview day, you'll only need a few:
1. 2 copies of 129S
2. 2 copies of the first page of i797
3. Photographs of any minors.
4. Passports
Make sure to pay attention to the photograph dimensions and guide the photographer to take the right one. Don't fully trust them; make sure you approve the photograph before they print it. In my case, the photographer in Chennai didn't print the proper photograph, and the officer rejected it during the OFC. I had to go back to the studio and get it printed correctly.
Now, let me walk you through the interview day step by step:
1. I reached the consulate 40 minutes before my interview using an auto. There was no queue, and I entered easily.
2. At the first counter, the Visa officer asked me to provide the documents mentioned in the documentation section of my post, along with DS 160 submission confirmation for all applicants.
3. I had to go to another building to make a payment of $500. It was interesting because my corporate credit card and personal card didn't work. I had to use my CITI card, which finally worked. The payment guy wasn't very friendly, but I managed it.
4. I returned to my wife and asked her to help me organize the documents. I had a 4-kilogram package from my attorney. At this point, I was already nervous and anxious. I had to muster confidence and remind myself that I deserved the visa.
5. There is a separate queue for blanket applicants, and there was no line. My wife and I were instructed to go to counter #20. I found someone there and was told to go to #23.
6. The Visa officer was almost done with another family and called me. She was a friendly lady with a smile.
• VO: "Are you here for L1 or L1B?"
• Me: "I'm here for L1B specialized knowledge category."
7. The Visa officer asked about my specialization, and I explained it nicely.
• VO: "Who is your employer?"
• Me: I answered.
8. She inquired about my current designation and the duration of my employment with the company.
• VO: "What's your current designation?"
• Me: I answered.
• VO: "For how long have you been employed with this company?"
• Me: I said 3 years, with a total of 15 years of experience. (It's essential to highlight your experience.)
9. The Visa officer asked about my salary, and I mentioned my monthly salary as advised by my attorney.
• VO: "What's your salary per annum?"
• Me: I said it in the US number system as a yearly figure.
10. She asked if I would be training a team, and I explained that I would work as an individual contributor.
11. She turned to my wife and asked if she was working. My wife replied and even added that her decision depended on the interview outcome, which made the Visa officer laugh.
12. She asked about the age of our son, and by this time, she had already approved the visa. We were then asked to provide fingerprints.
13. The Visa officer told us that our visas were approved, and we thanked her.
Some suggestions based on my experience:
• For men, wear formal attire like a blue or gray pants with a white shirt. Don't wear a suit.
• For women, business casual attire with normal trousers and plain shirts or tops is appropriate.
• It's okay to be nervous, but prepare well in advance. Take deep breaths if you start feeling anxious. Feel free to contact me in the comments if you need assistance.
• I was in blue pant shirts, my favorite. I saw people in funky colors, red, green shirts where do they get the direction from. LOL