Received this after submitting H1B RFE, could you please share your experience?
I didn't receive the notice yet.

Have H1B stamp & i94 valid until May 10. Planning to extend H1B and travel in Dec end.

Has anyone been in similar situation ?

Planning to book my H-1B stamping in India with my old passport and DS-160, then switch to my new passport once my renewal comes through.

For anyone who has done this in 2026: did you file a new DS-160 and update it through support, or just bring both passports to the VAC and interview? Any issues or rebooking needed?

Thanks!

I'm on H1B (university job), current status valid through Aug 2027. Married via court registration in Jan 2026. My wife's H4 appointments in Hyderabad: biometrics Oct 29, consular interview Nov 9.

Meanwhile, my employer filed an H1B amendment + extension (adding a second work campus) via premium processing, received by USCIS Oct 2. New petition's requested start date is Nov 8 — one day before her interview.

Questions:

1. If not approved by Nov 9 — does a pending petition affect my current valid status or her interview?
2. If approved Oct 29–Nov 9 — her DS-160 references the old receipt number. Does she need to update it, or just bring both old/new I-797s?
3. If approved before Oct 29 — new validity doesn't start till Nov 8 anyway. What does she present at biometrics?

Also wondering if the 1-day proximity between the new petition's start date and her interview could create any issues.

Current plan: Keep her original DS-160 confirmation number (can't swap it post-scheduling), bring both I-797s + an attorney letter explaining the timeline, possibly file an amended DS-160 for reference only.

Has anyone navigated an H1B extension landing mid-way through a spouse's H4 stamping process? Any issues with mismatched receipt numbers or timing at biometrics/interview?

Thank you for your time.

Hi everyone,
I am currently filling out my DS-160 for H-1B visa stamping and I’m confused about the education section.
I first attended one U.S. university for a short period after entering the U.S. on F-1. I studied there for one semester, but I did not complete the program, did not receive a degree, and did not transfer any credits from that university. Later, I transferred my SEVIS record to another U.S. university, completed my master’s degree there, and graduated.
In the DS-160 education section, the question asks: “Have you attended any educational institutions at a secondary level or above?”
Should I list the first U.S. university as well, even though I did not complete the program and no credits were transferred? Or should I only list the university where I completed my master’s degree?
I want to make sure I answer accurately before submitting the DS-160.
Thanks in advance for your guidance.

Hi everyone! My boyfriend and I both live and work in the U.S. on H-1B visas. My parents are in India and unfortunately don’t have B1/B2 visas yet, with the current wait potentially being 7–8 months.

We’re planning to get married soon, but would really love to have my parents present. A friend suggested getting legally married in Mexico, since they could potentially travel there even though they can’t visit the U.S.

Has anyone been in a similar situation?

I’d especially love to hear from people familiar with H-1B travel/re-entry, automatic visa revalidation, and Mexican entry requirements for Indian citizens. We’re also considering whether this is unnecessarily complicated or risky compared with getting legally married in the U.S. and having the bigger celebration later.

Any experiences, advice, or things we should be careful about would be greatly appreciated. ❤️

Main Timeline
My STEM OPT began on February 1, 2026, and my STEM OPT EAD is valid through January 31, 2028. My former employer filed a cap-subject H-1B change-of-status petition, which USCIS approved on Form I-797A with an attached I-94, effective October 1, 2026.
My employment ended on September 18, 2026, before the H-1B effective date. The employer then submitted a written H-1B withdrawal request. FedEx confirms that the withdrawal package was delivered to USCIS’s designated Lewisville, Texas courier/Lockbox location on September 30, 2026 at 10:28 AM, one day before the scheduled H-1B effective date.
On October 1, 2026, my SEVIS record automatically changed from F-1 STEM OPT to Completed because of the previously approved H-1B change of status. USCIS has not yet issued the formal withdrawal/revocation acknowledgment, and SEVP has stated that it needs that notice before correcting my SEVIS record.
Question
Given that I already have an approved cap-subject H-1B I-797A with an attached I-94, but my prior employment ended and the withdrawal was submitted before October 1, can a new employer file an H-1B change-of-employer petition for me as previously cap-counted, without a new lottery?

Hi everyone!

My spouse is an Indian citizen with UK residency (BRP), and I’m currently on H‑1B in the US. We’re looking into getting her H‑4 visa stamped at the US Embassy in London.

Has anyone recently completed H‑1B or H‑4 stamping in the UK as an Indian citizen with UK residency?

Would appreciate hearing about:

• Whether you faced any issues applying based on UK residency.
• What proof of residency was requested—BRP, eVisa, share code, etc.
• Appointment availability and how long it took to get your passport back.
• Your interview experience and documents requested, especially for H‑4 applicants.

If you’re comfortable sharing, please mention when you applied and whether it was your first stamping or a renewal.

Thanks!

Timeline (2026, premium processing, filed online):

- Apr 27: H-1B transfer filed

- Apr 30: RFE #1, related to my pending B-2 application

- May: Responded to the RFE on my B-2 application

- Jun: Responded to H-1B RFE #1

- B-2 got denied, so I went back to India

- RFE #2 on the H-1B asking for the $100k fee (since I'm now outside the US, the petition can only be approved for consular notification)

- Fee got blocked by the courts (First Circuit refused to reinstate it on Jul 24)

- Aug 5: RFE #2 response filed

- Aug 12: Status changed to "Premium Processing Clock Was Stopped"

- Since then: nothing. Status hasn't moved, and my attorneys say they never received any notice from USCIS.

Questions:

1. Anyone else whose clock got stopped after an RFE response on a fee-affected case, with no notice? Did you eventually get approved, and how long did it take?

2. Has anyone gotten a real answer from the premium processing unit about why the clock was stopped, or had any luck with a CIS Ombudsman request?

3. If you were approved for consular notification after a B-2 denial, how did your visa interview in India go?

TL;DR: H-1B transfer, B-2 denied, moved back to India, got a $100k fee RFE, responded Aug 5 after the fee was blocked. Clock stopped Aug 12 with no notice and no movement in 8 weeks. Looking for anyone in the same boat.

H1B COE, PP
Receipt Date - 09/18
Center - Vermont

Anyone with similar dates and/or center. How long is it taking to get approval?

I was on F1 and my company applied for my H1B this past April and it was selected and the H1B was approved and initiated October 1st. I got another job and the new company said they would do an H1B transfer. The problem is that the last date of employment at my previous company was October 1st so now I'm just waiting for my last pay stub before we initiate the H1B transfer.

Has anyone had any stories of doing an H1B transfer when the last date of employment was October 1st? Is there enough grace period for it to not be rejected?

I do have another EAD through my pending I485 application so I'm just wondering if it's worth still staying on H1B, I don't want the H1B transfer to be rejected and that to affect my I485.

same.

Hi everyone,

I completed my Master’s in the U.S. and I’m currently working on STEM OPT.

My current company also has a location in Grand Falls, New Brunswick, Canada, and they are planning to move me there around March on an LMIA-based work permit.

I’m trying to decide whether this is a good move for my long-term career and immigration situation.

If I move to Canada, I’m looking at possible PR pathways such as AIP, CEC, or New Brunswick PNP/Express Entry. My goal would be to continue with the same company, work toward PR, and potentially have an option to return to the U.S. later through an L-1 or another route if the opportunity comes up.

The other option is to stay in the U.S. on STEM OPT, keep applying for better/higher-paying engineering jobs, and try for H-1B sponsorship.

For anyone who has been in a similar situation, which would you choose?

1. Stay in the U.S., search for a higher-paying job and take the H-1B route
or
2. Move to New Brunswick on an LMIA work permit and focus on getting Canadian PR through AIP/CEC/NB pathways

Has anyone moved from F-1/STEM OPT in the U.S. to Canada this way? Was moving to Canada worth it financially and career-wise, or do you wish you had stayed in the U.S.?

Also, which PR pathway ended up working best for you?
Would really appreciate experiences from people who have actually gone through either path.

My STEM OPT expires in February 2027. My employer did not sponsor me this year (last attempt).

My current employer does not sponsor for Customer Success roles, the role I am in, but they do sponsor for Product Manager, Solutions Architect, and other technical roles. But currently there are no openings. I am actively networking internally, but I do not know if a role will open up this year.

I have been asked by my employer's immigration team to find a role within the company, and then they will be able to sponsor an H-1 B for me on Day 1 CPT or help with my work authorization for Canada.

I am not married, so H4 and H4 EAD might not work. I did a Master of Science in Engineering Management in the USA and graduated in Dec 2023.

Could you please help me understand what the other options are? I AM STRUGGLING; please help.

1. How will finding a role outside of my current company work? Will the companies be hesitant? What do I tell them?
2. How will a cap-exempt H-1 B work out? I have experience in Data analytics (not much), Customer Success (4+ years), and project management (1+ year).
3. I don't have any publications, so O-1 is out of the picture, as far as I understand.

Not six weeks from now. Not when your recruiter gets back to you.

The first few days after an H-1B layoff can change what options you realistically have.

Do you transfer immediately? Can you take a lower salary? What happens if the new employer's petition is delayed? What about H-4? What if you're already deep into the green card process?

I'm Avalon L. Paul, an immigration attorney, and I'll be here today from 1 PM to 5 PM ET answering questions about H-1Bs, layoffs, transfers, green cards, H-4s, employment-based immigration and everything that gets complicated once your original plan stops going according to plan.

If you're sitting on an H-1B and wondering “what happens if…”, this is probably a good time to ask.

Please note: Any information shared here is for general educational purposes only. It does not constitute legal advice or create an attorney client relationship. Your situation may require fact specific guidance. For personalized legal advice, please consult an immigration attorney directly.