Change of status from L1 to H1

[capriguy]

Current Status :
I am in the US on L1B Visa valid till April 2008.
Applied for an extension (for 1 year).

I have already (fortunately enough) made it through the H1 lottery this year and I am eligible to work from 1st Oct 2007 for my new employer (who sponsored my H1). Currently I am here on an L1 visa for my current employer.

I need to plan to switch my job by early next year.

Constraints:
1) I need to give 2 months notice to my current
employer
2) If I leave without giving any notice, I need to pay
5k USD
3) Don't want to be out of status even for a while.

Solution:
Apply for my change of status from L1 to H1
Get an approval
Give 2 months notice to my current employer (for L1
visa)
Join the employer who had processed my H1 visa.

Questions:
1) How long does it take to change my status from L1
to H1?
2) Once I receive an approval for change in status, Is
there any fixed timeframe within which I need to join
my new employer (who processed my H1) according to INS rules?

[Subramanya]

L1 and H1

Current Status :
I am in the US on L1B Visa valid till April 2008.
Applied for an extension (for 1 year).

I have already (fortunately enough) made it through the H1 lottery this year and I am eligible to work from 1st Oct 2007 for my new employer (who sponsored my H1). Currently I am here on an L1 visa for my current employer.

I need to plan to switch my job by early next year.

Constraints:
1) I need to give 2 months notice to my current
employer
2) If I leave without giving any notice, I need to pay
5k USD
3) Don't want to be out of status even for a while.

Solution:
Apply for my change of status from L1 to H1
Get an approval
Give 2 months notice to my current employer (for L1
visa)
Join the employer who had processed my H1 visa.

Questions:
1) How long does it take to change my status from L1
to H1?

---- If you have an approved H1 and you want to join the same employer, you need to go out of the country seeking a Visa interview at a US Consulate, get the Visa stamped on your Passport and then return to US on H1 Visa, get a I-94 for H1 at the POE and then start working for that employer

---- The COS from L1 to H1 can only be done in April 2008, when you apply for a fresh H1. However, since you already have a H1, this scenario does not arise

2) Once I receive an approval for change in status, Is
there any fixed timeframe within which I need to join
my new employer (who processed my H1) according to INS rules?

---- Read above

Subramanya