Watch this guide as a video
How long does the L1 process actually take?
From the moment Anuj was told by his company's lawyers that the process would begin, to the day he flew to the US, the entire journey took around five to six months. That includes petition preparation, filing with USCIS, premium processing approval, booking the visa appointment, and the interview itself. If things slow down — as they did during disrupted periods — it can stretch longer. Plan for that buffer.
One important thing to understand about the L1 process: your company assigns a lawyer to handle the petition, and that lawyer will ask you detailed questions about your job description, your personal information, and your role. But here is what many people do not realise — the lawyer's job ends at the petition. They will not coach you on what the visa officer is likely to ask at the interview window. That responsibility falls on you.
Should you apply for L1 and L2 at the same time?
A question I get constantly is whether the L1 applicant should go first and the dependent should follow later, or whether both should apply together. Anuj's view — and mine — is that applying together is the better approach. If the L1 is approved, the L2 is very likely to be approved alongside it. Applying together also saves time because filing the L2 separately means repeating much of the same documentation all over again. There is no meaningful downside to going in together.
What questions did the officer actually ask at the L1A interview?
Anuj's interview was in Delhi. The questions fell into a few clear areas. First, the officer wanted to understand what he does in India and what he would be doing in the US. Second, they probed how long he had been with the company and why he was the right person for this role. Third — and this is the part lawyers rarely warn you about — the officer wanted to establish whether the position was critical. If the role is not genuinely critical, the officer can simply say there is no real need for the transfer.
There is another question that has been coming up more and more in recent interviews: 'What will happen if you don't go?' This is closely related to the criticality question, but it comes at it from a different angle. You need to be ready to explain what would be lost — to the team, to the project, to the organisation — if this transfer did not happen. Think through that answer carefully before your interview.
For L1A specifically, your managerial experience is at the heart of everything. The officer is trying to confirm that you are genuinely a manager — someone who leads people and gets things done through others — not a specialist who happens to have a senior title. Every answer you give should reinforce that framing. Use words like 'I manage', 'I oversee', 'I lead a team that does X'. The language you choose matters.
Want personalized feedback on your answers?
Shachi does 1-on-1 mock interviews — get real-time coaching before your consulate visit.
Book a Mock InterviewWhat was the L2 interview experience like?
Roohani's L2 interview happened in the same session, and the questions directed at her were different but still worth preparing for. The officer asked whether she planned to work in the US. She said yes — that she would apply for work authorisation after arriving. They also asked what she was doing in India at the time and about their life as a couple (including how long they had been married).
There is a debate among applicants about whether an L2 dependent should mention plans to work. Some people advise staying quiet about it to avoid signalling that you might not return to India. Roohani's approach — and one I respect — was simply not to lie. If you plan to work, say so. You can frame it as: you are open to exploring options once you are there, you will apply for an EAD, and you will figure it out on the ground. Misrepresenting your intentions is never worth the risk. How you describe something matters, but the facts you state should be true.
How to prepare for the L1 interview — Anuj's specific tips
The officer is not trying to trip you up. They are having a conversation with you to understand your role. Anuj's advice: be calm. Most people, even without perfect preparation, can answer these questions because they know their own job. But preparation matters because it stops you from fumbling, using the wrong words, or accidentally saying something that undermines your case.
For L1A, link your experience in India directly to what you will be doing in the US. Even if the specific function is slightly different, the core leadership skills and the people management experience travel with you. Articulate that connection clearly. For L1B, the emphasis shifts — technical expertise and specialised knowledge become more important than managerial experience, so your answers should reflect that.
Be ready for the question 'Why you and not someone already in the US office?' It comes up. Your answer needs to tie your specific skills and experience to the specific needs of the role in a way that makes the answer obvious.
What does the path to a green card look like from an L1 visa?
Many people come to me asking about long-term options once they are in the US on an L1. Here is what Anuj shared from his own experience. L1A is significantly better positioned than L1B when it comes to the green card path. Some companies start the green card process as early as six months to a year after you arrive. L1A maps to the EB-1 category, and at the time of our conversation, EB-1 processing was running under two years. L1B maps to a different category that can take closer to five years. So if long-term US residency is something you are considering, the L1A route has a meaningful advantage.
Need help with your visa preparation?
Have questions after reading this guide? I’m happy to help.
Chat with Shachi on WhatsAppNext steps
Continue your preparation with these resources.
