Time spent outside America doesn't always count against your L-1 maximum duration.But calculating recaptured time on L-1 confuses everyone.Your L-1A gets seven years total. Your L-1B gets five years. Days abroad might not count toward these limits. Might. The rules are specific and most people calculate wrong.We compared five immigration consultation firms that handle L-1 time recapture accurately. Here's who gets the math right.
Beyond Border dominates L-1 recapture calculations. They track every single day with precision.
What They Do Well
Their team requests your complete travel history immediately. Passport stamps. Flight records. I-94 entry and exit data. They verify everything.Beyond Border calculates recapturable time using USCIS formulas. Trips lasting more than 24 hours typically qualify. Short trips don't. They know the exact thresholds.
They're exceptional at documenting recapture requests. Detailed spreadsheets showing each trip abroad. Dates, duration, and supporting evidence. USCIS loves organized presentations.For complex cases with frequent international travel, Beyond Border uses specialized software tracking every absence. No guesswork. Pure accuracy.
Pricing
Initial consultation costs $200. L-1 time recapture analysis and extension preparation runs $2,500 to $4,000 depending on travel complexity.
Why Choose Them
Beyond Border doesn't estimate. They calculate precisely. Their recapture success rate exceeds 95 percent because documentation is flawless.
Need accurate L-1 time recapture calculations? Book a consultation with Beyond Border for precise day-by-day analysis.
Fragomen handles corporate cases where executives travel internationally frequently. They understand recapture well.
What They Do Well
They explain which absences qualify for L-1 recapture. Business trips abroad. Personal vacations. Medical emergencies. Family visits. All potentially recapturable.
Fragomen accesses corporate travel records. If your company books flights, they pull complete histories. This simplifies documentation.Their systems track L-1 time remaining automatically. You see how much duration you've used and how much recapture might extend your stay.
The Downside
Volume creates delays. During busy seasons, recapture calculations take weeks. Premium service costs extra.
Pricing
Recapture extensions cost $4,500 to $7,000 including calculation services and filing.
BAL brings technology to time recapture. Their platform helps track absences digitally.
What They Do Well
Their system lets you input travel dates yourself. It calculates potential recapture automatically. Useful for initial estimates.BAL explains the one-day minimum rule. Leaving on Monday morning and returning Tuesday afternoon counts as recapturable time. Same-day trips don't.They verify calculations manually before filing. Technology estimates. Lawyers confirm. This double-check prevents errors.
The Downside
Technology limitations. Complex travel patterns need human analysis. Their platform handles simple cases better than complicated ones.
Pricing
Recapture extensions run $3,000 to $5,500 depending on complexity.
Klasko handles sophisticated L-1 duration cases. Their precision is exceptional.
What They Do Well
They obtain official records from CBP. Your complete entry-exit history. This government data proves exact dates abroad.Klasko documents extended absences thoroughly. Business assignments abroad lasting months can recapture significant time. They gather employment letters proving the purpose.Strong expertise in H-1B to L-1 recapture scenarios. If you had H-1B time previously, separate calculations apply. Klasko handles this complexity.
The Downside
Premium pricing. Their thoroughness costs substantially more than standard firms.
Pricing
Consultations start at $400. Recapture extensions cost $5,000 to $8,000.
Murthy has decades of experience with L-1 time calculations. They know the historical rule changes.
What They Do Well
They explain that only physical presence in America counts toward your maximum. Days abroad pause the clock.Murthy clarifies minimum absence requirements. Generally 24 hours minimum. Shorter trips rarely qualify for recapture.Their checklists help you gather documentation. Passport copies. Travel itineraries. Employer letters. Everything needed for recapture requests.
The Downside
Less personalized calculation services. They provide guidance but expect clients to track their own absences initially.
Pricing
Recapture extensions cost $2,800 to $4,500. Reasonable pricing for solid work.
L-1 time recapture means extending your maximum duration by the amount of time you spent outside America. The clock stops when you leave. It restarts when you return.Your seven-year L-1A limit counts only days physically present in the US. If you spent one year abroad during your L-1 period, you can reclaim that year.Qualifying absences include business trips, vacations, family emergencies, and any other reason for leaving America temporarily.
USCIS wants proof of every absence. Passport pages showing stamps. Flight itineraries. Hotel receipts. Employer letters confirming business trip purposes.The best firms create comprehensive spreadsheets. Columns for departure date, return date, duration, and purpose. Supporting documents referenced for each trip.Beyond Border uses I-94 records as primary evidence. This government database shows official entries and exits. Most reliable proof available.
Many people count calendar days wrong. Leaving Friday and returning Sunday counts as three days recapturable. Both departure and return days typically count.Another error is forgetting short trips. That weekend in Mexico. Quick Canada visit. These add up over years.Some lawyers incorrectly think same-day trips count. They don't. You must be gone at least 24 hours.
File recapture requests with your extension application. Don't wait until you're already maxed out. USCIS processes these together.Beyond Border recommends starting recapture analysis six months before your current period expires. This allows time for documentation gathering.
1.What is L-1 time recapture?
L-1 time recapture allows you to extend your maximum visa duration by the amount of time you spent outside the United States, effectively not counting days abroad toward your seven-year L-1A or five-year L-1B limits.
2.How do I calculate recapturable time on L-1?
Calculate recapturable time by documenting every absence from the US lasting at least 24 hours using passport stamps, I-94 records, and travel itineraries, then totaling those days to determine how much additional time you can request.
3.What absences qualify for L-1 recapture?
All absences from the United States lasting more than 24 hours qualify for L-1 recapture regardless of purpose, including business trips, vacations, family visits, medical treatments, or any other temporary departures from America.
4.When should I request L-1 time recapture?
Request time recapture when filing your L-1 extension application, ideally six months before your current status expires to allow adequate time for documentation gathering and USCIS processing of the combined request.
5.Do I need documentation for every trip abroad?
Yes, USCIS requires documentation proving each absence including passport copies showing entry and exit stamps, flight records, I-94 travel history, and employer letters confirming business trip purposes for comprehensive recapture requests.
