Questions about Extension of H1B

[shinkansen]

I have my first H1B visa issued in July 2003 and it expires in July 2006. I want to extend it for another 3 years.

What is the process to extend it?

Can I do it while remaining in the US or do I have to leave the country to get my visa re-stamped?

Will the extension be 3 years from the expiration date (July 2006-July 2009) or if the approve the extension before then are they going to make it valid from say Feb 2006-Feb 2009. I ask this because they already lost me a few months on my visa by having a valid from date earlier than when they sent my initial H1B.

Thanks for any advice.

Shinkansen

 

[rjo1]

You can apply to extend your H1 before it expires. Mostly it applied for 4-8 weeks before expiry.

You can apply to extend it in the US. When you get the extention you should get new I-94. Most likely your visa stamp would be expired in your ppt. On the basis of new I-94 you can remain and work in the US. Whenever you leave the US, you have to go embassy to get new visa stamp.

How long will the new extension will be, depends on your application.