L1B I94 dates

[sujsubra]

Are there any standard rules around giving the I-94 date for people entering US on L1B visa with a blanket petition.

I am in US on L1 from Sep 2010. Till now I have traveled out of US 5 times.

The first 3 times I entered through Minneapolis, my I 94 date was close to my Visa expiration date
The last 2 times I entered through Atlanta and New York and my I-94 date was entry date + 3 yrs.
From my experience the bigger cities give 3 years or passport expiration date (whichever is lesser) on I-94 and smaller cities give date close to visa expiration date.
Why this is followed which causes so much of confusion?

Additional question - When I enter US and if there is only 1 month left on Visa, would they still give 3 years on I-94 or would they be forced to give visa expiration date since there is only 1 month left on visa?

[raghvi]

Are there any standard rules around giving the I-94 date for people entering US on L1B visa with a blanket petition.

I am in US on L1 from Sep 2010. Till now I have traveled out of US 5 times.

The first 3 times I entered through Minneapolis, my I 94 date was close to my Visa expiration date
The last 2 times I entered through Atlanta and New York and my I-94 date was entry date + 3 yrs.
From my experience the bigger cities give 3 years or passport expiration date (whichever is lesser) on I-94 and smaller cities give date close to visa expiration date.
Why this is followed which causes so much of confusion?

Additional question - When I enter US and if there is only 1 month left on Visa, would they still give 3 years on I-94 or would they be forced to give visa expiration date since there is only 1 month left on visa?

Interesting observation, but there are no clear guidelines around this, USCIS and DHS have their own rules and understanding, further it varies from one VO to another too. Again, there is no forcing to give I-94 for 3 Years when visa is expiring in a month or so it all depends upon the VO at the POE but with just 1 Month remaining you might end up stretching your luck (though I hope not).

This is my opinion not legal advice.

[kabkaba]

They give 3 years or sometimes 2 years. It is not dependent on Visa expiry. Irrespective of that it is your responsibility to make sure that your total stay in the US in L1B status does not extend beyond 5 years.