Can I work on B1/B2 visa in US while applying for L1?
Apr 22nd 2003, 7:59 pm
#1
Guest
Posts: n/a
Can I work on B1/B2 visa in US while applying for L1?
Here's the situation:
I'm a citizen of Trinidad & Tobago and I work for a large
multinational oil company. There's a project going on in our Houston,
TX office and they would like me to start working on it as soon as
possible - in Houston. The project will run for approximately 4
months.
My question:
I currently have a valid B1/B2 visa. Is it legal for me to go to
Houston on this visa and then when I'm up there, see about getting an
L1 visa? It's not a problem if I have to leace the US and re-enter
sometime during the 4 months.
Thanks,
Robert
I'm a citizen of Trinidad & Tobago and I work for a large
multinational oil company. There's a project going on in our Houston,
TX office and they would like me to start working on it as soon as
possible - in Houston. The project will run for approximately 4
months.
My question:
I currently have a valid B1/B2 visa. Is it legal for me to go to
Houston on this visa and then when I'm up there, see about getting an
L1 visa? It's not a problem if I have to leace the US and re-enter
sometime during the 4 months.
Thanks,
Robert
Apr 22nd 2003, 8:11 pm
#2
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: Can I work on B1/B2 visa in US while applying for L1?
On Tue, 22 Apr 2003 12:59:11 -0700, Robert wrote:
> Here's the situation:
>
> I'm a citizen of Trinidad & Tobago and I work for a large multinational
> oil company. There's a project going on in our Houston, TX office and
> they would like me to start working on it as soon as possible - in
> Houston. The project will run for approximately 4 months.
>
> My question:
>
> I currently have a valid B1/B2 visa. Is it legal for me to go to Houston
> on this visa and then when I'm up there, see about getting an L1 visa?
> It's not a problem if I have to leace the US and re-enter sometime
> during the 4 months.
No. This is done at times, but since this has been abused too much, INS
cracked down on it a few years ago. I'm sure BCBP or BCIS are still
looking out for such things.
You can usually get an L-1 fairly quickly, too. If the employer pays for
premium processing, you can get the petition approved in three weeks.
Getting the actual visa stamped in your passport will, in most parts of
the world, take another two weeks. If you are unlucky or come from a
Muslim country, that could take six months, though.
> Here's the situation:
>
> I'm a citizen of Trinidad & Tobago and I work for a large multinational
> oil company. There's a project going on in our Houston, TX office and
> they would like me to start working on it as soon as possible - in
> Houston. The project will run for approximately 4 months.
>
> My question:
>
> I currently have a valid B1/B2 visa. Is it legal for me to go to Houston
> on this visa and then when I'm up there, see about getting an L1 visa?
> It's not a problem if I have to leace the US and re-enter sometime
> during the 4 months.
No. This is done at times, but since this has been abused too much, INS
cracked down on it a few years ago. I'm sure BCBP or BCIS are still
looking out for such things.
You can usually get an L-1 fairly quickly, too. If the employer pays for
premium processing, you can get the petition approved in three weeks.
Getting the actual visa stamped in your passport will, in most parts of
the world, take another two weeks. If you are unlucky or come from a
Muslim country, that could take six months, though.
Apr 23rd 2003, 2:52 pm
#3
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: Can I work on B1/B2 visa in US while applying for L1?
>
> No. This is done at times, but since this has been abused too much, INS
> cracked down on it a few years ago. I'm sure BCBP or BCIS are still
> looking out for such things.
>
> You can usually get an L-1 fairly quickly, too. If the employer pays for
> premium processing, you can get the petition approved in three weeks.
> Getting the actual visa stamped in your passport will, in most parts of
> the world, take another two weeks. If you are unlucky or come from a
> Muslim country, that could take six months, though.
Here's some more info about my situation. I will not be receiving any
compensation from our US office. My local office in Trinidad will be
covering all my expenses. It is more of a development exercise for me,
as I will be expected to run the same type of project here in
Trinidad. Does this still constitute work and is the L1 absolutely
necessary?
> No. This is done at times, but since this has been abused too much, INS
> cracked down on it a few years ago. I'm sure BCBP or BCIS are still
> looking out for such things.
>
> You can usually get an L-1 fairly quickly, too. If the employer pays for
> premium processing, you can get the petition approved in three weeks.
> Getting the actual visa stamped in your passport will, in most parts of
> the world, take another two weeks. If you are unlucky or come from a
> Muslim country, that could take six months, though.
Here's some more info about my situation. I will not be receiving any
compensation from our US office. My local office in Trinidad will be
covering all my expenses. It is more of a development exercise for me,
as I will be expected to run the same type of project here in
Trinidad. Does this still constitute work and is the L1 absolutely
necessary?
Apr 23rd 2003, 9:08 pm
#4
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: Can I work on B1/B2 visa in US while applying for L1?
On Wed, 23 Apr 2003 07:52:10 -0700, Robert wrote:
>>
>> No. This is done at times, but since this has been abused too much, INS
>> cracked down on it a few years ago. I'm sure BCBP or BCIS are still
>> looking out for such things.
>>
>> You can usually get an L-1 fairly quickly, too. If the employer pays for
>> premium processing, you can get the petition approved in three weeks.
>> Getting the actual visa stamped in your passport will, in most parts of
>> the world, take another two weeks. If you are unlucky or come from a
>> Muslim country, that could take six months, though.
>
>
> Here's some more info about my situation. I will not be receiving any
> compensation from our US office. My local office in Trinidad will be
> covering all my expenses. It is more of a development exercise for me,
> as I will be expected to run the same type of project here in
> Trinidad. Does this still constitute work and is the L1 absolutely
> necessary?
If the purpose is training, then a trainee visa (H-3) is probably most
appropriate. That you are not paid within the US means that you probably
cannot get an L-1 (it requires you to be paid from the US, or at least
according to US pay rates).
A B-1 may also be appropriate in this case; it depends on the exact nature
of the training, whether it includes work, or is more a classroom or lab
type of experience.
>>
>> No. This is done at times, but since this has been abused too much, INS
>> cracked down on it a few years ago. I'm sure BCBP or BCIS are still
>> looking out for such things.
>>
>> You can usually get an L-1 fairly quickly, too. If the employer pays for
>> premium processing, you can get the petition approved in three weeks.
>> Getting the actual visa stamped in your passport will, in most parts of
>> the world, take another two weeks. If you are unlucky or come from a
>> Muslim country, that could take six months, though.
>
>
> Here's some more info about my situation. I will not be receiving any
> compensation from our US office. My local office in Trinidad will be
> covering all my expenses. It is more of a development exercise for me,
> as I will be expected to run the same type of project here in
> Trinidad. Does this still constitute work and is the L1 absolutely
> necessary?
If the purpose is training, then a trainee visa (H-3) is probably most
appropriate. That you are not paid within the US means that you probably
cannot get an L-1 (it requires you to be paid from the US, or at least
according to US pay rates).
A B-1 may also be appropriate in this case; it depends on the exact nature
of the training, whether it includes work, or is more a classroom or lab
type of experience.
