H1 to H4, then back to H1B – Can I Work from Receipt Date?
H1 to H4 to H1B change of status cannot work from receipt date. H1B COS should be approved to move from H4 to H1B. H1B to H1B transfer can work on receipt.
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H1 to H4 to H1B change of status work start date?
You have to wait for H1 B’s change of status approval to start work.
You converted from H1 to H4 status within the US and now filing an H1B change of status again. You should start work for an H1-B employer only after your status is changed to H-1B.
Your current status H4 will stay with you until the H1B application is finally approved by USCIS.
Small consulting companies might lure you to start working immediately on filing H1B, but, beware that you will be violating your H4 status rules and this can put you in USCIS bad books.
H4 to H1B change of status work start date?
In simple H4 to H1B case as well, where you filed H1B with the change of status in the lottery. You can start working on Oct 1 or the start date of your H1B as approved by USCIS.
The change of status happens automatically on the H1B approval date and you should START working i.e. your payroll should be run to keep you in H1B status.
If you do not start working on H1B after its approval, you are violating your H1B terms.
Even in the case of H1B premium processing, you should wait for approval before starting work.
You cannot work on H4 status. You should wait for H1B approval.
You will get a new i94 on your H1B transfer approval which will correctly show your H1B status.
You can apply for an H1B transfer while on H4 EAD.
Since you are on an H4EAD work permit, you can keep working on H4EAD status until your H1B transfer is finally approved and your status is changed to H1B.
Until you get the new H1B transfer i797 approval with the new i94, your status will still be H4 and work authorization with H4EAD.
H4 to H1B cap exempt
You had an approved and stamped H1-B visa which was never utilized. You quit the H1B sponsor employer and came to the US on an H4 visa as a dependent.
Now, a consulting company here in the US filed a cap-exempt H1-B transfer I-129 through Premium processing.
The consulting company has informed you that you can start working immediately after filing the case to USCIS i.e. even before getting the approval of H1 status.
DO NOT START WORKING based on the H1B receipt if you are currently on H4 status. It is not legal as your status does NOT change until USCIS approves it.
In this case, do NOT listen to consulting companies as they just want to make money.
Since you do not have a valid SSN and H1B work permit, you will be violating your H4 status rules. DHS takes visa status violations seriously and can deny your other visa application in the future.
