Do we need a new H1 Stamp with every new company?

S

surfwind

New Member
I recently got a new H1 Visa stamped for the current company for 3 years, valid till Feb, 2010.

Now I am switching to another company & visiting India in July 2007. My lawyer says I don't have to get the Visa stamped again for the new company since I already have a valid H1 visa until 2010. He says that visa is valid even if I change like 10 companies.

He also said that the petitioner name on the H1 Visa is just for reference. So, once we have the H1 Visa stamped we can keep travelling on the same visa even if we switch jobs.

Does anyone has ever done this? I don't know how this will be handled when I enter US. I always thought the immigration officers see what is on the visa petition & then the approval notice & compare them. Any risks if they are different? Has anyone gone thru this situation before or know anything about this rule?

Please share your wisdom & experiences.

Thank you.
 
Your attorney is correct. But you must keep the orignal H1B approval notice from your new sponser always along with your PP while entering.


surfwind said:
I recently got a new H1 Visa stamped for the current company for 3 years, valid till Feb, 2010.

Now I am switching to another company & visiting India in July 2007. My lawyer says I don't have to get the Visa stamped again for the new company since I already have a valid H1 visa until 2010. He says that visa is valid even if I change like 10 companies.

He also said that the petitioner name on the H1 Visa is just for reference. So, once we have the H1 Visa stamped we can keep travelling on the same visa even if we switch jobs.

Does anyone has ever done this? I don't know how this will be handled when I enter US. I always thought the immigration officers see what is on the visa petition & then the approval notice & compare them. Any risks if they are different? Has anyone gone thru this situation before or know anything about this rule?

Please share your wisdom & experiences.

Thank you.
Click to expand...
 
I am on Company X H1 since last 2 years (after completing Masters here in US) and I just had it stamped in Feb 07 at Ottawa, got married in March 07 in India and I am currently back in US and my wife is in India and has to appear for her first H4 stamping.

Unfortunately i could not have H4 stamping done for my wife while I was there in India and now my wife has to appear by herself in Chennai.

The thing is I have to TRANSFER my H1 from Company X to Company Y immidiately in first week of May 07.
I expect the transfer process to be completed by end of May 07.

Is it OK for my wife to appear for H4 stamping with Company Y papers where as my VISA is stamped on Company X and valid until 2009?

Thanks,
Rahul.
 
That should not be a problem as long as you have the new I-94 from the new company Y. She should not have a problem getting her visa provided she got all the other necessary documents.

Thanks,
Kiran

Note: I am not an attorney, my responses are based on my friends experience and other responses in this forum. Please talk to your attorney before proceeding with your efforts
 
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