HIB VISA Urgent Advise requested

[elsa2004]

My OPT on student visa expired on MAY 15 but I could not apply for a H1-B before that as the company I was working for changed their H1-B policy. However, they agreed to hire me as a consultant. I found a consulting company willing to sponsor my H1-B and would be applying for one as soon as the papewrork between the two companies gets processed.
In the meantime I renewed my F-1 status by applying for another bachelors degree at the same school where I graduate from last year. I got my new I-20 for the fall 2004 semesterin June this year.
I would like to know if :
I AM TOO LATE IN APPLYING FOR AN H1-B SINCE THE QUOTA HAS BEEN FILLING SINCE APRIL 1 2004.
2. SHOULD I GO FOR PREMIUM PROCESSING once I hear from the company hiring me?
3. WOULD RENWING MY F-1 STATUS complicate things and affect my chances of getting a H1-B Visa?

please respond at the earliest as I have been in a lot of distress for the past 2 months.