Validity of status

A

ag28

Registered Users (C)
Hello all
Just wanted to know if the following time line was okay as regards to validity of stay.
F1 visa with I-94 (D/S)- Graduated 2001 and started work on OPT.
Changed status to H1 from Feb 2002. The passport still has F1 stamp because did not leave the US until now. The new I-94 has validity from Feb 2002-Feb 2004 (based on H1).
140 approved and 485 filed in July 2002.
July 2003 started work on EAD.
Did I have to leave the country to get H1 stamp on passport (is the H1 stamp mandatory). I am confused based on todays murthy chat where it was asked to apply for extension or get stamp from outside if POE I-94 was first issued. does this apply to me.:confused:
 
Originally posted by ag28
Did I have to leave the country to get H1 stamp on passport (is the H1 stamp mandatory).
Click to expand...

No. The visa stamp is only needed to re-enter the US in H-1 status. Consider it "permission to apply for entry at a POE". If you ever leave the US, you will either need to get the H-1 stamp in your home country, or you will need to re-enter on AP.

edit: I just saw that you are now working using EAD. You H-1 is now toast, and you must use AP to re-enter. No need to worry about the stamp.
 
Thank you

I used to think along the same lines but between changing statuses here , wanted to make sure everything was okay. especially after going through yesterday's chat which i may have misunderstood.
 
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