L1-B Blanket Visa with no degree

Old May 5th 2018, 6:51 am
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Default L1-B Blanket Visa with no degree

Hello -

I've worked for one of the top US investment banks for 4 years in the London office (prior to that I worked in insurance for 2 1/2 years) and they now want me to move to our Chicago office. I've received the job offer and have accepted and i'm now just starting the visa process.

The visa they want me to go for is the L1-B blanket visa, but they are saying that without a degree or 12 years work experience they can't send me to the embassy for an interview. From my research a degree isn't required for an L1-B visa and i find no info on previous work experience. They've mentioned the possibility of applying to USCIS, but apparently this takes longer (no issue with me) and is far less likely to get accepted

I've got a few questions, so i can get a better understanding of my position. If i've missed anything please feel free to let me know.

Is there a steadfast rule which means a blanket application will get rejected for lack of degree/12 years experience?
Is the USCIS route less likely to work?
Is USCIS essentially an individual application with a company sponsor?
Is there a screening process with both blanket/USCIS before i get to the embassy?
Will i have to go for a visa interview at the embassy with both routes?

Many Thanks in advance
Liam
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Old May 5th 2018, 11:59 am
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Default Re: L1-B Blanket Visa with no degree

You will need to attend an in-person interview at the US Embassy no matter which visa you apply for.

With any kind of L visa (company transfer), the employer starts the process... there is nothing you can do as an individual.

Rene
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Old May 5th 2018, 1:00 pm
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Default Re: L1-B Blanket Visa with no degree

My original lawyer said without degree I needed about 10 years experience, which I had.
I do not have a degree

That was back in 2006
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Old May 5th 2018, 1:03 pm
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Default Re: L1-B Blanket Visa with no degree

I believe in lieu of a degree, each year of the degree study can be made up by 3 years of experience. A degree is 4 years of study, so would need 12 years of experience.

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Old May 5th 2018, 4:43 pm
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Default Re: L1-B Blanket Visa with no degree

Sadly at 6 1/2 years i lack the years of experience required, so sounds like i will need to go down the non blanket route.

I'm assuming this would be significantly harder than the blanket route?
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Old May 5th 2018, 9:23 pm
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Default Re: L1-B Blanket Visa with no degree

It’s not the blanket part that requires a degree. The blanket visa is a streamlined process for large organizations who are sending people on a regular basis across to the USA so that they do not have to go through the individual petition stage over and over again. It’s kind of like a group visa. But the requirements for the visa holder to be either management level or with specialist skills or experience is required regardless of the route taken.
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Old May 6th 2018, 2:47 pm
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Default Re: L1-B Blanket Visa with no degree

Originally Posted by LiamH86
Hello -

I've worked for one of the top US investment banks for 4 years in the London office (prior to that I worked in insurance for 2 1/2 years) and they now want me to move to our Chicago office. I've received the job offer and have accepted and i'm now just starting the visa process.

The visa they want me to go for is the L1-B blanket visa, but they are saying that without a degree or 12 years work experience they can't send me to the embassy for an interview. From my research a degree isn't required for an L1-B visa and i find no info on previous work experience. They've mentioned the possibility of applying to USCIS, but apparently this takes longer (no issue with me) and is far less likely to get accepted

I've got a few questions, so i can get a better understanding of my position. If i've missed anything please feel free to let me know.

Is there a steadfast rule which means a blanket application will get rejected for lack of degree/12 years experience?
Is the USCIS route less likely to work?
Is USCIS essentially an individual application with a company sponsor?
Is there a screening process with both blanket/USCIS before i get to the embassy?
Will i have to go for a visa interview at the embassy with both routes?

Many Thanks in advance
Liam
L-1B (blanket, or otherwise) requires neither a degree nor 12 years of equivalent experience. That requirement is for H-1B.
You don't "go for" any employment based visa - your petitioning employer does that.
Whatever your employment visa petition, it would be processed by USCIS.
Your employer is misleading you, or this is just common or garden nonsense.
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Old May 6th 2018, 5:08 pm
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Default Re: L1-B Blanket Visa with no degree

Originally Posted by Noorah101
A degree is 4 years of study, so would need 12 years of experience.

Rene
An undergraduate degree in the UK is typically 3 years. No idea if the 1:3 ratio is a steadfast rule but either way 12 years may not be required.

@OP, speak with whichever firm your company engages for immigration/visa legal support. You shouldn't be having to figure this out by yourself and it's likely HR don't know.
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Old May 6th 2018, 8:06 pm
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Default Re: L1-B Blanket Visa with no degree

In review of this thread, I note that there is no description of the position for which the blanket petition was filed. Notionally speaking, an L-1B does NOT require a degree. But this is a general statement. On the specific petition in question here, it may very well be required.
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Old May 8th 2018, 2:07 pm
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Default Re: L1-B Blanket Visa with no degree

Hi Liam,

I'm in exactly the same position as you - I work for a US investment bank in London and am relocating to NYC. I do not have a degree so the firm's lawyer has said she wanted to send me down the L1 Individual petition route as in addition to what was said above, she said the scope of approval is much narrower and the chances of getting a Blanket approval at the embassy is limited. I know folks who had degrees and still got their blanket visa rejected at the embassy. The lawyer did not want to submit under premium processing so it was submitted via the normal route. It's been 3.5 months and we're still waiting for a response from USCIS. Apparently this longer route has higher chances of approval..
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Old May 8th 2018, 2:19 pm
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Default Re: L1-B Blanket Visa with no degree

I have no degree and have an L1B - experience and professional qualifications also suffice. Mine was an individual petition however.

To avoid the longer wait if you do the individual route, ask your lawyers/company to submit premium processing for a 15 day response time. When i filed mine it was $1,225 which is nothing in comparison to lawyer costs of the whole thing, i had an approval within 8 days.
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Old May 8th 2018, 2:56 pm
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Default Re: L1-B Blanket Visa with no degree

According to the lawyer, there is increased scrutiny and higher chances of rejection so they advised to not go for PP and go via the normal processing time. It is a much longer process but would be better to get a visa approved first time round rather than a rejection and an application for another visa down the line..
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Old May 8th 2018, 6:38 pm
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Default Re: L1-B Blanket Visa with no degree

Originally Posted by Blair2.0
Hi Liam,

I XDA'm in exactly the same position as you - I work for a US investment bank in London and am relocating to NYC. I do not have a degree so the firm's lawyer has said she wanted to send me down the L1 Individual petition route as in addition to what was said above, she said the scope of approval is much narrower and the chances of getting a Blanket approval at the embassy is limited. I know folks who had degrees and still got their blanket visa rejected at the embassy. The lawyer did not want to submit under premium processing so it was submitted via the normal route. It's been 3.5 months and we're still waiting for a response from USCIS. Apparently this longer route has higher chances of approval..
Hi Blair - thanks for your message

It turns out that the 2 years of uni I did (before leaving for a job offer received on placement) can be used alongside 6 years of work between my current and former job. This brings me to 12 years. Despite despising my course I wish I had stuck it out, but at 20 the allure of money was too great. Live and learn!

Our in house legal team are now thinking over the best route to take.

​​​​​​Good luck with your visa and keep me posted! Hopefully see you on the main USA board shortly with visas in hand!

Cheers
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Old May 8th 2018, 9:44 pm
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Default Re: L1-B Blanket Visa with no degree

Originally Posted by Blair2.0
According to the lawyer, there is increased scrutiny and higher chances of rejection so they advised to not go for PP and go via the normal processing time. It is a much longer process but would be better to get a visa approved first time round rather than a rejection and an application for another visa down the line..
I'd call BS on that.

I'm pretty sure USCIS use an equal level of scrutinization, premium or not.
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Old May 8th 2018, 9:48 pm
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Default Re: L1-B Blanket Visa with no degree

Originally Posted by Jack8602
I'd call BS on that.

I'm pretty sure USCIS use an equal level of scrutinization, premium or not.
Sounds like the company is just not wanting to pay for premium.
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