travel during transition from J1 to H1B

[music99]

Hi,

my current J1 visa will expire at the end of June. In the meantime I have applied and received an H1B for three years (starting at the end of June).

I know that it's not easy to travel outside the US while the H1B application is pending. But I have already received my H1B visa.

Can I travel outside the US during May?
My J1 is valid for that time - or is there a problem, since my most recent visa is the H1B, which is not valid before the end of June?

Thanks in advance!

 

[music99]

Re: Re: travel during transition from J1 to H1B

Originally posted by JoeF
Huh? How? The visa is the stamp in the passport...
You seem to confuse visa and status. The visa is needed to enter the US. Once you are in the US, you have a status. The I-94 specifies the duration of your allowed stay in the particular status.
You may have gotten an I-94.
You can travel while on J1, and you can enter with the J1 visa. However, you can then not change status to H1. You would have to leave again, get an H1 visa stamp, and enter using the H1 visa in H1 status.

Sorry, I confused this - you are right:
What I received is an I-94 with class H1B1.

So if I understand this correct:
- if I stay in the US, then by the end of June my status will automatically change from J1 to H1.
question: But when will I get my H1 visa in my passport? Do I have to apply for that before my next travel?

- if, before June, I travel outside the US I will get a new I-94 with J1 status when I enter. This does not automatically change to H1 after June - but I need to do something ... (this I don't understand)

question: In this case, do I need to apply for a new I-94 with H1 status? Or do I simply need to travel outside the US and get the H1 stamp in my passport when I return?

Thanks very much for your help - this very helpful to me!