L1B visa to H1 visa

[visaguidance11]

Hi friends,

I am on L1B visa and I am working in US since 4 years, I have couple of questions like.

1. If I apply for H1 visa than can I stay in US for 2 years only and within this period I should start Greencard proces.

2. If I get H1, can I still work on L1 visa keeping my H1 visa on hold and use it when my L1 visa extension is rejected.

Please provide your valuable guidance.

[raghvi]

Hi friends,

I am on L1B visa and I am working in US since 4 years, I have couple of questions like.

1. If I apply for H1 visa than can I stay in US for 2 years only and within this period I should start Greencard proces.

2. If I get H1, can I still work on L1 visa keeping my H1 visa on hold and use it when my L1 visa extension is rejected.

Please provide your valuable guidance.

1. L1+H1 can at max be for 6 Years, so yes if you move to H1 you would get 6 Years minus time already spent on L1 Status.

As for Green Card, it depends on which category, and country of birth, example, if your employer files for EB2/EB3 and you were born in India, so its going to take 9-12 Years to get Green Card, in order for you to stay for this period you would need valid visa, hence the sooner you apply the better. You should try to apply GC before your 5th Year completes.

2. Only if H1 is applied as consular process.

This is my opinion not legal advice.

[visaguidance11]

1. L1+H1 can at max be for 6 Years, so yes if you move to H1 you would get 6 Years minus time already spent on L1 Status.

As for Green Card, it depends on which category, and country of birth, example, if your employer files for EB2/EB3 and you were born in India, so its going to take 9-12 Years to get Green Card, in order for you to stay for this period you would need valid visa, hence the sooner you apply the better. You should try to apply GC before your 5th Year completes.

2. Only if H1 is applied as consular process.

This is my opinion not legal advice.

Thanks Raghvi, what is this consular process? Can you please provide more details on that

[bongane]

I am also under the similar situation, completing L1B 5 years later half this year.

I also would really like to understand what is consulate processing and how it helps the situation?

Another thing, I can always go back outside US for 1 year after completing 5 years max out on L1B and come back US again on fresh H1B applying in H1B quota in order to receive 6 years on H1B? Or that time am I getting just 1 year on fresh H1B?

Appreciate the feedback.

[bongane]

Can someone pls advise. Much appreciate the feedback..