L1 Visa Expired - I94 Valid until 2016

[Suman Y]

Hi,

I have come to US on L1-B Visa and below are my dates in US. My L-1B visa has expired on Aug 2013 but my I-94 is valid until June 2016.

First Entry to US on L1-B - August 2010
Left US on L1-B - July 2012
Re-entered to US on L1-B - June 2013 (I-94 granted until June 2016 but Visa expired on August 2013)

Do I need to leave US and get my L1-B extension at US Consulate abroad?
Can I stay in US and work legally until June 2016 as my I-94 is still valid?

I am asking this, as my attorney has asked me to go Out of US and get L1-B extension at US consulate abroad. As per the attorney, since I have first entered US on August 2010 it is recommended to go out of US and get the extension. Otherwise it may have impact on future visa renewals/applications. Is this true?

Please provide your inputs.

Thanks.

[inadmissible]

You only need a valid visa if you wish to travel to a United States Port of Entry from abroad. If you are already lawfully admitted, and have no reason to travel abroad, then what is the point?

That said, if you leave for any reason, you can't return to the United States without a valid visa.

It may make strategic sense to you to schedule a consular interview in conjunction with a planned trip abroad, so that if you ever needed to leave in an emergency you wouldn't be stuck outside waiting for a visa interview.

In your case, it sounds like a trip abroad is inconvenient to you.

[Suman Y]

You only need a valid visa if you wish to travel to a United States Port of Entry from abroad. If you are already lawfully admitted, and have no reason to travel abroad, then what is the point?

That said, if you leave for any reason, you can't return to the United States without a valid visa.

It may make strategic sense to you to schedule a consular interview in conjunction with a planned trip abroad, so that if you ever needed to leave in an emergency you wouldn't be stuck outside waiting for a visa interview.

In your case, it sounds like a trip abroad is inconvenient to you.

Thank you for your prompt reply. Just wanted to confirm that it would not have any implications for future visa applications.

[inadmissible]

Assuming you do not violate the terms of your admission, no... being present in the United States without a valid visa will not impact future visa applications.

While this sounds counter intuitive on the face of it, it makes sense when you distinguish the American concepts of visa (permission to travel to Port of Entry) and admission (permission to enter the United States).

[Suman Y]

Assuming you do not violate the terms of your admission, no... being present in the United States without a valid visa will not impact future visa applications.

While this sounds counter intuitive on the face of it, it makes sense when you distinguish the American concepts of visa (permission to travel to Port of Entry) and admission (permission to enter the United States).

Thank you.