Can You Travel On H-1B For Previous Employer?

by | Last updated on January 24, 2024

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If you have changed since first entering the U.S. in H-1B status and have a valid, unexpired H-1B visa annotated for the previous employer,

you may reenter the U.S. using that visa, presenting the valid UConn H-1B approval notice and the UConn H-1B petition materials upon reentry to the U.S.

Can I travel while my H1 is in process?


You must not travel outside of the U.S. while the petition is pending

. Leaving the country while USCIS is reviewing your petition will cause USCIS to consider your petition for a change of status to be abandoned.

Can I stay with my previous employer after H1B is transferred?

A:

Yes. You can continue working with your current employer as if you never filed an H1 transfer

.

What happens to H-1B if I leave country?

Employer does NOT pay costs of return trip home: Under U.S. regulations at 8 C.F.R. 214.2(h)(4)(iii)(E), employers must pay the reasonable costs of transporting H-1B workers back to their home country. However, if the a quits,

the employer is NOT responsible for paying these costs

.

Which countries can you travel on H-1B?

  • Belize. As of 2018 holders of valid US visas can enter Belize visa-free. …
  • Georgia. Tbilisi, Georgia. …
  • Qatar. Skyline of Doha, Qatar. …
  • Turkey. Holy Grand Mosque in Istanbul, Turkey. …
  • The Dominican Republic. …
  • Island of Turks and Caicos. …
  • Bermuda. …
  • Panama.

How long does a H1B transfer take?

Although it may vary from case to case, processing for an H-1B transfer typically takes

4-8 weeks

after submitting the application to USCIS. Other factors that affect the H-1B transfer process length are the location of employment and which USCIS processing center is responsible for the application.

Can I travel to USA with 2 months left on H-1B?

An H-1B holder who has current H-1B classification (either initial or extension) may reenter the U.S. with an expired H-1B visa stamp after a trip solely to Canada or Mexico (not to U.S. territories/ the islands in the Caribbean) that lasted no more than 30 days (22 C.F.R. § 41.112(d)).

Can I stay in the US while my H-1B is pending?


If the H-1B petition is pending beyond October 1, you can remain in the U.S. based on the pending change of status petition

. However, you must stop working until the H-1B petition is approved.

Can you travel while I 539 is pending?

If you travel abroad while a change of status application (I-539) is pending,

USCIS considers the application abandoned and will reject it

. You will need to go to a U.S. embassy or consulate to apply for a new visa to re-enter.

How long H-1B can stay without job?

of Homeland Security(DHS) regulation that came into effect in Jan 2017, H1B Visa holders can get a grace period of

up to 60 days

, if they lose their job due to layoff or any other unforeseen reasons, before the end of their H1B petition validity.

How long can H-1B stay outside?

The initial maximum period of validity is

three years

(sometimes less), and that is not changed or extended by any time spent outside the US. The clock keeps ticking on the three-year period even while you are abroad.

Can I travel to Mexico without H-1B stamping?


You are permitted to travel to Canada and Mexico for less than 30 days without a H-1B visa stamp in your passport

(you still need to take the other documents mentioned above). For detailed information about automatic visa revalidation, please refer to the information provided on Department of State's website .

Can I travel to Mexico on expired H-1B visa?

Automatic Revalidation

After initial entry to the U.S.,

nonimmigrants who have an expired visa in their passport may re-enter the U.S. without obtaining a new visa if their travel was solely to the contiguous countries of Canada and Mexico

.

Can I go to Mexico for H-1B stamping?


Visa renewal visa stamp can be obtained in Mexico as well as Canada

. Many people visit Canada and Mexico for H1B renewal stamping including the H1B Amendment, Transfer, or extensions instead of visiting their home country.

How much does it cost for H1B Transfer?

What are the correct filing fees? The new employer has to pay the following filing fees for the H-1B transfer petition:

$460 (base filing fee), $500 (fraud detection), and $1,500 (employer sponsorship fee for companies with more than 25 employees)

. Thus, the total fee for this H-1B transfer is $2,460.

Is H1B suspended for 2022?

The United States President signed an executive order banning temporary work visas and green cards for all foreigners, till 2020-end.

Can I enter Mexico with expired U.S. visa?


Nonimmigrant visa holders are allowed to re-enter the United States with an expired visa stamp after a short trip to Canada or Mexico, as long as they meet all eligibility requirements

.

Can I stamp my H-1B visa in Canada?


There is an option to have your first H1B visa stamped in Canada

. However, they do reserve the right to refuse to stamp visas in the Canadian consulate. If your education has been predominantly done in your home country, or any country apart from the U.S. or Canada, they may not stamp your visa.

Rachel Ostrander
Author
Rachel Ostrander
Rachel is a career coach and HR consultant with over 5 years of experience working with job seekers and employers. She holds a degree in human resources management and has worked with leading companies such as Google and Amazon. Rachel is passionate about helping people find fulfilling careers and providing practical advice for navigating the job market.