Our current L1 & L2 visas expire on 10th April and the company's immigration attorneys (Fragomen) had our application forms at around Christmastime to have the visas re-issued/extended.
Pete's travelled a couple of times since then and faxed off his I-94's to the attorneys. When he flew into Newark a couple of weeks ago the Immigration officer pointed out that the visa was close to expiry.
I've just spoken with Pete a few minutes ago and he is supposed to be going to a meeting in London next week. He's almost certainly going to put it off until he has the new visa as he's concerned he won't be allowed back into the country! Does anyone know at what point (ie. how close to the expiry date) our passports will need to be sent off or do we have to line up at Newark INS office (or whatever its new name is) at 6am to have the new visas affixed?
We're confused! Pete's too bl**dy busy to speak with Fragomen and he's got all the ref. nos with him!
roll
Hi there Dawn.
I can only tell you what happened to me, you really need to get on the phone.
I'm on a H1-B in California. About this time last year I just had my visa renewed/extended and sent our passports to somewhere bizzare like New Orleans can't remember exactly where offhand but blooming miles away. They quoted TWELVE weeks to return them and they took EIGHT.
I guess it depends on the offices involved but well worth a check as you could get a nasty surprise with processing times.
Don't know if it can be done on demand.
From my friends experience I would guess he wouldn't get back in but don't quote me on it.
You really have to check with someone you can shout at if it goes pear shaped.
Dawn, we are in the same situation, except our visa expire on 29th March. We have been informed that we have a temporary extension for 280 days as we filed before the expiry date but no other information other than that. The actual visa takes from 90-120 days from the date it was recieved by the INS, so by that, we should expect our extension between April - the end of May. Originally, we had been told it would take 60 days but I suppose because of 9/11, things have been tighten up a bit so processing is taking longer. Then I think you can post your passports or go your local US consulate that deals with visas. Our is in El Paso, so I have been told.
<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by kinross lady on 2003-03-07 1618 ]</font>
Eeeeek!!!
I'm hoping to meet my daughter at Heathrow Airport when she returns from her trek to India on 30th May... eek
Now, sorting out an L2 visa is going to be a huge nightmare for her as well. It obviously expires whilst she's on her adventure trek (she's having the time of her life in India, lucky thing smile ) and I really would like her to come over to the States before she begins university in Sept or October. I know we have to send in a copy of Pete's visa petition with her passport to the US Embassy in London, but I seem to think that everything is being forwarded to the US?
This Summer is going to be a pain in the neck as far as travel is concerned.
Wish I was back in Singapore. They're soooo efficient there... cry
I could have told you that Fragomen weren't exactly jet-propelled.
<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by Ameriscot on 2003-03-07 2024 ]</font>
Sorry, I meant that Fragome are really slow at getting documents back and forth.
Dawn, lets us know how u get on as I am sure there are number of L1/2 holders in similar situs. We are holding off booking any holiday to the UK until we have the visas in our hands. You should have a tracking number which tells you when the visa was received by the INS and the approx waiting time. Hope you get to meet your daughter at Heathrow on 30th May.
<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by kinross lady on 2003-03-08 1012 ]</font>
Kinross lady; Pete spoke with the company's immigration lawyers (aforementioned 'Fragomen' et al) and this is what they told him earlier today
We have three options.
1. Send our passports off to an INS office within the USA. We will be without our passports for at least 10-11 weeks.
2. It's ok to leave the US with the paperwork agreeing that we can be issued with a new L1/L2 visa. Then we have to go to the US Embassy in whichever country we have gone to, make an appointment and go for an interview. The paperwork then takes about 2-3 days to be processed after the interview has taken place. For the US Embassy in London, you have to phone for an appointment - I think up to a fortnight ahead. Then they give you a date to go for your interview. The phone no. to book this can't be accessed outside the UK, so you would either have to get a Brit friend or relative to phone for the appointment, or in Pete's case, his company's London HR dept. could arrange it.
3. You can go to Canada for the L1/L2 visa. I'm assuming that this would be at the US Embassy in the capital, Ottawa (hello Keith!). This only takes a couple of days. Fragomen actually have a recommended hotel near to the embassy and they will come to your hotel and go over the papers and interview with you. (And I bet they send a *huge* bill to the company for this service!)
lol
We're not keen on having no possession of our passports for 10-11 weeks as it's coming up to holiday season. Also you never know if you might need them for an emergency to get back home to Blighty.
Pete's asking the company if they will provide assistance for travel and related costs if we choose to go to Canada (I bet they won't!). I think that would be our preference and if not we will probably have it done in London.
Hope this helps. smile
Makes me worry about Fragomen. Think I will ask Beest to stick yet another boot up their ... tomorrow regarding our greencards.
Pete had a couple of queries with the paralegal who works for Fragomen and preparing our paperwork.
Her voicemail ends with ...."Have a Blessed Day". He nearly barfed. lol
I told him he should have said..."May Allah be with you".... cool
Thanks Dawn for the info. Have you actually received your paperwork saying your L1/2 has been extended? The only reason I asked is because our visas expire this weekend and still no paperwork, only an email from the company to say we have this temporary extension. No sure how we are going to get our visas stamped yet. We were planning to go to the UK at the beginning of June but will need to sort problems with our middle child first!
Hello again KR.
Fragomen sent a courier to Pete's office with a lot of papers. The cover letter says
"We are pleased to confirm that the L-1A Petition Extension filed by (company name) on your behalf has been approved the the INS authorizing your temporary employment with (company name) from 4/11/03 until 4/10/05. Enclosed is original Form I-797A (approval notice) along with a copy of the L-1 petition filing. Enclosed you will also find the L-2 approval notices for your dependants.
You should keep the *original* Form I-797A with Form I-94 in your passport at all times and should contact our office well in advance of any foreign travel (including Canada & Mexico).
When you next depart the US you may be required to apply for an L-1 visa at a US consulate to permit re-entry into the US (with the possible exception of trips to Canada or Mexico for less than 30 days that do not involve a visa application at a consulate)if your previous L-1 stamp has expired.
Please note that it is (company name) policy for nonimmigrant employees to forward to our office copies of any new visas and I-94 cards received by the employees and family members. Regardless of the expiration date of the petition as noted on the Form I-797 and the visa stamp in the passport, the expiration date on the *most recent* I-94 marks the end of lawful admission to the USA.
This bit is highlighted in bold print
It is the nonimmigrant employee's responsibility to always review the I-94 issued to him/her and any family members each time they enter the US after travel abroad. Even an error by the INS officer in issuing an incorrect nonimmigrant status and/or the wrong expiration date on the I-94 can have a very serious negative impact on status in the US. Overstaying the I-94 expiration date, even if the overstay was inadvertent, by 180 days or more, bars readmission to the US for 3 years; overstays for one year or more bars readmission for 10 years. Providing us with a copy of Form I-94 lets us know that the form has been carefully reviewed by the employee at the time of entry.
Please also note that if you or a family member overstays the period noted on your respective I-94 cards by even one day, you could be subject to a requirement to return to your home country to obtain all future nonimmigrant visas,ie. you will not be able to obtain any future nonimmigrant visa in any country other than your home country, and may not file for reissuance of a visa stamp by mail through the Department of State in the USA. "
Scary stuff eh?
The I-797 is a pale green coloured form (similar to the visas) and there is a tear-off slip at the bottom of it; it seems that when you leave the US, the tear off slip is stapled to the white I-94 forms already in our passports and retained by the airline or Immigration staff (eg. if you're driving to Canada or Mexico) on departure. The left hand part of the tear-off slip is kept by your for your personal records as it has a receipt no.
The INS service centre used was Vermont, which I think has one of the shorter processing times.
Good luck, Kinross Lady - and I would be making urgent phone calls today to the immigration attorneys if I were you to find out if your petition has been approved.