Can You Travel With Your Previous H1b Visa?

by | Last updated on January 24, 2024

, , , ,

When traveling on the H-1B visa, you will require the following documentation to reenter the U.S.: Valid passport with at least 6 months of validity at the time of admission to the U.S. Valid H-1B visa stamp in your passport, obtained from a U.S. Consulate abroad. Original H-1B approval notice (I-797) from UConn.

Can I travel with my H-1B visa?

Traveling during your H-1B status.

You can travel abroad during your H-1B status

. Your trip may be personal (to visit relatives, for example) or professional (to attend a conference or work with colleagues overseas).

Can you leave the US and come back on a H-1B visa?

The approval notice must be sent to you abroad. You would also have to apply for a new H-1B visa stamp with a consulate or embassy before you can return to the U.S.

After you have received the new H-1B extension approval notice, you may travel outside the U.S. once again

.

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), 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

.

Can I travel while H1B transfer is pending?


You can travel outside the US while H1B change of status is pending

. The risk of travel is that USCIS will automatically abandon your Change of status request. You will have to get the hard copy of your approved H1B's i797 and apply for an H1B visa at the US embassy before you can enter the USA with an H1B visa.

Can I travel with old company visa?

Visa Stamp Remains Valid After a Change of Employer

Although the stamp includes the name of the employer, it is not employer-specific and

the stamp may be used for any H1B travel during its period of validity

.

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)).

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.

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.

Can I travel internationally after H-1B approval?

Once USCIS approves your change of status petition,

you may travel internationally

. Your H-1B status will take effect on the date that was requested. While travel, as outlined above, is permissible, you may encounter difficulties when re-entering the U.S. or when applying for a visa for your current status.

Can I go to Mexico on H-1B?

You are required to have a valid H-1B visa in your passport to return to the U.S. from all countries except for brief trips (less than 30 days) to Canada & Mexico (see below).

Is it true that if you have had H1B in the last 6 years you can apply for a new H1B visa without the quota restrictions?


After working for a solid six years, the H1B holder must remain outside of the US for a full year before being able to apply for another H1B for a fresh six years

. When she does reapply, she will be subject to the cap.

Can I go to Canada on H1B?

Short Travel to Canada or Mexico under Automatic Visa Revalidation. A valid H-1B visa stamp (or H-4 visa stamp) is not required for reentry to the U.S. following a visit of less than 30 days in Canada or Mexico, as long as you have a valid H-1B approval notice.

How much does it cost for H-1B 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.

Can I travel while my i 140 is pending?


You should not travel internationally while the travel document is pending

, or the entire process will be considered abandoned and your adjustment of status denied. After several months of waiting, you should then be scheduled for an interview with a USCIS officer.

Does H1B visa expiration date changes on H1B Transfer?


It depends on Employer B's requirement as stated on its H1B petition

. It can be a maximum of 3 years at a time. Your 6 years aggregate limit in H1B status will also be taken into account, as will your eligibility for a period beyond 6 years.

Can I change company after getting H1B?

So, the good news is that

switching jobs on an H-1B visa is legal and you can go for an H-1B job change once you and your new employer have completed the application process

. However, you must be careful to file the correct paperwork at the correct time or you could find yourself out of status.

Can H1B transfer without stamping?

Can I have my H1B transfer without stamping?

Yes you can if your H1-B transfer was approved in continuity of stay with I-94 number, then there is no need of stamping immediately

.

Can I live in Canada and work in USA on H1B?

If you are working in the US on an H1B visa,

your US work authorization is not affected by your PR for any other country like Australia or Canada

.

What happens after H1B expires?

When one's H-1B status expires, the H-1B worker must either leave the United States, obtain an extension, or apply for a different status. If the worker simply stays in the U.S. past the expiration of the H-1B status,

the worker loses legal status in the U.S. and can be removed (deported)

.

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.