Extension

When used in relation to immigration, this is another name for extending your status.

Transfer an approved H-1B selected in the lottery to a new employer before October 1st

Question details

I am in the F1 OPT period and I worked with Amazon from August 2022 to May 2023. My H1B got picked in the lottery this year, and got it approved in June 2023. Currently, I’m in my 90-day period of unemployment, and would possibly get a new job with another employer before it ends.

I don’t want to lose my H1B this year. Is there any way that I can transfer my approved H1B to the new employer?

 

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FAQ Transcript

You can transfer an approved H-1B selected in the lottery to a new employer before October 1st.

What happens if you overstay your I-94

Question details

Parents came to the USA on a B-2 Visa in March 2021. I have requested an I-539 extension in August 2021 due to COVID and they stayed till Jan 2022. Eventually the extension got denied. Is this a problem?
 

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FAQ Transcript

The government will say as one has overstayed their I-94, they will now be subject to section  222(g). If you overstay your I-94 the visa stamp on  your passport is automatically canceled, so you have to apply for a new visa. For more details on this issue, visit my author page on The Economic Times.

 

OPT eligibility requirements, F-1 status for one academic year, and Change of Status or visa stamping from back to H-4

Question details

My spouse is a dentist from India and converted to F-1 from H-4 on Sep 29, 2022. She pursued a few courses for MBA (non-stem) between March 2022 and Jun 2022. Now she is completing the remaining courses of her MBA on F-1 for the next 12 months.

My queries are-

1. Does she need to be on F-1 status for a min 365 days to be eligible for OPT?

2. If we ever need to change to H-4 status again (stamped till Aug 2024), can she travel to India and come back without F-1 stamping? or a COS application from F-1 to H-4 ( that may take 6 months) could be a better option for EAD application.

 

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FAQ Transcript

1. The 365 days requirement is not required.  What you need is one academic year or two if there is a need to change to H-4. 

2. If she has an H-4 stamping already there is no need to go to India. All she has to do is drive to Canada or Mexico and return showing her H-4 visa stamping.

Note: To be eligible to apply for OPT, you must:

  1. Have been in full-time student status for at least one academic year by the requested OPT start date,
  2. Be maintaining F-1 status at the time of applying for OPT, and 
  3. Have not used OPT at the same degree level previously.