L1 visa interview timescales
#61
Forum Regular



Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 167


I logged in yesterday when I saw the post above and there was an appointment available for next week (which I moved my appointment to).
There were also a couple of appointments in december which then disappeared. Currently there are lots of Jan appointments available.
Without an emergency appointment? You will get one in January easily and if you are willing to spend a week logging in and checking every few hours? You will get one within the next month.
With an emergency appointment? I dont know how that works, but presumably sooner than the above?
Sounds like a bigger obstacle is your own company not filing the petition?
There were also a couple of appointments in december which then disappeared. Currently there are lots of Jan appointments available.
Without an emergency appointment? You will get one in January easily and if you are willing to spend a week logging in and checking every few hours? You will get one within the next month.
With an emergency appointment? I dont know how that works, but presumably sooner than the above?
Sounds like a bigger obstacle is your own company not filing the petition?
#63
Forum Regular



Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 167


My visa is H1B which I think has a different approval process (there is an annual deadline which it must be filed by and then there is a lottery). This is very different to your L1 which has no such deadline and no lottery.
#66
Just Joined

Thread Starter
Joined: Jan 2020
Posts: 26


Hi all. Just in case anyone on this thread is still waiting for their visas, my family and me recently got ours and there was one unexpected thing that it may be useful for you to know. The card machine at the US embassy in London wasn't working on the day of our interview, so my husband (along with lots of other applicants) had to leave the building, go to the nearest cash machine and come back to pay the visa fees. I got the feeling it wasn't the first time it had happened, so you might want to take cash with you just in case.
Other than that, it was all very quick and painless.
Other than that, it was all very quick and painless.
#67
BE Enthusiast




Joined: Aug 2010
Location: Los Angeles
Posts: 404












Hi all. Just in case anyone on this thread is still waiting for their visas, my family and me recently got ours and there was one unexpected thing that it may be useful for you to know. The card machine at the US embassy in London wasn't working on the day of our interview, so my husband (along with lots of other applicants) had to leave the building, go to the nearest cash machine and come back to pay the visa fees. I got the feeling it wasn't the first time it had happened, so you might want to take cash with you just in case.
Other than that, it was all very quick and painless.
Other than that, it was all very quick and painless.
#69
Just Joined
Joined: Oct 2021
Posts: 16


Hi all.
My partner (unmarried, 10 yr relationship) and I plan to marry but this will now likely happen after I have relocated on my L1.
My questions are:
If I move to the US in say Jan 2022, can my partner enter under the visa waiver scheme and we get married in the US in that time?
If yes to the above, can we then apply for L2 spouse visa from inside the US?
If no, should we apply for B2 and ask for change of status once married?
Can my partner safely enter the US on B2 knowing they are to be married and then request L2? This feels dishonest as clearly the plan was to get married and stay with the L2.
Thanks all!
My partner (unmarried, 10 yr relationship) and I plan to marry but this will now likely happen after I have relocated on my L1.
My questions are:
If I move to the US in say Jan 2022, can my partner enter under the visa waiver scheme and we get married in the US in that time?
If yes to the above, can we then apply for L2 spouse visa from inside the US?
If no, should we apply for B2 and ask for change of status once married?
Can my partner safely enter the US on B2 knowing they are to be married and then request L2? This feels dishonest as clearly the plan was to get married and stay with the L2.
Thanks all!
#70

Hi all.
My partner (unmarried, 10 yr relationship) and I plan to marry but this will now likely happen after I have relocated on my L1.
My questions are:
If I move to the US in say Jan 2022, can my partner enter under the visa waiver scheme and we get married in the US in that time?
If yes to the above, can we then apply for L2 spouse visa from inside the US?
If no, should we apply for B2 and ask for change of status once married?
Can my partner safely enter the US on B2 knowing they are to be married and then request L2? This feels dishonest as clearly the plan was to get married and stay with the L2.
Thanks all!
My partner (unmarried, 10 yr relationship) and I plan to marry but this will now likely happen after I have relocated on my L1.
My questions are:
If I move to the US in say Jan 2022, can my partner enter under the visa waiver scheme and we get married in the US in that time?
If yes to the above, can we then apply for L2 spouse visa from inside the US?
If no, should we apply for B2 and ask for change of status once married?
Can my partner safely enter the US on B2 knowing they are to be married and then request L2? This feels dishonest as clearly the plan was to get married and stay with the L2.
Thanks all!
Last edited by christmasoompa; Dec 13th 2021 at 1:41 pm.
#71
Forum Regular

Joined: Apr 2021
Posts: 34












Hi all. Just in case anyone on this thread is still waiting for their visas, my family and me recently got ours and there was one unexpected thing that it may be useful for you to know. The card machine at the US embassy in London wasn't working on the day of our interview, so my husband (along with lots of other applicants) had to leave the building, go to the nearest cash machine and come back to pay the visa fees. I got the feeling it wasn't the first time it had happened, so you might want to take cash with you just in case.
Other than that, it was all very quick and painless.
Other than that, it was all very quick and painless.
Hello there,
Which fee?
I have a Blanket L-1 Visa Applicant's and am required to pay a Fraud Prevention and Detection Fee of usd 500.
I will take gbp cash with me.
I hope there isn't any other fee and that the embassy will accept visa card payments
Thanks..
#72

Hi all.
My partner (unmarried, 10 yr relationship) and I plan to marry but this will now likely happen after I have relocated on my L1.
My questions are:
If I move to the US in say Jan 2022, can my partner enter under the visa waiver scheme and we get married in the US in that time?
If yes to the above, can we then apply for L2 spouse visa from inside the US?
If no, should we apply for B2 and ask for change of status once married?
Can my partner safely enter the US on B2 knowing they are to be married and then request L2? This feels dishonest as clearly the plan was to get married and stay with the L2.
Thanks all!
My partner (unmarried, 10 yr relationship) and I plan to marry but this will now likely happen after I have relocated on my L1.
My questions are:
If I move to the US in say Jan 2022, can my partner enter under the visa waiver scheme and we get married in the US in that time?
If yes to the above, can we then apply for L2 spouse visa from inside the US?
If no, should we apply for B2 and ask for change of status once married?
Can my partner safely enter the US on B2 knowing they are to be married and then request L2? This feels dishonest as clearly the plan was to get married and stay with the L2.
Thanks all!
As a general statement of law - no extensions or change of status are allowed from visa waiver (other than immediate relative adjustment to permanent residence).
#73
Just Joined

Thread Starter
Joined: Jan 2020
Posts: 26


#74
Just Joined
Joined: Dec 2021
Location: London
Posts: 4


Hi all. Just in case anyone on this thread is still waiting for their visas, my family and me recently got ours and there was one unexpected thing that it may be useful for you to know. The card machine at the US embassy in London wasn't working on the day of our interview, so my husband (along with lots of other applicants) had to leave the building, go to the nearest cash machine and come back to pay the visa fees. I got the feeling it wasn't the first time it had happened, so you might want to take cash with you just in case.
Other than that, it was all very quick and painless.
Other than that, it was all very quick and painless.
I am aware of the other thread you started with similar question but was hoping to hear about your experience.
#75
Just Joined

Thread Starter
Joined: Jan 2020
Posts: 26


We had our appointment on a Wednesday and our passports were available to collect the following Monday (we live in London so collection was an easy option). I think they may actually have been available from late on Friday.
Last edited by london lou; Dec 15th 2021 at 8:42 am.