Conversion of L1 Individual to H1B

[mainhoonnaa]

Hi,

I am with an desi IT consulting company working at clients place representing the same desi company (who processed my VISA) in US since Mar 2007 on L1 Individual visa. The duration of my Stay in US are as below:
03/07 - 05/08
07/08 - 03/09
06/09 - 09/09
11/09 - Till Date (as of 04/13/10). I got my VISA extended till 2011 in Feb 2010. As my company is not ready to apply H1 or Green Card for me I would like to know if I could get my L1 (Individual) visa converted to H1 B with another consultant (not with my desi company who has sponsored my L VISA).

Please provide details if there is any way I could get this converted. I did read about COS (I-539), but it did not mentioned about individuals on L1 VISA.

Thanks a lot in advance.

[shervin143]

Possible. L1 + H1B in total is for 6 years. So 6 minus whatever years you have spent on L1 can be converted to H1B.

Find an employer who can file an H1B on your behalf (The new H1B filing just started). They can file a COS fron L1 to H1B and when the H1B gets approved, you can start working for the H1B employer (as per the start date mentioned in the approval notice).