Total duration on Work visa (Part L1 and part H1)

Question

I was on L1-B visa and in the US between Jan 2009 to Dec 2010 (23 months).  Then moved back and applied for a fresh H1-cap and travelled to US on H-1 in July 2011 (30 months).  Given that, my current H1 is a fresh application and not a L1 to H1 conversion... What is the total duration I can stay in the US?  Will it be my L1 + current H1 OR the 6 year period just starts with the current H1 visa?  Could someone please help

Answer 1

You maximum stay on H1B + L1 is 6 years. Only the time you spent in United states in H1B + L1 would be counted against the 6 year limit. In order to get a fresh 6 year period, you will need to spend 1 year outside U.S and file the H1B under a new CAP.

Comments

Thank you ImmiGuy!  My current H1 was a fresh one under CAP, but I dont have that 1 year gap between L1 and H1.  So, what I am understanding is that since there is no gap of 1 year between L1 and the current H1 (under new CAP) the total duration would be L1+H1 = 6 years.  Correct?