Jaxen
I have the same situation. My wife who is working with a company on OPT (F1) wants to vist India in August and return in Sept 1st wk. But her H1-B start date is Oct, 01 2004.
In your messege above you mentioned you can go as early as want but you can come only a few days before. Do you how many days before you can come back?
Also do you know at what what status will she re-enter the US? Because when she comes back in Sept she will still be on OPT (F1) and woudn't the authorites wanna see her F1 stamp in teh passport and not the H1.
Or lets say she is allowed to enter on H1 B in sept, but her H1 actually starts in Oct, then can she work for that period. Because she entered on H1 status, but her H1 will not start before Oct 1st.
Thanks in advance for your help