Legal Question in Immigration Law in California

Re: Regarding quitting on L1 visa

This is Paul Heller.

I am the Principal/Founder of Heller Immigration Law

Group, LLP

Website: http://greencard1.com; or http://greencard1.com/gc/contact-us/

My email is: [email protected]; [email protected]

Please call or email me; I'll be more than happy to speak with you about this.

Best,

_______________________________

Paul M. Heller, Esq. (Founder/Principal)

Heller Immigration Law

Group, LLP

Equity Legal Partners (Non-Immigration)

2479 E. Bayshore Rd., Suite 709, Palo Alto (Silicon Valley), CA 94303

Email: [email protected]; Website: http://greencard1.com

Contact Form: http://greencard1.com/gc/contact-us/

Blog: http://blog.hilglaw.com

Google Talk: hilglaw; YM: paulhilg; Profile: http://www.linkedin.com/in/hilglaw

Re: Regarding quitting on L1 visa

You should find another employer and apply for h1b in April.

Re: Regarding quitting on L1 visa

This matter is complex and you should not try to do it yourself so you should get an attorney to discuus your options. If you are located in Southern California, you can email me your contact info, so we can discuss your particular situation. There is no charge for consultation.

Re: Regarding quitting on L1 visa

Analyze whether you qualify for another visa classification and apply before you leave the current employer. If you wait, you may need to depart the U.S. and re-enter in another classification. It can be complicated to determine whether that would be necessary and for how long without knowing more.

There could be several different alternatives, depending on the details of the person's background, plans, and assets.

Check me out at http://www.yardum-hunter.com or email me at [email protected].

Sincerely,

Alice M. Yardum-Hunter, Attorney at Law, Certified Specialist, Immigration & Nationality Law, State Bar of CA, Bd. of Legal Specialization

Re: Regarding quitting on L1 visa

The L-1 visa is for multinational executives, managers, or one with specialized knowledge for such a multinational. The terms of the L-1 visa is predicated on continued employment for that company, which you probably know since you're a high-level employee. The L visa is like other nonimmigrant visas in that they are temporary, they don't allow one to remain in the U.S. permanently (get a green card). USCIS may not know right away that you quit your company, but quitting would make you out-of-status, and in any event, your L-1 has a limited term of a few years anyway (up to 7 yrs max for an executive).

To remain in the U.S., you would have to find a way to change status to another type of nonimmigrant visa (if you qualify for that other visa), and do it before the end of your out-of-status. Or, submit a permanent residence petition based on an approved family (close relative who's a US citizen permanent resident) or employment-petition (permanent job offer), which must have begun years earlier. There simply are not enough space and time to describe all this here. You are recommended to consult with an experienced immigration lawyer such as with our firm.

Larry L. Doan, Esq.

([email protected])

Note: The above response is provided for information only and should not be construed as legal advice, nor to create an attorney-client relationship, which can only be established through payment of consideration.