changing jobs while on h1-b
what’s the sequence of steps when changing jobs while on h1-b? given one has an acceptable offer do you give notice after successful transfer or soon after accepting offer? I ask this because, once the visa is transferred, one works for ‘new company’ on paper. Can I continue to work at current company during notice period?
Would like to clarify something based on my experience. Have seen a lot of posts with this “transfer” kind of thing. But, there is no such thing called a H1 transfer. A beneficiary can have any number of H1 applications approved at a given time but can only work for 1 of them. All others are supposed to be withdrawn by the employers. The reason a new employer asks for previous H1 is to show the USCIS that the beneficiary has already been counted towards the cap and also to show the current status in US. Also the timeline on H1 starts only when you start working for a company - that’s why there’s a form I-9 that’s submitted on your first day in a job on H1. So, technically you are not an employee of a company until you start working for them and both your previous and new H1 are valid. Once you quit a company, the employer withdraws the H1 and it’s the end of it.
Its suggested to give notice only after the amendment application is approved. It is not a transfer and you can continue working for your previous employer if you wish even after the approval of amendment/transfer.