U.S. Consulates around the world are beginning to reopen and start scheduling visa appointments and it is critical for applicants to be well prepared for their interviews.  Recently, the Department of State revised its Foreign Affairs Manual (FAM), to include a new, heightened adjudication standard for blanket L-1 applications. As detailed in our prior blog, the revised provision directs the Consular Officer to deny the L-1 visa if he/she "has any doubt" whether an applicant has established their L visa eligibility and if the "questions or issues cannot be resolved during the interview." So the visa applicants should be prepared to confidently, concisely and directly provide the relevant information in responding at the interview.    We strongly recommend that employees, who would be applying for blanket L visas at U.S. Consulates abroad, work closely with their immigration counsel and prepare for their visa interviews.  Oftentimes, Consular Officers have only a few minutes to review the documents and question the applicant.  Therefore, the applicant's preparation for the interview is critical for a successful visa adjudication. Here are some tips for applicants preparing for their L-1 visa interview:

  • Make sure to read carefully and thoroughly the L visa application package, especially the company support letter explaining the relationship between the companies, the job offered, and how the applicant qualifies based on her/his specialized knowledge or managerial/ executive experience.
  • Applicants should be familiar with the content of the application packet but should not try to memorize it or use fancy complex legal verbiage.
  • Applicants should be prepared to explain, in their own words, what makes their transfer to the US business critical.
  • Applicants should be able to highlight their accomplishments as they relate to their specific employment within the company.

Applicants should be able to give direct, on point and truthful answers to the following common L visa interview questions:

  • Why was he/she selected for this job?
  • Isn't there a US worker with the U.S. employer who can do the job?
  • What is his/her specialty?
  • What managerial decisions does he/ she make?
  • Who will the applicant be working for?
  • Who does the applicant report to? Who will the applicant report to in the U.S.?
  • Will anyone report to the applicant in the U.S.? Be prepared to state names and titles of direct reports.
  • If the applicant is coming to the U.S. as a specialized knowledge employee and will be working at a third party site, who at the U.S. company will control his/her work? It is important to know the name and title of his/her manager in the U.S.
  • What company specific experience or knowledge does she/he have?
  • How long does it take to acquire this special knowledge?
  • How long will the applicant remain in the US? This is especially important if he/she would be coming to the U.S. on an intermittent basis, over a period of time.
  • What are his/her plans after the US assignment ends?

This list is not exhaustive and the Consular Officer's questions will be more case specific at the interview.  We strongly recommend that all employees who would be applying for blanket L visas at U.S. Consulates abroad, work closely with their immigration counsel and prepare for their visa interviews.   The attorney can explain the legal framework and requirements for the highly scrutinized L intra-company transfer non-immigrant visa, which will help him/her in responding to the questions at the visa interview to ensure the successful case outcome and the visa issuance.

Originally published June 8, 2020

Disclaimer: This Alert has been prepared and published for informational purposes only and is not offered, nor should be construed, as legal advice. For more information, please see the firm's full disclaimer.