Blanket L visa to only be issued from Chennai

From December 1, the US visa for intra-company transfers, also known as 'blanket' L visa, will only be issued from the US embassy in Chennai.

From December 1, the US visa for intra-company transfers, also known as 'blanket' L visa, will only be issued from the US embassy in Chennai.

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According to a press release issued by the US embassy on Tuesday, companies throughout India including Mumbai, New Delhi, Hyderabad and Kolkata will have to send their applicants exclusively to Chennai for visa interviews.

'Blanket' L visas are issued to managers, executives, or specialised knowledge professionals transferred within their company.

“This change is in order to streamline the blanket L visa issuance process and is part of the US government’s ongoing effort to provide efficient visa services throughout India. It does not affect the spouses and children of L1 visa holders – they and individual L1B and L1A visa applicants may still be processed at any US Consular section in India,” the press release stated.

This centralisation affects only the location for processing of L-1 blanket visas and does not change the law or policy for visa processing, the release added.