L1A Visa Guidance
Jan 22nd 2019, 6:47 pm
#1
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Joined: Jan 2019
Posts: 4
L1A Visa Guidance
Hello Forum Mates
I have been living and working in UK for the last 4 years (I hold an Indian passport).
I am here on the ICT visa and my company now wants me to transfer to US on L1A.
I will be appearing for L1A interview from London. Has anyone been thru the process recently?
I had an L1 rejection 5 years back and that was when I applied from India.
What are some of the likely questions for myself and my Spouse? Please advise.
Cheers!
I have been living and working in UK for the last 4 years (I hold an Indian passport).
I am here on the ICT visa and my company now wants me to transfer to US on L1A.
I will be appearing for L1A interview from London. Has anyone been thru the process recently?
I had an L1 rejection 5 years back and that was when I applied from India.
What are some of the likely questions for myself and my Spouse? Please advise.
Cheers!
Jan 22nd 2019, 7:18 pm
#2
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Jun 2011
Location: Los Angeles
Posts: 6,159
Re: L1A Visa Guidance
Salary, education/skills, company responsibilities, US location. That sort of thing.
Do you not have company lawyers to prepare you?
Good luck!
Where're you moving to?
What kind of work?
Do you not have company lawyers to prepare you?
Good luck!
Where're you moving to?
What kind of work?
Jan 22nd 2019, 7:22 pm
#3
BE Enthusiast
Joined: Feb 2017
Location: Newnan, GA
Posts: 802
Re: L1A Visa Guidance
My interview (L1A) in 2016 consisted of no more than the following questions:
Name
Company I worked for
Job Title
Was my wife with me
I came prepared with hundreds of pages of information the lawyers had prepared for me, they wanted about 5 sheets of paper from it.
Name
Company I worked for
Job Title
Was my wife with me
I came prepared with hundreds of pages of information the lawyers had prepared for me, they wanted about 5 sheets of paper from it.
Jan 23rd 2019, 10:57 am
#4
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Joined: Jan 2019
Posts: 4
Re: L1A Visa Guidance
Thanks! Have you heard anything about the approval rate recently?
Jan 23rd 2019, 5:09 pm
#5
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Jun 2011
Location: Los Angeles
Posts: 6,159
Re: L1A Visa Guidance
It's probably more important to consider the strength of your case.
Will you be managing employees?
Will you be an executive that can make executive decisions?
Will you be managing employees?
Will you be an executive that can make executive decisions?
Jan 23rd 2019, 6:10 pm
#6
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Joined: Feb 2017
Location: Newnan, GA
Posts: 802
Re: L1A Visa Guidance
The interview is after the initial approval, so unless something was categorically wrong, it "should" be a formality at the Embassy. So long as the correct paperwork has been prepared and you don't suddenly start undermining the original application, the L1A interview is very brief in most cases that I have heard of. My understanding, and it could be wrong, is that the interview period and admin processing after, if required, are not really looking at the relative merits of the Visa approval, but more the individual - so criminal record, that kind of stuff that might need checking?
Jan 29th 2019, 12:41 pm
#7
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Joined: Jan 2019
Posts: 4
Re: L1A Visa Guidance
Hey,
We had our interview a couple of weeks ago. As others said it was rather brief. First they took our finger prints only and then we had an interview. It’s my husband who is being transferred to US for a managerial role so he was asked what is the position, how many people will report to him, do these people also have people reporting to them. They also asked how long we’ve been married and wanted to see copy of our marriage certificate.
I hope it helps. Good luck and let us know how did it go!
We had our interview a couple of weeks ago. As others said it was rather brief. First they took our finger prints only and then we had an interview. It’s my husband who is being transferred to US for a managerial role so he was asked what is the position, how many people will report to him, do these people also have people reporting to them. They also asked how long we’ve been married and wanted to see copy of our marriage certificate.
I hope it helps. Good luck and let us know how did it go!
Feb 1st 2019, 4:39 pm
#8
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Joined: Jan 2019
Posts: 4
Re: L1A Visa Guidance
Thanks much! Apart from the online visa appointment, Did you pay all other visa fees (Issuance etc) directly at the consulate?
Feb 8th 2019, 1:35 pm
#10
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Joined: Jan 2019
Posts: 4
Re: L1A Visa Guidance
Hello Forum Mates , thanks for your guidance and tips. My visa has come thru 
I was asked the following questions -
1. Describe you role and responsibilities in US
2. How long have you been with present employer
3. How many team members will report into you
that's it! Lasted 3 minutes.
I was asked the following questions -
1. Describe you role and responsibilities in US
2. How long have you been with present employer
3. How many team members will report into you
that's it! Lasted 3 minutes.
Feb 9th 2019, 8:34 am
#11
Just Joined
Joined: Jan 2019
Posts: 4
Re: L1A Visa Guidance
Hello Forum Mates , thanks for your guidance and tips. My visa has come thru
I was asked the following questions -
1. Describe you role and responsibilities in US
2. How long have you been with present employer
3. How many team members will report into you
that's it! Lasted 3 minutes.
I was asked the following questions -
1. Describe you role and responsibilities in US
2. How long have you been with present employer
3. How many team members will report into you
that's it! Lasted 3 minutes.
Mar 25th 2019, 5:05 pm
#12
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Joined: Mar 2019
Posts: 15
Re: L1A Visa Guidance
Congratulations!
My experience has unfortunately not been as easy. I have accepted an offer with my ex-employer where I worked for over five years until 2017.
I went straight to the consulate last year for an interview for L1A under their blanket - was asked in excess of twenty questions only to be told my visa was not clearly approvable and my (potential) employer would know what to do next.
Since then, an application has been made straight to USCIS under premium processing which received an RFE. My (potential) employers attorney responded last week so the countdown is now on.
The whole process has quite easily been some of the most stressful months of my life.
FWIW, I will be working as a manager with five direct reports having previously worked as a manager again with five direct reports.
If you don’t mind me asking, how long did the process take from having the visa approved by USCIS to receiving the stamped visa? Wishful thinking, but would be good to have an idea.
My experience has unfortunately not been as easy. I have accepted an offer with my ex-employer where I worked for over five years until 2017.
I went straight to the consulate last year for an interview for L1A under their blanket - was asked in excess of twenty questions only to be told my visa was not clearly approvable and my (potential) employer would know what to do next.
Since then, an application has been made straight to USCIS under premium processing which received an RFE. My (potential) employers attorney responded last week so the countdown is now on.
The whole process has quite easily been some of the most stressful months of my life.
FWIW, I will be working as a manager with five direct reports having previously worked as a manager again with five direct reports.
If you don’t mind me asking, how long did the process take from having the visa approved by USCIS to receiving the stamped visa? Wishful thinking, but would be good to have an idea.
Mar 25th 2019, 6:57 pm
#13
Just Joined
Joined: Jun 2017
Posts: 23
Re: L1A Visa Guidance
Congratulations!
My experience has unfortunately not been as easy. I have accepted an offer with my ex-employer where I worked for over five years until 2017.
I went straight to the consulate last year for an interview for L1A under their blanket - was asked in excess of twenty questions only to be told my visa was not clearly approvable and my (potential) employer would know what to do next.
Since then, an application has been made straight to USCIS under premium processing which received an RFE. My (potential) employers attorney responded last week so the countdown is now on.
The whole process has quite easily been some of the most stressful months of my life.
FWIW, I will be working as a manager with five direct reports having previously worked as a manager again with five direct reports.
If you don’t mind me asking, how long did the process take from having the visa approved by USCIS to receiving the stamped visa? Wishful thinking, but would be good to have an idea.
My experience has unfortunately not been as easy. I have accepted an offer with my ex-employer where I worked for over five years until 2017.
I went straight to the consulate last year for an interview for L1A under their blanket - was asked in excess of twenty questions only to be told my visa was not clearly approvable and my (potential) employer would know what to do next.
Since then, an application has been made straight to USCIS under premium processing which received an RFE. My (potential) employers attorney responded last week so the countdown is now on.
The whole process has quite easily been some of the most stressful months of my life.
FWIW, I will be working as a manager with five direct reports having previously worked as a manager again with five direct reports.
If you don’t mind me asking, how long did the process take from having the visa approved by USCIS to receiving the stamped visa? Wishful thinking, but would be good to have an idea.
Mar 25th 2019, 7:18 pm
#14
BE Enthusiast
Joined: Feb 2017
Location: Newnan, GA
Posts: 802
Re: L1A Visa Guidance
The criteria for the L1A is almost identical to the EB1C. I applied for the latter late last year and had an RFE which focused on the wording of my role - they were much more keen this time around in questioning the level of work and ensuring that I was indeed Directing people and not just doing work.
Assuming you do get an approval, it was about 7 days from the interview to the passport being returned with the Visa inside.
Assuming you do get an approval, it was about 7 days from the interview to the passport being returned with the Visa inside.
Mar 25th 2019, 7:19 pm
#15
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Joined: Mar 2019
Posts: 15
Re: L1A Visa Guidance
I am aware of the interview but appreciate I didn’t make that clear in my initial post. Did you have to wait long for the hard copy of USCIS approval that you take to the appointment (assuming my understanding of this requirement is correct)? I suppose I’m trying to get an idea of approval from USCIS, embassy appointment, stamped passports etc. As I said, all wishful thinking but things are due to move very quickly assuming all goes well.