Only Chennai to issue US ‘L’ visas

Starting December 1, those traveling to the US on ‘L’ category visa will have to send their application to Chennai for visa interviews. Earlier, applicants in Gujarat had to apply to the
Mumbai consulate for their visa calls. The ‘L’ visas are issued to managers, executives, or specialized knowledge professionals transferring within their company.
“Companies throughout India will be requested to send blanket L applicants exclusively to Chennai for visa interviews. The L1B and L1A categories include specialized knowledge professionals, executives and managers transferring to the US,” said an US Consulate release. However, the change will not affect spouses and children of L1 visa holders and individual L1B and L1A visa applicants may still be processed at any US Consular section in India, the release said.
More than 37,000 people have traveled to the US during 2010-11 on L-1 (intra-company transfer) visas, which is 37% of the total number of people traveling on such a visa to the US.