I worked for a multinational company's branch in Asia for 3 years until 2008, September 2nd. I came to the US on a F-1 visa to study from September 2008 and will be graduating this May (2010). I plan on working in the multinational company's headquarters in New York after graduation. As of now I have 10 months of Optional Practical Training left to use.

When would I need to have my company apply for my L1-B visa? It is a large multinational that has blanket L1 visas. To my understanding, eligibility for an L1 visa is if one has worked in a subsidiary for one out of the three preceding years. Does this mean that the company has to apply for my L1 visa so that I receive it by Sep 2010 at the latest or does my time attending school for the last two years not count toward the three years?