L-1B Specialized Knowledge Visa

[AliceA 1]

Hi everyone - I'm Alice, 26 from London.

I've been with my current company in the UK from pre-start up days (2.5 years) and they're currently in the process of applying for an L-1B Specialised Knowledge visa for me to transfer me over to the San Francisco HQ so that I can bring over new revenue streams and train team members on the commercialisation of our product. The UK market is far more advanced, and this is something that the US office is not doing at present.

My specialised skill set is my knowledge of our product and tools - proprietary technology that takes months to learn, and I'm one of the only people in the business who has worked in both a technical capacity within the company (1.5 years) and commercially too (1 year).

I was just hoping to hear from other people who have done similar, or anyone with any insight into the process. I know that the lawyers will apply for my petition, which will then be sent to me if approved by the UCSIS, and then I'll need to go for an interview at the US embassy in London - where my visa will either be approved or denied, does this sound about right? It looks like it takes around 1.5 months at present for the UCSIS to make a decision, it would be great to hear from further on this.

Any insight greatly appreciated.

Thanks

[kzielu 1,148]

Well - I came on L-1B but it was blanket L-1B so there was USCIC approval phase (it was pre-approved). Got the package from my company with the I-129S petition and all supporting documents, had an interview at the embassy and got a visa.

[AliceA 1]

Thanks! What was the turnaround on everything?

[kzielu 1,148]

Maybe a month and a half... But it also depends on appointment availability at the Embassy - in Warsaw you could (at the time - not sure now) have it on a next day....

[Owen_London 65]

I used an L-1B visa. Timing will partly depend on whether they pay extra for processing to be expedited, though bear in mind this accelerates the processing in the US. It does not expedite your company's lawyers getting the documents and justification written, or the waiting for an appointment at the embassy. Have a look through my timeline for some more details.

[AliceA 1]

I used an L-1B visa. Timing will partly depend on whether they pay extra for processing to be expedited, though bear in mind this accelerates the processing in the US. It does not expedite your company's lawyers getting the documents and justification written, or the waiting for an appointment at the embassy. Have a look through my timeline for some more details.

Thanks Owen, you're timeline and details on the Embassy trip were super helpful, really appreciate it! :-)

[AliceA 1]

Do I need police or medical checks for an L visa? My thoughts are no but if I do let me know so I can look into getting them done in good time.

Thanks :-)

[kzielu 1,148]

No.

[Harpa Timsah 13,258]

L1B should be about the easiest visa to get. Takes a very short amount of time, lawyers handle it. Easy peasy.

[AliceA 1]

Thanks all - fingers crossed :-)

[Owen_London 65]

Thanks Owen, you're timeline and details on the Embassy trip were super helpful, really appreciate it! :-)

No problem at all. Bear in mind I had an RFE because the lawyers did a very bad job of describing my job on the original submittal. Without that, it would have been even quicker.

Good luck.

[AliceA 1]

No problem at all. Bear in mind I had an RFE because the lawyers did a very bad job of describing my job on the original submittal. Without that, it would have been even quicker.

Good luck.

Ah right - good to know thanks. The lawyers sent me a doc to fill out that basically outlined exactly what I did, what my specialist knowledge was etc etc - I don't know if this is common place, or I've just done their job for them - but hopefully it's good enough to work with, I was pretty rigorous!