L1-B to L1-A

[meghanadchitre]

I am Indian citizen working in USA-GA on a valid L1-B visa that will expire in March.2012.
My employer agrees to file L1-A for me as my next visa.
Hence, I wanted to know if I can file my L1-A while being in USA only? or I have to go back to India and get L1-A done from consulate?
I have wife and son as L2 visa holders living with me.

Also, if this is possible from USA itself and done from USA itself - will it cause any difference to me in any future procedures related to applying Green Card etc?

[kabkaba]

This can be done within the US and there is no need to leave. It is nothing but another extension petition filed in a different category. Your dependents will need to file I-539 to extend their status before their I-94's expire. These can be filed along with your extension.

[meghanadchitre]

and to my other question, will it cause any obstructions to my Green Card filing? I believe no as I'll be having L1-A visa and it does not then matter on which visa did I arrive in USA. Please comment.

[kabkaba]

It does not matter. Like I already said, it is just like a petition to extend your L1B status.

[rvisak]

I had a question along similar lines.

My company just filed for my conversion to L1A which came through. My L1B ends on 9/9 and starting date of the L1A is mentioned as 9/10.

Do I need to go out of US by 9/9 to get this stamped? I am assuming I can continue working till whenever I want and then if I go out of US post 9/9; I will have to come back on a stamped L1A. Am I correct?

[kabkaba]

If the new approval notice has an I-94 at the bottom, you don't need to leave the US. Visa is only an entry document, which you will need whenever you leave the US.

[rvisak]

Thanks for your reply. So far we haven't received the I-797; just an email notification which mentions that the start date of L1A is 9/10 (my L1B is valid till 9/9) and it mentions my current I-94# ...is there any way to find out if the approval notice will have new I-94 ? I had asked my company to file it as a conversion but I don't have the petition with me so cannot be sure...I have been in US all this while...

[kabkaba]

Most probably it will have an I-94 at the bottom from what you mention.