Switch from L1 to H1

[chan1302]

What is the name of your state?What is the name of your state?
Wisconsin.

Hi there,

I am currently on L1 A Blanket Visa working for company A based in india and it has send me in US as an contractor. I would make a switch to a US based company. I would like to know if there is a way i could switch from L1 to H1 status directly?

Company A has applied for H1 visa for me.The petition is lying with company A though and i know that fresh H1 visa cannot be applied now as the quota is over for this year. In this would i have to wait till april, when some US based company applies for a fresh H1 visa for me?

 

[ImmigAttyLana]

Yes, not only would you have to wait until April until a new company can sponsor you for a H-1B visa by filing the petition on your behalf, but that petition, even if approved, will not take effect until October 1, 2005, which is when the new year's quota of H-1B visas will become available. If you are in the US from now until October, you have to be here in valid status, meaning you have to continue working for the L-1 employer.

Please let me know if you have any additional questions or if I may be of further assistance to you in this matter.