Change of Status H4->H1. Kindly respond!!

K

klakshmi

Registered Users (C)
Hi,

I would appreciate your response on the following,

I applied for H4->H1 Change of Status in April.
I travelled out of US in May after applying for H1 visa. So, my H1 petition has the old I-94 number of the H4 visa.
I re-entered US in June and I was given a new I-94 for the H4 visa.
In July, I received my H1 approval notice with a default I-94 (with the old I-94 number) valid from Oct 1st.

My question is,

1) Since the I94 number on the H1 approval notice is different from the I94 number on my current H4 visa,
a) Can I start working from Oct 1st? or
b) Should I get visa stamped before I can start working?

Thanks
 
klakshmi said:
Hi,

I would appreciate your response on the following,

I applied for H4->H1 Change of Status in April.
I travelled out of US in May after applying for H1 visa. So, my H1 petition has the old I-94 number of the H4 visa.
I re-entered US in June and I was given a new I-94 for the H4 visa.
In July, I received my H1 approval notice with a default I-94 (with the old I-94 number) valid from Oct 1st.

My question is,

1) Since the I94 number on the H1 approval notice is different from the I94 number on my current H4 visa,
a) Can I start working from Oct 1st? or YESb) Should I get visa stamped before I can start working? Not needed
Thanks
Click to expand...
 
Hi,

Thanks a lot for your response.

I would like to know, is it a mistake from INS part or is it okay to have different I94 numbers on the approved H1 notice and my current H4 visa.
Should I bring this issue to the notice of INS?
And next time I travel out of US, I understand I have to get my h1 visa stamped, is there any risk involved due to the different I94 numbers?

I would appreciate your response.
 
klakshmi said:
Hi,

Thanks a lot for your response.

I would like to know, is it a mistake from INS part or is it okay to have different I94 numbers on the approved H1 notice and my current H4 visa.
Should I bring this issue to the notice of INS? NOAnd next time I travel out of US, I understand I have to get my h1 visa stamped, is there any risk involved due to the different I94 numbers? NO

Keep both white card I 94 and bottom of h1 approval notice I94 portion together stapled. next time you go handover both at port of exit (air line ticketing staff)I would appreciate your response.
Click to expand...
 
Change of Status- H4 to H1

Lakshmi,

As far as i am aware, if you apply for a change of status and then leave the country, your change of status application is automatically forfeited.

So in this case you have your H1 approval, but you would need a H1 visa stamp to begin working in October. The different I-94 numbers is likely to become an issue when you apply for your SSN which is necessary to start working.

Again not to scare you, but I would recommend doing a bit more research on this. I recently converted from H4-H1 too, and therefore had done a lot of reading on all possible scenarios including the one you are describing.
 
Thanks "great guru" and "vibhuti" for your responses.

In fact, I have the same doubt. I was prepared to receive my H1 approval without I-94, because I travelled while my H1 was pending, in which case I would have to get my visa stamped before I can start working.

But now that I have got a approved H1 notice with default I94, I am not sure what to do. Can you apply for SSN before H1 validity start date?

I would appreciate if you can share any other information (any suggestions) on this.
 
klakshmi said:
Thanks "great guru" and "vibhuti" for your responses.

In fact, I have the same doubt. I was prepared to receive my H1 approval without I-94, because I travelled while my H1 was pending, in which case I would have to get my visa stamped before I can start working.

But now that I have got a approved H1 notice with default I94, I am not sure what to do. Can you apply for SSN before H1 validity start date?

I would appreciate if you can share any other information (any suggestions) on this.
Click to expand...

You can apply SSN, but you have to take both the I 94 with you along with H1 approval notice too
 
klakshmi said:
Hi,

I would appreciate your response on the following,

I applied for H4->H1 Change of Status in April.
I travelled out of US in May after applying for H1 visa. So, my H1 petition has the old I-94 number of the H4 visa.
I re-entered US in June and I was given a new I-94 for the H4 visa.
In July, I received my H1 approval notice with a default I-94 (with the old I-94 number) valid from Oct 1st.

My question is,

1) Since the I94 number on the H1 approval notice is different from the I94 number on my current H4 visa,
a) Can I start working from Oct 1st? or
b) Should I get visa stamped before I can start working?

Thanks
Click to expand...

Hi Klakshmi,
I've got exact same situation. I applied from F1 -> H1,
and during my application was in process i travelled back to India. and now i recieved my approval notice and my I94 on approval notice is the old one which i had in my passport before i travelled to India. now the I94 in my passport is different and my approval notice has the default old I94 number.

one more thing i would like to mention here is that i've got SS number already.

I hope as u were in the same situation u might have done some research. if so at what point did u reach?

can we start working on the start date of H1 or we need to get the visa stamp before start working.

i'll greatly appriciate any input.
i'll wait for ur response,
my email is
 
Last edited by a moderator:
h4-h1 stamping

my situation is also same. if u got any information just tell me.
Thanks

hellokrishna said:
Hi klakshmi and cookie monster

I am in the situation that u were in the year 2005. Are u working now ? Did u get the stamping done? Please share Your experience.

My email id is hellokrishna@hotmail.com
Click to expand...
 
H4-H1 change of status

Hi HelloKrishna,
Please share you experience.Because I am applying for H1 his April and need to travel to India in May.
 
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