H1B Multiple Entry

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vchip75

Registered Users (C)
I-94 expired

I have my new H1B approval notice that's valid till 2006 but it's not stamped on my passport yet. My I-94 has expired on Oct 1, 2003 along with my old H1B. Now my question is :

**What am I supposed to do about my I94? Do I have to go somewhere to get it renewed or do I need to worry about it only when I travel outside and reenter USA. I hope my current status is legal!!


Any info you can provide will be really helpful. Thanking you in advance.


Regards,
- V
 
Last edited by a moderator:
Look at your new approval notice. Do you see a new I-94 at the bottom (valid until Oct 2006)? If so you are fine. No need to do anything. And you should say that your I-94 is valid until 2006. If you say your I-94 expired in Oct 2003, then most people will say your stay is illegal, 3-year bar etc.

In case the H1B visa stamp on your passport has expired, then the next time you travel get another H1B stamp. You may also be able to get a new stamp through the Dept of State. Search for H1B revalidation. The visa stamp is only used for entering into the US, but your I-94 governs your stay in the US.
 
Yes I noticed the I-94 related info in the fineprint of my I-797. Appreciate this quick response.

Regards,
- V
 
You should detach the right bottom portion of the new approval notice (which is your new I-94) and attach it to the one in your passport. You should turn in both the I-94s while leaving the US next time (Except for short visits to Canada etc).
 
Raj1994, I just took a second look at my approval notice. The thing is the form I received looks different from the one I received 3 years ago for my first H1. I would assume that the INS has changed the notice format in the recent past. Currently I have in my possession only the photocopy of my aproval notice. The original is with the company lawyer. May be I will have to call the lawyer for clarification. Meanwhile this is what is written in the notice.

"The petitioner (I guess my company) should keep the upper portion of this notice. The lower portion should be given to the worker. He or she should keep the right part with his or her Form I-94(I guess the white one which is stapled to my passport), Arrival-Departure Record. This should be turned in with the I- 94 when departing the US. The left part is for his or her records."

I am not worried about my status anymore as it makes sense to me to believe that I am currently legal as INS is the one that approved my new H1(extension of stay). But I am a little confused with the above text. Bottom, top, left portion and right? This all made sense with the format of my old H1 notice which had clear perforations etc. The photocopy I now have has just a bar code in the bottom which is the place where I had perforted copies of my approval in my previous H1.
Ofcourse the top half of the notice has my approval details as follows:

Case Type I129
PETITION FOR A NONIMMIGRANT WORKER

Notice Type : Approval Notice
Class: H1B1
Valid from 02/2003 to 02/2006


Any idea?
 
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