Can L1 person travel out of the US for a short period when L2 stays ?

[Mohli]

Hi, I am on L1 Visa. My Visa expired last year and I am here on I-94 which is valid until 12/31/2012. My dependents visa(L2) also have expired and they have L2- extension approved until 12/31/2012(new I94 issued for them).

Now, my company sends me alone to Canada for some business discussions and Visa stamping and asked me to apply for L2 extension once I come back to US in 2 weeks.

Questions are:

1. My dependents are having only Extension on L2 until 12/31/2012 NOT visa.

2. If I go out of the US, will their status remain same until I come back and apply for extension or immediately they become out of status?

Please help me understand this tricky situation.

Thanks.

[krialta]

When is your L1 petition expiring, same as I-94 12/31/2012? If yes, are you just going for stamping till 12/31. I hope you know you will get visa only till your petition end date 12/31(just 2 months, is it worth going for stamping??).

Once back in country you would also need to apply for extension and not just your dependents.

1) If you could stay till 12/31 then they can do.

2) They will be in status till expiry of petition which ever is earlier yours or theirs.

[Attorney_23]

Per the USCIS, an H-1B or L-1 worker who appropriately brings his or her family to the United States may from time to time be stationed temporarily outside the United States while leaving the family in the United States for purposes of continuity in schooling or similar arrangements.