H1B new visa approved for only 9 months?

[sudhakar_karnati]

Hi All,

Today i got my passport and the H1B visa expiration date is 31st Dec 2011 from 12Mar 2011[As per I797 paper].

It is new H1B visa.

Here are my questions.

1) When i go for H1 extension how many years i can expect?
2) I want to work for longer time in U.S. longtime like more than 6 years.Is that possible with extensions or do i need to go for new visa application?

Please reply me.

[shervin143]

1) When i go for H1 extension how many years i can expect?
>>> Extension is granted only for the work duration requested by your employer to USCIS. But H1B in total is for 6 years (Only the time spend in U.S in H1B + L1 status counts towards this 6 year term). So until you max out the 6 years, your employer can keep filing extensions.


2) I want to work for longer time in U.S. longtime like more than 6 years.Is that possible with extensions or do i need to go for new visa application?
>>> Visa is just an entry document to U.S. It need to be valid only for entering U.S. To work in U.S, you need a valid petition and I-94 (will be issed when you enter U.S). When you extend the petition in U.S, it will come with a new I-94.