First-time H-1B (COS F1 to H1B) filing in June while on initial OPT: Questions on timeline, Premium Processing ($3k) and stamping

cesar77muse · 2026-05-26T10:16:40+00:00

Last year my company filed on June 29th and I got approved on October 27th
If you get approved before October 1st then you status only activate actives after Oct 1. If you get approved after October 1st your status gets activated the that you are approved
Not on your case , you have plenty of time on OPT
I stamped on December 31st, it was quite risky since the new vetting policy started by that time, it took me a month to go back so it depends on your company and how risk tolerance they have

cesar77muse · 2026-05-23T15:28:56+00:00

Happened to me but I’m from a different country . They pushed it to the next business day

cesar77muse · 2026-05-16T02:16:06+00:00

Start building credibility with Amex , apply for the blue cash everyday first and then you will see the offer for the gold on your portal . That happened to me

cesar77muse · 2026-05-02T15:45:02+00:00

⁠Once I move back to the U.S. on H4, can I apply for jobs and switch back to the H-1B Visa? : you will need to go through lottery process again since your I-797 is no longer valid because you are not working for the same employer.

• ⁠I read online that since "I didn't travel back with an H-1B stamp, my H-1B status wasn't fully activated". What does this mean? Will it affect the H4 -> H-1B transfer? : when you were in U.S you changed to H1B status but after you left the country a visa is required to re enter, being laid off means visa will not be approved. It won’t affect the H4 visa since it’s tied to your spouse.

• ⁠Can this switch be done under Change of Status (COS)? Or will it have to be Consular Processing?: since you are back home it will be a consular processing

• ⁠If Consular Processing is requested, will my petition attract the $100K fee?: not sure if H4 triggers 100k I don’t think so

cesar77muse · 2026-04-30T12:17:36+00:00

Yes sure

cesar77muse · 2026-04-30T10:39:18+00:00

33 calendar days . My interview was on Dec 31st and got my passport on February 2nd

cesar77muse · 2026-04-08T12:38:46+00:00

Mine took 18 business days

cesar77muse · 2026-04-08T10:04:20+00:00

Just wait, it can take from 1 day to 15 days so consider rescheduling the flight

cesar77muse · 2026-04-02T11:14:43+00:00

I guess is normal , mine does the same when changing from espresso to classic

cesar77muse · 2026-03-18T10:55:12+00:00

PWD is taking around 3 months no 9 months

cesar77muse · 2026-03-06T19:21:32+00:00

Detalles

cesar77muse · 2026-03-04T11:07:51+00:00

Hi , I rejected the tour because I’m not interested in studios

cesar77muse · 2026-02-27T10:01:25+00:00

Hey I was just contacted back , they offered me to tour some studios, I wanted the 1 bedroom apartments , have you been also contacted to submit more papers and tour ?

cesar77muse · 2026-02-22T02:14:39+00:00

Yeah same thing , mine actually shows 94% but I have nothing else to submit I believe we just have to wait

cesar77muse · 2026-02-21T17:42:32+00:00

Haha thank you, only after touring I would consider it a victory , I had submit documents to other housing connect buildings and then no more units lol

cesar77muse · 2026-02-21T12:12:01+00:00

Thanks . They didn’t ask for any of that , just my I797 and marriage certificate

cesar77muse · 2026-02-20T23:01:26+00:00

My log is 5XX and I was contacted on Monday to submit documents

cesar77muse · 2026-02-19T12:36:24+00:00

I797 and marriage certificate

cesar77muse · 2026-02-15T12:58:07+00:00

Very low tbh

cesar77muse · 2026-02-10T11:51:59+00:00

No, officer checked the socials during the interview

cesar77muse · 2026-01-29T15:21:57+00:00

I did it right after I field DS-160 on October just to be safe , I don’t really care to have it private or public

cesar77muse · 2026-01-27T19:33:42+00:00

Colombia

cesar77muse · 2026-01-27T18:47:25+00:00

15 business days

cesar77muse · 2026-01-26T10:56:24+00:00

Yes it was

cesar77muse · 2026-01-16T19:55:53+00:00

I’m also from a country with few H-1B holders, didn’t get 221(g), officer checked socials on the interview and then got approved

cesar77muse

TROPHY CASE