Urgent question about filing H1/H4 extensions separately

[plus]

My H1B and my wife's H4 are expiring on 9/30/03.
For some reason, we have to file H1B extension (I-129)
and H4 extension (I-539) separately. Someone told me the
processing time of the 2 cases are quite different. For
I-539, it's about 1 month. For I-129, it's several months
even 1 year.
My questions are:
(1) After I file I-129 and get the receipt, should I file my
wife's I-539 immediately? If not, when should I file it?
(2) If my wife's I-539 gets processed before my H1-B approval,
(it's very likely due to the speed difference, right?)
what will happen? They just deny it? Or put it on-hold?
If on-hold, how to resume the processing?

 

[jaxen]

Who told you about processing times? Was it based on the regular processing times posted in various forums and this forum? Would you rather believe BCIS about processing times?

1. Immediately.
2. Not likely. your spouse's 539 is based on your h1 approval. So it is illogical for the 539 to get approved before I129.

If there are actual experiences please post in this thread...