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The first question: Where are you going in the US?
One of my clients told me exactly how his L1A interview opened. He greeted the officer — a lady at the counter — and her very first question was: 'Where are you going in the US?' Simple enough, right? But nerves got to him. He ended up giving two addresses: his destination city and his client site location. It was more information than she needed, and he could feel himself over-answering. Stay calm, and give one clear, direct answer. If you are going to a specific city or state, say that. If your client site is the relevant detail, lead with that. Do not list multiple addresses unless the officer specifically asks for more.
The follow-up: Which state are you going to?
Because he had mentioned two locations, the officer followed up immediately: 'In which state are you going?' He answered confidently — Pennsylvania — and even included the zip code. That level of specificity is good. It shows you genuinely know where you are headed and that your assignment is real. Before your interview, make sure you have memorised the state, city, and zip code of your work location. Do not leave that detail vague.
The salary question: Answer in US dollars only
The next question the officer asked was: 'What will be your salary?' This is where many L1 applicants trip up. If you are mentally converting between your Indian salary and your US salary mid-answer, you will either hesitate or give the wrong figure. Know your US salary in US dollars before you walk into that interview, and answer with that number directly. Do not mention your Indian CTC, do not convert on the spot, and do not confuse the two. The officer wants to hear your US compensation — give it to them immediately and confidently.
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