Extension/travel to India/stamping

joshuar

New Member
Hello friends,

My 6 year H1 visa expires on June 1st. I have this visa stamped in my passport. Now I'm planning on a trip to India coming back to US on May 9th. (about 20 days before my current H1 expires)

I do have a new h1 with a one year(7th year) extension that expires June next year(from same employer). My confusion now is - whether to get the extention stamped in Chennai, India or come back and do it by sending the docs to St. Louis.

Well, some people tell me coming back to US with just 20 days left in the current stamped visa (though I have another extention in hand) is a risk. Some tell me it should be ok as long I can explain the immigration officer that since I got 20 days left, I can send the passport to St. Louis to get it stamped.

On the other hand, there are people who keep telling me its better to get this thing stamped in India so that there will not be problems at the port of entry.

What do you guys suggest.

Thanks for your advice, time and help.
 
Your H visa stamp indicates the LAST DAY you can apply for admission to US and your I-797 approval indicates for how long you can be admitted. BCIS will give you permission to stay until your H1 extension is valid until June next year.

Given this, you NEED NOT get a new visa stamped AS LONG AS YOU RETURN TO U.S. BEFORE JUNE 1ST. Since you are planning to return on May 9th you should have no problem.

After you return you can send your passport to St. Louis for getting a new visa.

Make sure that you carry ORIGINAL I-797 H extension approval notice and a current letter of employment with you. You will be asked one or more of these documents upon entry to U.S.
 
Hi,

For some reason, I am thinking that H1B employee can only get his 7th year extn based on 1yr pending labor, but he cannot get visa stamp on passport.

Is it false? Can a H1B person get stamped for the 7th year extension? and 8th,... extension visa stamps?

Thanks
 
Originally posted by newbr
Hi,

For some reason, I am thinking that H1B employee can only get his 7th year extn based on 1yr pending labor, but he cannot get visa stamp on passport.

Is it false? Can a H1B person get stamped for the 7th year extension? and 8th,... extension visa stamps?

Thanks

I think you can get h1 visa stamped as long as you have a valid H1 approval, regardess of whether it is regular H1 or 7th or 8th year extension. The visa stamp expiration date will match H1 expiration date. If extensions are given in 1 year increment, your new h1 visa stamps will also be for 1 year.
 
Top