Updated 5th of November, 2025 to include USCIS Policy Manual. Updated by Sukanya Raman, Esq.
The L-1 visa allows for the transfer of certain employees to the US office of your business. It can be an existing US office or we can set a new US office up for you. Click here to find out more about the L-1 Visa.
This page briefly outlines the L-1 visa application process at the US consulate in Mumbai, India. However, generally, you can apply for the L-1 visa from any country. Our team is happy to consult with you and you may click here to contact us to arrange a free consultation to discuss your business’ needs, personal circumstances and plans.
In order to obtain an L-1 visa an applicant must complete the following steps detailed on this page.
Please note that all Blanket L1 visa petitions filed in India are adjudicated in Chennai.
| Steps | Notes/Remarks |
| 1. Obtain an approval of the L-1 petition (filed with the USCIS (United States Citizenship & Immigration Services)) |
This page addresses the post-L1 petition process of applying for the L1 Visa. For guidance on processing an L1 visa petition for an Indian business please follow this link. |
| 2. Complete the Online Non-Immigrant Visa Application, Form D-160. |
Follow this link to complete Form D- 160:
For any inquiries on completing the DS-160, you may visit this
website: |
| 3. Pay the visa application fee of $190. |
Although fees are listed in U.S. dollars, payment must be made using local currency.
Follow this link to check the visa fee for L visa
Learn about bank and payment options through this link: |
| 4. Schedule your personal interview with the U.S. Consulate General in Mumbai, India. |
You may schedule your personal interview at any U.S. Embassy or Consulate, but note that it may be difficult to qualify for a visa outside of your place of permanent residence. In general, you must schedule an appointment for your visa interview at the U.S. Embassy or Consulate in the country where you live. You will need to provide the receipt number that is printed on your approved L-1 petition for a Nonimmigrant Worker, Form I-129, or Notice of Action, Form I-797, to schedule an interview.
You may make an appointment through the call center:
You may also schedule your appointment online through this
link: The approximate wait time for a Dropbox appointment (visa interview waiver) is a few weeks to a few months and the wait time for interview appointments is anywhere between 7 months to 1 year at this time (Dec 2022) (owing to backlog as a result of Covid) |
| 5. Sit down with our team to prepare for your visa interview. |
We, at Davies and Associates, are ideally positioned to assist you in your preparation for the interview though our team in India. We can answer all your questions about the interview process, give you valuable tips and conduct mock interviews. For over 15 years, we have worked with many Indian nationals and gained a deep understanding of their needs and culture. We tailor our services to meet our Indian clients’ specific needs and endeavor to produce the very best immigration solutions possible. While there can be no guarantees, none of the visa applications we have prepared have ever been denied given our personalized approach and close interaction with our clients and detail to attention. |
| 6. Attend your visa interview and bring all required documentation. |
Required documentation includes:
PLUS
The Embassy will not accept documents received directly from the company by mail or fax. |
| 7. After your visa interview, if you are approved, you will be informed how your passport with visa will be returned to you. | The approximate processing time visa issuance is 7 to 14 working days (as of November, 2022). In some cases, the consular officer will inform you if further administrative processing is necessary for your application. |
The Foreign Affairs Manual (FAM) is issued by the U.S. Department of State and serves as official instructions to U.S. embassies and consulates worldwide on visa issuance and adjudication. While the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA), 8 CFR, and the USCIS Policy Manual govern the legal and procedural foundations of visa eligibility, the FAM guides consular officers on how those laws are applied in practice when issuing or refusing visas abroad.
For Indian L-1 visa applicants, understanding the FAM is critical because it shapes how consular officers at the U.S. Consulate General in Mumbai and other posts in India interpret and apply U.S. immigration law during interviews and case reviews. Awareness of these standards allows applicants and their legal representatives to prepare documentation and responses that align with the Department of State’s real-world adjudication guidance.
While your L-1 lawyer will ensure your application is compliant with FAM, it might be worth reading the FAM before your interview. That way you will be familiar with the instruction under which the officer you meet is adjudicating your case.
All Blanket L Visas are processed at the U.S. Consulate General in Chennai.
The U.S. Consulate General in Chennai is the sole acceptance center in India for all applications for intra-company transfers under the blanket L category.
All other visa processing procedures remain unchanged.
Please note that spouse and children visas (L2) and individual L visas (L1B and L1A individuals) may be processed at all posts in India-Chennai, Hyderabad, Kolkata, Mumbai, and New Delhi.
Address/Location:
U.S. Consulate General,
Mumbai
C-49, G-Block, Bandra Kurla Complex
Bandra East, Mumbai
400051
Phone: (91-22) 2672-4000
U.S. Consulate General Mumbai - U.S. Embassy & Consulates in India (usembassy.gov)
Email addresses:
Nonimmigrant visas
[email protected]
Call Center:
Callers in India: Call +91 120 4844644 or +91 40 46258222.
Callers
in the United States: Call +1 703 520 2239.
Skype: To use Skype to speak to a customer service representative Monday - Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., India Standard Time (IST), and Sunday from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., IST, please add a new contact to your Skype account with the Skype name ustraveldocsindia
The L-1 visa is available to employees of multinational companies who are being transferred from a foreign office to a related U.S. office under INA § 101(a)(15)(L). Applicants in India must have worked for the overseas entity for at least one continuous year within the previous three years in an executive, managerial, or specialised knowledge capacity, as defined in 8 CFR § 214.2(l) and clarified in the USCIS Policy Manual, Vol. 2, Pt. L.
Most Indian applicants attend their interview at the U.S. Consulate General in Mumbai, which handles L-1 and other employment-based visa categories. However, some cases may be scheduled at other consulates in India such as Chennai, Hyderabad, Kolkata, or New Delhi depending on the applicant’s location and appointment availability.
Typical documents include your I-797 approval notice, original I-129S petition (if blanket L-1), DS-160 confirmation page, valid passport, visa fee receipt, employment verification letter, company support letter, and other evidence of qualifying relationship between the U.S. and Indian entities. The Foreign Affairs Manual (9 FAM 402.12) sets out how consular officers must review and adjudicate L-visa cases.
Processing times vary depending on the consulate and appointment availability. Many applicants receive a decision within a few days after the interview, but administrative processing can occasionally extend the timeline. See the FAM and USCIS Policy Manual for further guidance on post-interview procedures.
The standard visa application fee is currently US $205, payable in Indian Rupees. Employers filing blanket L-1 petitions may also need to pay the Fraud Prevention and Detection Fee and the Border Security Fee, where applicable, under 8 CFR § 214.2(l)(17).
Yes. Your spouse and unmarried children under 21 may apply for L-2 dependent visas at the same time or later. L-2 spouses are eligible to work in the United States once they obtain employment authorisation under 8 CFR § 274a.12(a)(18).
A refusal under Section 221(g) is usually temporary and may require additional documentation. If your case is denied outright, you may reapply once the issues are addressed or file a new petition through your employer. Review guidance in the FAM 402.12-15 for visa refusal and re-adjudication procedures.
Author: Sukanya Raman, Esq - Mumbai, Enam Sambhav C-20, G Block, Bandra-Kurla Complex, MUMBAI - 400051, 27-Maharashtra.
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