same boat here, my case got approved 2 weeks ago, my husband is still pending.
my husband is on H1, he got H1 at Canada, not in the US.
He was first with J2, then when i filed my H1, I filed H4 for him coz I was worrying he won\'t find job so H1 before his J2 expires. and that happened. He has never been out of status, but I think INS mistakenly think he was, that was why they he had to get H1 outside the US, by then we may do the correction, but heard that takes up to half year, so we did not bother, he just went to canada and got H1.
So here is the chart
J2-------------expire in Jan. 00
apply for H4 for him on Nov. 99
His own H1 filed in Feb. 00 (right after the cutoff)
H4 approved May 00
His own H1 approved Oct. 00
You think that is the reason why he did not get the approval with me at the same time?