URGENT : L1 B and H1 B combined stay limit - Clock reset

[picmeup]

Hi,

My current L1-B visa is expiring on March 1, 13. I am in US on L1B since March 2010. I have been in US previously on H1-B and H1-X visas. Here're the details of stay:

H1B - April 2005 - May 2007 - 2 yr 2 mon

H1-X - Nov 2009 - Dec 2010 - 0 yr 2 mon

L1-B - Mar 2010 - Till date - 2 yr 11 mon

Now I know that stay limits for H1 and L1 have both status included. In my case, since I had a break of more than 1 year from June 2007 to Oct 2009, does the clock resets even if the H1B visa was the same petition?

If yes, then L1X should be till Oct 2014.

If the clock does not reset, am I already out of status?

Since my extension filing is dependent on this, please provide me your suggestions soon.

Thanks!!

[JoeF]

For the H1 clock to reset, you would have to be out of the US for one year and then, a new H1 petition would have to be filed for you. If you reuse an existing H1, the time abroad doesn't count.