All,
Has any undergraduate applicant gotten H1 confirmation yet?

What about graduates? any graduates that have done regular processing?? Have you received your confirmation??

I know one guy who got his H1B approved ( undergrad and did premium processing, lucky bastard). I think those who did premium processing with masters degree, many of them have already gotten H1B approved. I am one of those who has masters but did regular processing and waiting for it to get approved.

I have a question on that.. wht does FormI-797 mean? does it mean your H1 is approved or does it just mean your petition is received?? i checked online and most of the websites said APPROVED word.. but i got it before April 12th!!!! so i am VERY CONFUSED!!! your help will be appreciated!!!

Yea i have filed under masters too and did a regular processing. I was just wondering if its only me who hasn't recieved an approval yet.

Khusi. did u get H1B finally or yet awaited for next week?

I am still waiting.

I'm still waiting for a receipt let alone the approval status notice......

Anyone waiting for the receipt notice? ie: for Masters regualr processing???

those who had done premium processing have got it i guess but for people with regular its gonna take a while may be few weeks more. thats what i was told..

Anyone got confirmation yet?
Here's the new press release
http://www.uscis.gov/files/pressrelease/H1Bfy08CapUpdate041907.pdf

I am still confused regarding the status between OPT and start of H1B. my OPT expires on may and H1b starts from october 1st. i had the impression that i can get I 20 from some other school and stay here legally until my H1b starts but i read in other thread that i can not do that after my H1B approval because that will automatically void my H1B. in such case, what would be the solution to stay in USA without being out of status? i am sure there are many who are in similar situation, what you guys are thinking? any suggestion from your lawyer?

Number,

Murthy law firm (http://www.murthy.com/) has clearly stated that in such situation if your H1 has been approved before your OPT expires then you don't need to spend money on takin new I-20.However, other lawyers recommend you should take new I-20 as the USCIS might be interested to know what you would do during that gap period. So, it's kinda confusion state.My recommendation,if you not sure take new I-20 and feel safe.

Ok MrCool here is the situation:

My OPT expires on May 15 and i will get two months grace period that means I will be on status until july 14. I hope my H1B will get approved before July 14 ( did regular processing and waiting for it). My H1B will be effective from October 1st, so I have about 2.5 months gap in between. Its too late to get I 20 for summer and i was thinking of getting I 20 for fall from some community college or Kaplan. that I 20 will be effective from august last and will keep me in status during summer as well. My intention is to quit school just after attending school for one month or so, that is, after october 1st. the I 20 that i sent to USCIS is of my previous school from where I graduated and now I will have new I 20. this new I 20 will give me F1 status and my H1B gives me H1 status from october 1st. so the confusion is, what will be my status after october 1st? also, my new I 20 will be approved after/before my H1B gets approved? does it matter in anyway? I appreciate your response if you know about this. Thanks.

As far as I know, after October 1st, your status will BE automatically changed from F1 to H1. However, its always good to consult with lawyer.

Number:

According to my International office - advisor, one should have his/her I-20 issued before OPT expires ( that means 2 month grace period doesn't count toward ) to remain in status. If you don't want to stay here have you I-20 ready since your OPT is expiring soon.

After your H1-B approves you are no longer a student and if you want to have your I-20 then you are back to F1 again - simple as that. So, in this case shot an email to your lawer and international advisors. They will give professional opinion.

For me, I am going back to Nepal so didn't explore more. I don't have premium processing ( Masters). My lawyer says it may take up to 3 months for confirmatin and there will be no problem going back home even if H1-B don't arrive until July ( by then i have to leave U.S). USCIS will send the notice (H1-B) to KTM U.S visa office upon approval. Let's see how things develop.

Again, you act fast if you plan to stay here.

-BD

No:

when you will be ready to go back to your H1 status, you have to file change of status( F1- H1) form (through your lawyer).

Tehi ho, 1000-1500 dollar chuna lagchha.

good luck to you too.

-bd

I gonna have 2.5 months gap next year..My lawyer told me that if I want to stay in this country , I gonna have to get a I-20 from kaplan for summer before my OPT expires..Then i can stay as F1 till the end of first week of september, then as usual I will have 60 days to leave the county or chage my status..So in that case, my H1-b will start from October so I am safe as my visa status will be changed from October first before my "60 day grace period" expires...This is a suggestion given to me by top immigartion lawyer , fees paid by my future employer, ..this has been working for them so it should work with us too..According to him, eventhough your H1b will be void if you go back to F1 after your H1-b is approved but USCIS has accepted the above mentioned practise as an exception to this rule for people who have less than 6 months of "GAP." He even said, USCIS is working to solve this issue , possibly by next year, they will allow people to stay at most for 6 months if their H1B is already approved ...

Hope this helps..

Anthony sounds true. If H1B approved in such a situation with some months gap ( in fact it gets only approved without change in status in such case), getting I20 is not an issue. Since change in status is not filed. After getting I20 u can file change of status. As B Damini said there is some chuna ( fees). My lawyer said that too.