Hello,

I got the H1B approved and stamped on my passport. But then my company sent me on L1B blanket to USA. I still have my original H1B petition with me though.

Do I benefit due to this scenario? Is it true that I do not need to wait for Apr and I do not fall under the quota system? Can I file for my H1 any time round the year and does it get approved in a matter of few weeks?

Also please guide me with some reliable and reputed Consultants in US whom I can approach for the same. Also some pointers regarding consultants who pay on bench would be appreciated.

Thanks

You can have more than one type of visas in your passport at the same time, but you can only use one at a time. So if you enter US as L-1, notify immigration officer at the port of entry.

I thought that, the moment you have a 2nd visa on the passport, the 1st one is null and void.

I thought that, the moment you have a 2nd visa on the passport, the 1st one is null and void.

Nope!

Nope!

She is correct. The first visa is still valid, if the conoff didn't cancel it (usually a strikethrough annotated CWOP, which stands for "cancelled without prejudice"). Please note that the H-1B visa is only helpful if you are working for or going to work for the H-1B petitioner annotated on the visa or if you have a new petitioner, they have an approval notice I-797. If the petitioner is the same as the one for your blanket L-1B, then they can have you enter as either. Remember you are limited to 5 years on the L-1B and 6 years on the H-1B and all times are aggregated. Good luck! :)

And to completely answer your question, since you have been already approved as an H-1B, you have already been counted for the 65,000 visa cap for the fiscal year that you filed. So you do not need to file again in April (for new H-1B's only). If you do file with a new petitioner, it does not need to be approved for you to begin work under the "portability" regulations. In fact you don't need to file with I-907 premium processing (15 day adjudication) either, unless you really need the I-797 approval notice. Hope this helps!