L1 - Blanket max out time

[chacko]

Hi Team,

I am an L1 Blanket visa holder. I have been staying in USA for 3years(appox). As per my understanding, L1 -Blanket visa has a max out period of 5 years and no one can stay on L1 Blanket visa more than 5 years. I applied for extension and I received the visa stamped for 5 more years, i.e 3 years + 5 years = 8 years in total. Please let me know whether this is a mistake and whether my Visa needs to be corrected (to make the extension for 2 yrs)? I really appreciate a quick reply.

Thanks.

[Attorney_23]

Ordinarilly, a foreign national can remain in the U.S. for a maximum of 5 years in L-1B, or 7 years in L-1A. Time spent in L1 status counts against time permitted in H1B status.

The foreign national can leave the U.S. for 1 year and then return in L1 or H1B status, assuming all othe requirements are met.

[chacko]

Thanks Attorney for the quick reply. So, are you stating that i need to get my visa corrected as no one can stay on L1 Blanket for more than 5 years? Is that just a mistake in the visa which needs to be corrected?

[Attorney_23]

If you are in L1A (whether this be through an individual petition or a Blanket,) you can remain in the U.S. for a maximum of 7 years.

If your I-94 has the incorrect expiration date, you may be able to have this corrected by going to Deferred Inspection.

[chacko]

I am on L1 B Blanket and i already stayed for 3 years. Now when i got my visa extension stamped, i got it stamped for another 5 more years. The concern i have is about the visa not about I-94. I know that, I will get I-94 only less than or equal to the visa validity. I think i need to get the visa corrected/amended to "2years" validity instead of "5 years" validity currently showing on my visa. Please let me know your thoughts.

[Attorney_23]

The L-1 visa was issued for an additional five years? That very well may be an error. You could try communicating with the Consulate to see if they are willing to correct the visa. Are you in the U.S. now or India?