maybe...not sure
but here is my case.
Got laid of on Feb 1. Last pay check dated Feb1. Got a job as a faculty in the computer science department at a university. Applied for h-4 on March 15, that still hasnt been approved. Applied for new h-1 on May 15th. They wrote back the very next day to my lawyer asking for more evidence. Lawyer wrote back my situation saying that i did not get 2 weeks notice etc.. and sent the pay stubs. The automated customer service said that as soon as my additional materials are sent, they will reset the 15 days for premium processing. But got approved within 24 hours after they received the additional materials.
Since i am leaving the country after I get my new h-1, my transfer to h-4 would be considered abandoned.
Yes the fee is $1000 additional. I am in Missouri/Iowa so everything gets done really fast because Nebraska, Lincoln is just few hours away.
Hope this helps.