H1B laid off and change in status

[h1bholder000]

hi
i had some h1b related questions
1. if i get laid off, do i have a 10 day grace period to find another job ?
2. My wife is on h1b as well. If i change my status from h1b to h4, can i later change it back to h1b when i find another job or will that have to be filed separately in a new quota ?
3. I also have my masters degree, if i file it in the new quota will it go under the 20,000 masters quota for h1b ?

Awaiting replies.
thanks

 

[medavid]

I'll respond from all the info I've collected, please someone correct me if I am wrong.

1. There's no official grace period. It's pretty much up to the officer receiving your new application if it was ok for you to stay out of status (since you had no job) for 10 days, less or even more. 90 days without a job (OOS) will put you in unlawful presence, that's a nono

2.Yes, you can switch to h4 and then back to h1b, you get to keep whatever validity is left in your H1. H4 also accumulates time towards the 6 year limit, since it's H visa.

3.since you don't need a new number, you are fine, but yes, it would fall under the 20k advanced degree quota.

regards

 

[anshar]

what happens if you are on H1B for more than 6 years? can you then transfer to another job and the other employer wants to do H1 for you?