L1-B Blanket Visa with no degree
#1
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Thread Starter
Joined: Mar 2018
Posts: 4
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
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
#2
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
With any kind of L visa (company transfer), the employer starts the process... there is nothing you can do as an individual.
Rene
#4
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.
Rene
Rene
#5
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Joined: Mar 2018
Posts: 4
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?
I'm assuming this would be significantly harder than the blanket route?
#6
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Location: Cascade Mountains, WA
Posts: 1,089
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.
#7
Re: 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
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
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.
#8
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Joined: Mar 2015
Location: New Jersey
Posts: 14
Re: L1-B Blanket Visa with no degree
@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.
#9
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.
#10
Forum Regular
Joined: Feb 2018
Posts: 31
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..
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..
#11
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.
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.
#12
Forum Regular
Joined: Feb 2018
Posts: 31
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..
#13
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Joined: Mar 2018
Posts: 4
Re: L1-B Blanket Visa with no degree
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..
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..
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
#14
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..
I'm pretty sure USCIS use an equal level of scrutinization, premium or not.
#15