Does stay in USA with L1 visa counts for H1B visa

[nataravi]

Hi,

 

I am stayed in US in L1 visa for almost 3 years that too in multiple entries. Some times my stay outside US was near about 11 months but unfortunately couldn't complete the 1 year to start a new duration.

 

Now I am in H1B visa and it is expiring on July 2014. I want to  process GC

 

Per my total duration of stay (including both visas), I can stay up to May 2015.

 

My questions are

 

1. Is my stay in US with L1 visa will get counted for the H1B 6 years stay?

2. How soon should I file for H1B extension?

3. Is it possible to initiate my Green Card instead of H1B extension or can it be done together?

4. How soon the GC process should be initiated?

 

 

Thanks

Natawar

[jairichi]

Hi,

 

I am stayed in US in L1 visa for almost 3 years that too in multiple entries. Some times my stay outside US was near about 11 months but unfortunately couldn't complete the 1 year to start a new duration.

 

Now I am in H1B visa and it is expiring on July 2014. I want to  process GC

 

Per my total duration of stay (including both visas), I can stay up to May 2015.

 

My questions are

 

1. Is my stay in US with L1 visa will get counted for the H1B 6 years stay?

2. How soon should I file for H1B extension?

3. Is it possible to initiate my Green Card instead of H1B extension or can it be done together?

4. How soon the GC process should be initiated?

 

 

Thanks

Natawar

1. Yes.

2. Your employer can file at the max 6 months before I94 expiry.

3. It can be done together.

4. ASAP.

[pontevecchio]

1. Yes.

2. H1 extensions are filed by your employer up to 6 months before the H1 petition is expiring.

3. Mutually exclusive and like null sets.

4. Tomorrow if he wants to start the process.

[JoeF]

The time on L1 counts. An H1 can only be for 6 years minus the time spent on L1.