Blanket L1A with valid I-94 but Visa expies.

[ranichidurala]

Hi Experts,
I am on Blanket L1A, my visa and PED valid till May 2013 and I-94 is Valid till 2015 (Went back to India for 4 months from Nov'11 to Feb'12).
Visa Issue date Jun2010 initially entered to US in Jun2010.

My Q: My Company said they will not apply for any extn since my I-94 is valid till 2015.
1. Is it legal to stay on just I-94 after my visa expires?
2. If in case i have to travel to India in an emergency after my Visa expires for example in Sep 2013, do i need to appear for a fresh L1 or will this be considered as an extension while coming back to US?

Thanks in Advance.

[shervin143]

1. Is it legal to stay on just I-94 after my visa expires?
>>> Yes. Visa is only an entry document to U.S. You can stay and work until the I-94 remains valid. You cannot stay beyond 7 years in L1A even if I-94 is valid beyond that.

2. If in case i have to travel to India in an emergency after my Visa expires for example in Sep 2013, do i need to appear for a fresh L1 or will this be considered as an extension while coming back to US?
>>> You need a valid visa to enter U.S. Your will have to surrender all your I-94s when you leave U.S. If you don't have a valid L1 visa stamped in your passport as of the date of your return to U.S, then you need to appear and get the visa stamped.

[ranichidurala]

Thanks for the response.
By any chance do you have any idea of L1A stamping success rate?

If company B is willing to apply for H1B so which will have more chances of getting visa stamped, in contrary to L1A stamping (When i return from India)?

[shervin143]

By any chance do you have any idea of L1A stamping success rate?
>>> I don't keep track of those statistics. Search and read the experiences posted by others.

If company B is willing to apply for H1B so which will have more chances of getting visa stamped, in contrary to L1A stamping (When i return from India)?
>>> It really doesn't matter as long as you are eligible for the visa category that you are applying and you have all the required documents in place.