Dual Intent

[salilsurendran]

Hello Friends,
I have a visa renewal interview and my H1B expires in Dec 2011. My GC is in progress and hence how should I answer the question how long do you intend to stay in the USA? Should I say only till Dec 2011 my H1B validity period? That will lead to questions as to why I have filed for my GC? Also how long should I ask for my visa to be valid?

[txh1b]

As your stay is authorized till the H1b petition date, that is what you intend to stay until. GC is for future employment and until you file for a 485, you may not be able to answer anything different than the I797 date.

[salilsurendran]

So that means my visa will only be valid till Dec 2011 and when I come back I will again have to go for a visa restamping.

[txh1b]

Yes, that is the way it works.