L1 visa is the United States visa issued to professionals employed in a company and is relocating to the American office. To get approval for this visa, you need to go through an L1 interview process. Applicants must belong to managerial, executive, or an employee with specialised knowledge.
What is the L1 Visa?
The L1 Visa is a non-immigrant visa which allows foreign companies to transfer a manager, executive, or person with specialized knowledge to a U.S company. The U.S company must be a branch office, parent, subsidiary, or affiliate of the foreign company.
The L1 visa allows you to live and work in the United States for extended periods of time and also provides immigration benefits for your spouse and children.
The L1 visa is not a eligible for self-petition. The U.S company must file the petition on the employees behalf. Therefore, the US company is considered the petitioner, and the L1 visa recipient, is considered the beneficiary.
In this guide we will learn when you can apply for an L1 visa, interview questions and answers and tips to prepare for this interview.
Types of L-1 visa
Two types of L1 visa exist based on the type of work –
- L-1A – This visa is issued exclusively to executives and managers.
- L-1B – Employees with specialised knowledge get this visa. Applicants with specialised knowledge mean that he/she possesses an advanced understanding over an organisation, its product and other details.
Take a look at the questions of L1A and L1B.
When Can You Apply for an L1 Visa Interview?
Before moving ahead with L1 interview questions and answers, take a look at the following circumstances on when you can apply for an L1 visa –
- You are working in an organisation in your native country and joining its parent or subsidiary in the United States.
- You are joining a company’s headquarter for whom you are currently working.
Furthermore, an organisation can transfer a large number of employees under L1 blanket approval. It eliminates the requirement of getting individual approval for an L1 visa. An organisation can qualify for L1 blanket approval under the following circumstances:
- The organisation’s original location is in the United States. The total employee strength is over 1000.
- Annual sales of this organisation must be $25 million.
- It has received L1 visa approval for at least 10 employees in the last 12 months.
Additionally, flexible eligibility criteria and minimal educational qualification compared to other work visas make it an ideal choice.
What Are the L1 Visa Interview Questions and Answers?
Below are what this guide will cover:
- 7 general L1 visa interview questions
- 6 common L1 interview questions and answers about your current Job
- 6 common L1 interview questions about your work in the United States
- 5 frequently asked L1A visa interview questions
- 3 frequently asked L1B visa interview questions
7 General L1 Visa Interview Questions
- For which visa are you applying?
Hint: Answer that you are applying for an L1 visa.
- Can you confirm your name and contact details?
Hint: Answer this question appropriately.
- Can you provide your valid passport, visa fee receipt, and forms I-797, I-128 and DS-160?
Hint: Carry the documents mentioned above and submit the same when necessary.
- Have you visited the United States?
Hint: Provide a direct answer, that is, either yes or no.
- If you had visited the United States, then when did you return?
Hint: Provide him/her with the actual arrival date, month and year to India from the United States.
- Have you worked in foreign countries before?
Hint: Provide an honest answer to this question.
- Have you worked in the United States before?
Hint: If yes, provide him/her with a document proof as well.
6 Common L1 Visa Interview Questions About Your Current Job
Here, an immigration officer will check your current and past job experience. You may expect questions like:
- What is your work experience?
Hint: Provide a brief detail about your professional experience. Include your past and current job description in your answer.
- In which organisation are you currently working? For how many years have you been employed by this organisation?
Hint: Mention the name of your current employer and the number of years you have been working here.
- What is your employment type?
Hint: Answer accordingly.
- What are the duties of your present job position?
Hint: Provide the details of your daily job roles and responsibilities in the current organisation.
- Who was your past employer before this current organisation?
Hint: Mention the name of the organisation where you worked before. Furnish the details with document proof.
- What is your annual or monthly salary?
Hint: You may need to submit your bank statement as a document to prove the monthly or annual salary you receive at present.
- How many people are currently working under your supervision?
Hint: Mention the number and details of the people who are working under your supervision in your current organisation.
- What type of training did you receive?
Hint: Provide an answer according to the training you received.
6 Common L1 Interview Questions About Your Work in the United States
Below are some L1 visa interview questions and answers for the USA:
- Can you brief me about your job offer? What type of work does your organisation deal with?
Hint: An immigration officer demands an answer that includes details of the new position you have been offered. For the second question, provide details of the organisation’s work.
- What will be your salary in the United States? Will you be paid in dollars or other currency? Will you receive any allowances?
Hint: Answer this question with correct details. Mention if you will receive your salary in foreign currency. Also, if you receive any allowances, answer honestly to the immigration officer.
- Why do you need to transfer to the United States for your current role?
Hint: Provide a legitimate reason why you need to relocate to the United States to convince the immigration officer.
- Whom will you report to in the US? Mention the location
Hint: Provide the details of the organisation or people to whom you will report. Also, mention the location by providing exact details of the city or town in the United States.
- Where will you stay in the United States? How long will you stay?
Hint: Mention the city or town of the country where you will live. Also, answer the second question based on the requirement.
- What is your plan of action if your current employer terminates you from the job?
Hint: Provide an appropriate answer. This question demands actionable steps if you become unemployed during your stay in the United States.
5 Frequently Asked L1A Visa Interview Questions
- Can you dismiss and recruit employees in your upcoming job position?
Hint: Provide details about your authority in the company.
- When did you last terminate an employee from his/her job position?
Hint: Answer appropriately.
- Will you hold any control over the company’s budget?
Hint: If your answer is yes, provide details about the extent of your control and other crucial information.
- How many people will directly report to you?
Hint: Mention the number and details of the people who will report to you for their work.
- What will be your daily duties in your new job in the US?
Hint: Mention the details about what your job demands and what you are expected to perform.
3 Frequently Asked L1B Visa Interview Questions
- Can you mention the professional skills required for this US role?
Hint: Mention your skill sets to convince the immigration officer on why you fit this job role.
- What is your working experience in this profession?
Hint: Provide an answer with relevant information.
- Why do you think that a US citizen cannot perform this job?
Hint: This is a crucial question. Therefore, provide legitimate reasons to support your answer.
3 L1 Visa Interview Tips to Prepare Yourself
Below are some of the right preparation can help you to crack the L1 interview:
- Focus on Your Action
First, must sure you reach the venue at least 15 minutes earlier than the scheduled interview time. Opt for formal clothes. Stay confident while answering the questions. Remember to maintain eye contact with the immigration officer. Listen to questions carefully and respond accordingly and patiently to improve the chances of visa approval. At the end of the interview, express your gratitude by thanking the immigration officer.
- Honest Answers Are Must
Avoid skipping or providing false information to any L1 interview. The immigration officer verifies every answer. Any incorrect information will create a negative impression and eliminate your chances to crack this interview.
- Provide Simple Answers
Most of the questions are related to work. Hence avoid using technical terms and simple language to make it easier for an immigration officer to understand every answer.
Proper preparation and correct knowledge about the L1 interview process can help you land your dream job in the United States. Also, make sure to keep yourself updated with changes in eligibility parameters to avoid last-minute inconvenience.
Note: L1 visa interview takes place in the U.S Embassy or Consulate. The standard processing time of L1 visa applications is 6 to 12 months. However, if you apply under the L1 Blanket, the application takes approximately 1 to 3 weeks.
Credit to: godigit
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