I saw my attorney today and she advised that I should apply for a B2 (tourist) visa. Although my I94 (entry/departure record) permits me to stay legally until the date on it, Dec 2008, I want to ensure that there is no space between quitting and exiting: not for this time around, but for my next visit to America. I do not want the immigration officer to query the gap.
Now I can say that I am "L1 pending B2."
Even if they reject the B2 I still have 180 days to exit the country legally.