L1B blanket extension questions

[ravikindia]

Hi,

My company has a blanket L1B petition which is valid till July, 2015.
My i129s was approved for 3 years in July , 2014.
My L1B visa on the passport and i94 both reflect July , 2015 as the end date.

I wanted to ask if anyone has ever come across such a situation? Since my i129s is approved for 3 years will i simply get a new visa once the company renews its blanket petition? Or will I have to go in for a visa interview again?

thanks in advance!

[raghvi]

Hi,

My company has a blanket L1B petition which is valid till July, 2015.
My i129s was approved for 3 years in July , 2014.
My L1B visa on the passport and i94 both reflect July , 2015 as the end date.

I wanted to ask if anyone has ever come across such a situation? Since my i129s is approved for 3 years will i simply get a new visa once the company renews its blanket petition? Or will I have to go in for a visa interview again?

thanks in advance!

Visa, petition, I-94 are three different things. And many times the dates go out of sync amongst them as these are issued by different Govt bodies.

Generally Blanket petitions are valid indefinitely, are you sure it is a Blanket petition not Individual one?


A visa stamping can only be done at a consulate outside US. So yes, if you need a new L1B visa you would have to go through the visa interview again.

But you need visa only if you planning to leave US and return after July 2015. You cannot work beyond I-94 expiry so have to file for an extension. If you dont have a plan to travel, your employer can file for their petition Extension, and yours too, if approved , you should get a new I-94 and need not leave US.

This is my opinion not legal advice.