Permit number and validity after H1B transfer
I got my H1B approved and stamped in my passport with my previous employer s name, and that was valid till 2021. It also had a permit number when I got it stamped from my country. Now, when I changed company and transferred my Visa, they gave me a new approval notice, with new validity till 2022. So my question is whether I can use the old permit number and new expiry date? The passport has the permit number and old expiry date and the approval notice has new expiry date with no new permit number. H1b holders who have done transfers please advice.
No stamping required till 2021 - your current visa stamp date. It's a grey area in my opinion, but as long as you carry your new i797 when you travel with you, it should be fine.
Thanks. So what is the use of the new expiry date in my current i797 approval notice? Also, I am currently applying for a tourist visa. Should I be providing the old permit number(that is the only one I have), the old issue date and expiry date? And just carry both i797s with me?
There are three dates that you need to keep track of. You i797 approval permit date, your visa expiry date and your i-94 admit until date. Your stay in US is valid only based on i-94 admit until date. I-94 date is determined using i797 date. Your re-entry into us is based on your visa expiry date and i797 date, whichever is earliest.
So what you do is your new I-797 approval is the new document to go for. If you are traveling to your home country. You would need to go for the visa interview to get a new stamp based on this new I-797 which includes filling a ds -160 and doing the entire visa process so that you have a new stamp. I have answered it assuming you are from India but I think the overall picture is the same.
So do we need to get stamping again if we transfer. Yes Indian passport holder. I thought we don't need to get stamping on transfer?
You do need stamping if you switch employers.